Drug & supplement interaction

European Buckthorn + Ganaxolone

Ganaxolone brand name: Ztalmy.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Ganaxolone states a food rule worth keeping to.

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Interaction report

European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Ganaxolone and European Buckthorn in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

European Buckthorn safety at a glance

European Buckthorn overall Use caution It is a harsh stimulant laxative and raw berries can be toxic, so use only with professional guidance.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Ganaxolone and European Buckthorn? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Ganaxolone

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Ganaxolone is filed under 3 classifications — cns depressants, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates, oral drugs. European Buckthorn has documented interactions with 4 drug classes — the most serious being digoxin (lanoxin) (major), diuretic drugs (moderate) and stimulant laxatives (moderate) — and none of Ganaxolone’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

European Buckthorn Does Interact With Other Medications

European Buckthorn has 1 major, 98 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Ganaxolone isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 Moderate 98 No known interaction 2,731 (incl. Ganaxolone)
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.

What to actually watch for

What European Buckthorn Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Ganaxolone. It is the side-effect record for European Buckthorn on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add European Buckthorn, this list is the first place to look. 2 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Muscle weakness Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, European buckthorn seems to be well tolerated, short term. It can cause abdominal pain, cramps, or watery diarrhea (12). Chronic use or abuse of the berry can lead to potassium depletion, albuminuria, and hematuria. Potassium depletion can lead to disturbed heart function and muscle weakness (2).”

    European Buckthorn · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in albuminuria.

    3 sources cited
    1. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
    2. 2. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
    3. 6138. Nusko G, Schneider B, Schneider I, et al. Anthranoid laxative use is not a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia: results of a prospective case control study. Gut 2000;46:651-5. PubMed
  • Low potassium Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, European buckthorn might have adverse effects.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally: Abdominal pain, cramps, watery diarrhea.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Albuminuria, hematuria, potassium depletion.”

    European Buckthorn · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in abdominal pain.

  • Stomach pain / Diarrhea Additional detail

    Recorded for European Buckthorn in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low potassium above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for European Buckthorn — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Ganaxolone’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Ganaxolone column appears here.

Special populations

European Buckthorn in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Ganaxolone Products Have a Food Rule — European Buckthorn Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Ganaxolone says to take it with food. If you take European Buckthorn on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Ganaxolone with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Ganaxolone products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administer ZTALMY orally three times daily with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Ganaxolone — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. See the Ganaxolone drug page ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ganaxolone

This page covers European Buckthorn only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ganaxolone page lists 195 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ganaxolone page

“Families managing CDKL5 deficiency disorder, the rare childhood epilepsy that ganaxolone (Ztalmy) treats, should read this supplement list carefully rather than skim it. Most entries fall into two camps.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ganaxolone 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. Even though European Buckthorn itself has no known interaction with Ganaxolone, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone 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
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ganaxolone
Steady interest

#1,765 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every European Buckthorn reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified October 4, 2026. The European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone records this page draws on were last updated October 6, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
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.

Rhamnus cathartica · Rhamnaceae · Bark and berries (fruit) · Dried bark, tinctures, teas, and liquid extracts (rarely sold as a modern standardized supplement)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether European Buckthorn is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our European Buckthorn record says about it on its own.

European Buckthorn: dosing

There is no well-established, standardized dose for European Buckthorn supplements, and the strength of homemade preparations can vary widely. This is one reason it is hard to use safely.If a product is used at all, it should be a properly labeled commercial preparation, taken exactly as directed and only for short-term use.

From our European Buckthorn monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full European Buckthorn monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ganaxolone

What Is Ganaxolone Used For?

Brand name: Ztalmy

Ztalmy (ganaxolone) oral suspension is approved to treat seizures associated with cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency disorder — a rare genetic condition, often called CDD — in patients 2 years of age and older.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Ganaxolone

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Seizure 201 reports
Somnolence 52 reports
Change in seizure presentation 43 reports
Pneumonia 30 reports
Vomiting 24 reports
See full Ganaxolone drug information Ganaxolone NDC codes and packages
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
98Moderate
0Minor
2,730No known interaction
1 Major 98 Moderate 2,730 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

98 interactions

Showing 60 of 98 moderate interactions — see all 98 on the European Buckthorn page.

No interaction 2,730 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked European Buckthorn against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,730 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full European Buckthorn list.

See the full European Buckthorn interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ganaxolone, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

European Buckthorn References

The 5 references that drive our European Buckthorn monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  4. Nusko G, Schneider B, Schneider I, et al. Anthranoid laxative use is not a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia: results of a prospective case control study. Gut 2000;46:651-5. PubMed
  5. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition. Ed. Gardner Z, McGuffin M. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2013.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take European Buckthorn with Ganaxolone?
We do not list a known interaction between European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Should I take European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Ganaxolone says to take it with food. If you take European Buckthorn on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Ganaxolone with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Ganaxolone products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the European Buckthorn and Ganaxolone combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Ganaxolone is filed under 3 classifications, and European Buckthorn has documented interactions with 4 drug classes — none of Ganaxolone's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does European Buckthorn interact with any other medications?
Yes. European Buckthorn has 99 documented drug interactions in our database — Ganaxolone is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Ganaxolone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Ganaxolone has documented interactions with 195 supplements in our database — European Buckthorn is not one of them. The Ganaxolone interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

European Buckthorn monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Ganaxolone drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Ganaxolone supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Ganaxolone, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 5 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Ganaxolone and European Buckthorn?

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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.