Drug & supplement interaction

European Buckthorn + Danthron , Docusate

Danthron , Docusate brand name: Co-Danthrusate (UK).

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

European Buckthorn has a moderate interaction with Danthron , Docusate. European buckthorn has stimulant laxative effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

European Buckthorn and Danthron , Docusate

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

STIMULANT LAXATIVES

Why this applies to Danthron , Docusate

Danthron , Docusate falls under STIMULANT LAXATIVES — the group European Buckthorn interacts with.

European buckthorn has stimulant laxative effects. Concomitant use with stimulant laxative medications might compound fluid and electrolyte loss.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: your Co-Danthrusate already contains a stimulant laxative (danthron) plus a stool softener (docusate). European Buckthorn is also a stimulant-type laxative from the same anthraquinone family. So if you take them together, you're basically stacking two laxatives that work the same way, and the effect can pile up.

What that looks like in real life is more cramping, more watery stools, and a bigger loss of fluid and important minerals like potassium. Losing too much can leave you feeling weak, dizzy, or with an off heartbeat. This concern is based on how these products work rather than firm studies, so it's a possible rather than guaranteed problem. Please don't combine them without checking with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

European Buckthorn Also Interacts With Other Medications

European Buckthorn has 1 major, 97 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Danthron , Docusate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against European Buckthorn

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against European Buckthorn. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Danthron , Docusate

This page covers European Buckthorn only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Danthron , Docusate page lists 46 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Jalap (major), Oleander (major), Alder Buckthorn (moderate) and Aloe (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 34 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Danthron , Docusate page

“Co-Danthrusate pairs danthron, a stimulant laxative, with docusate, a stool softener, and that stimulant action is exactly why its list of 46 interacting supplements deserves genuine care. Twenty-nine of the entries are herbal laxatives that pile the same effect on top and can drain fluid and potassium fast.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Danthron , Docusate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking European Buckthorn as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 20 real supplement products containing European Buckthorn, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides European Buckthorn. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Danthron , Docusate too, on top of European Buckthorn — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where European Buckthorn and Danthron , Docusate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement European Buckthorn
Top half

#526 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Danthron , Docusate
Top 5%

#124 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About European Buckthorn

What is European Buckthorn?

  • Constipation
  • Occasional laxative use
  • Digestive complaints
  • Traditional 'detox' remedies

European Buckthorn is a shrub whose bark and berries contain compounds that act as a strong, irritant-type laxative. Because it can cause cramping, fluid and electrolyte loss, and the berries can be toxic if eaten raw, it is rarely recommended today and safer constipation options are usually preferred. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full European Buckthorn monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & European Buckthorn

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against European Buckthorn — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
97Moderate
0Minor
2,731No known interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

97 interactions

Showing 60 of 97 moderate interactions — see all 97 on the European Buckthorn page.

No interaction 2,731 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking European Buckthorn and Danthron , Docusate Together: Common Questions

Can you take European Buckthorn with Danthron , Docusate?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the European Buckthorn and Danthron , Docusate interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.