Drug & supplement interaction

Fenugreek + Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine brand name: Plaquenil.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine 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 Hydroxychloroquine states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine

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 Hydroxychloroquine and Fenugreek 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.

Fenugreek safety at a glance

Fenugreek overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in food amounts, but supplement doses may cause side effects and aren't right for everyone.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally in amounts greater than those found in food. Fenugreek has potential oxytoxic and uterine stimulant activity. There are case reports of congeni... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Safe When used orally to stimulate lactation, short-term. Although most available clinical studies lack safety testing in the lactating parent or infant, some eviden... 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.

Pharmacist analysis

Fenugreek is generally considered relatively safe in regard to potential drug interactions.

Nevertheless, interactions are possible between fenugreek and:

  • 'Blood-thinning' drugs
  • Drugs that lower blood pressure
  • Drugs that low blood sugar

Fenugreek contains some components that can prevent blood from clotting. However, there is not enough research to confirm whether the amount of these components present in common fenugreek products can have a clinically significant effect.

Fenugreek may also have an additive effect with blood sugar-lowering medication and blood pressure-lowering medication.

All of these potential interactions are documented individually on our specific drug-herbal interaction pages.

Still wondering about combining Hydroxychloroquine and Fenugreek? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Hydroxychloroquine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Hydroxychloroquine is filed under 3 classifications — cytochrome p450 2d6 (cyp2d6) inhibitors, qt interval-prolonging drugs, oral drugs. Fenugreek has documented interactions with 9 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), antidiabetes drugs (moderate) and clopidogrel (plavix) (moderate) — and none of Hydroxychloroquine’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

Fenugreek Does Interact With Other Medications

Fenugreek has 224 moderate, 165 minor known drug interactions in our database — Hydroxychloroquine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fenugreek

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 3 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Low blood sugar Worth acting on Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    “Orally, large doses of fenugreek seed, 100 grams daily of defatted powder, have caused hypoglycemia.”

    Fenugreek · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypoglycemia.

    2 sources cited
    1. 164. Madar Z, Thorne R. Dietary fiber. Prog Food Nutr Sci 1987;11:153-74.
    2. 96068. Ouzir M, El Bairi K, Amzazi S. Toxicological properties of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum). Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Oct;96:145-54. PubMed

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Wheezing Worth acting on Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    “Fenugreek can cause allergic reactions when used orally and topically, and when the powder is inhaled. Orally, fenugreek has caused bronchospasm, diarrhea, and itching, and skin reactions severe enough to require intravenous human immunoglobulin. Topically, fenugreek paste has resulted in facial swelling, wheezing, and numbness around the head.”

    Fenugreek · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in asthma.

    2 sources cited
    1. 719. Patil SP, Niphadkar PV, Bapat MM. Allergy to fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum). Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1997;78:297-300. PubMed
    2. 96068. Ouzir M, El Bairi K, Amzazi S. Toxicological properties of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum). Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Oct;96:145-54. PubMed

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    Recorded for Fenugreek in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low blood sugar above.

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Itching / Swelling Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    Recorded for Fenugreek in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Wheezing above.

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach pain Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    Recorded for Fenugreek in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low blood sugar above.

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dizziness / Headache Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    “Orally, loss of consciousness has occurred in a 5 week-old infant drinking tea made from fenugreek. Dizziness and headaches have been reported in clinical research of fenugreek extract. However, these events are rare.”

    Fenugreek · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in vertigo.

    3 sources cited
    1. 9782. Sewell AC, Mosandl A, Bohles H. False diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease owing to ingestion of herbal tea. N Engl J Med 1999;341:769.. PubMed
    2. 49551. Abdel-Barry, J. A., Abdel-Hassan, I. A., Jawad, A. M., and al Hakiem, M. H. Hypoglycaemic effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Trigonella foenum-graecum in healthy volunteers. East Mediterr.Health J 2000;6(1):83-88. DOI
    3. 93419. Rao A, Steels E, Inder WJ, Abraham S, Vitetta L. Testofen, a specialised Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a doubl

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    Recorded for Fenugreek in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low blood sugar above.

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea Additional detail

    Fenugreek

    “Orally, fenugreek seed can cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, abdominal distention and pain, nausea, and flatulence, especially when taken on an empty stomach.”

    Fenugreek · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    6 sources cited
    1. 622. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:301-6.
    2. 12534. Gupta A, Gupta R, Lal B. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo controlled study. J Assoc Physicians India 2001;49:1057-61.
    3. 18349. Chevassus H, Gaillard JB, Farret A, et al. A fenugreek seed extract selectively reduces spontaneous fat intake in overweight subjects. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010;66(5):449-55. PubMed
    4. 93421. Steels E, Rao A, Vitetta L. Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum extract and mineral formulation. Phytother Res. 2011 Sep;25(9):1294-300.
    5. 96065. Gong J, Fang K, Dong H, Wang D, Hu M, Lu F. Effect of fenugreek on hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidemia in diabetes and prediabetes: A meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Dec 24;194:260-268. PubMed
    6. 96068. Ouzir M, El Bairi K, Amzazi S. Toxicological properties of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum). Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Oct;96:145-54. PubMed

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Hydroxychloroquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Fenugreek but not commonly for Hydroxychloroquine: fainting, an allergic reaction, bloating or gas and a stuffy or runny nose.

Effects for Hydroxychloroquine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Fenugreek come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Fenugreek in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally in amounts greater than those found in food. Fenugreek has potential oxytoxic and uterine stimulant activity. There are case reports of congenital malformations, including hydrocephalus, anencephaly, cleft palate, and spina bifida, after consumption of fenugreek seeds during pregnancy. Consumption of fenugreek immediately prior to delivery may cause the neonate to have unusual body odor. Although this does not appear to cause long-term sequelae, it may be misdiagnosed as maple syrup urine disease.

Lactation Possibly Safe

When used orally to stimulate lactation, short-term. Although most available clinical studies lack safety testing in the lactating parent or infant, some evidence suggests that taking fenugreek 1725 mg three times daily orally for 21 days does not cause negative side effects in the infant.

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 Hydroxychloroquine Products Have a Food Rule — Fenugreek Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Hydroxychloroquine says to take it with food. If you take Fenugreek on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Hydroxychloroquine 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 Hydroxychloroquine 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.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Adults ( 2.3 ): Initial dosage: 400 mg to 600 mg daily Chronic dosage: 200 mg once daily or 400 mg once daily (or in two divided doses) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Adults ( 2.4 ): 200 mg once daily or 400 mg once daily (or in two divided doses) Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus in Adults ( 2.5 ): 200 mg once daily or 400 mg once daily (or in two divided doses) 2.1 Imp

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Hydroxychloroquine — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Fenugreek or Hydroxychloroquine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Fenugreek or Hydroxychloroquine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Hydroxychloroquine

This page covers Fenugreek only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Hydroxychloroquine page lists 32 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 7 major · 16 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Hydroxychloroquine page

“Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can stretch the QT interval on its own, the pause between heartbeats that, prolonged too far, can trigger a dangerous rhythm. Thirteen of the supplements and herbs on this page add to that same effect, grapefruit in large amounts among them, and that overlap is why this list calls for genuine care rather…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Hydroxychloroquine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2,385 real supplement products containing Fenugreek, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fenugreek. Even though Fenugreek itself has no known interaction with Hydroxychloroquine, 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 Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine 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 Fenugreek
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Hydroxychloroquine
Top 25%

#694 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 Fenugreek reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Fenugreek

What is Fenugreek?

Fenugreek
  • Blood sugar control
  • Boosting breast milk supply
  • High cholesterol
  • Digestive upset
  • Low testosterone or libido

Fenugreek is a common kitchen spice that is also taken as a supplement, mainly for blood sugar, cholesterol, and to support breast milk production. Some early research is encouraging for blood sugar, but overall the evidence is mixed and far from settled. It is generally well tolerated as food, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it as a supplement, especially if you are pregnant.

Trigonella foenum-graecum · Fabaceae · Seeds and leaves · Capsules, powder, seeds, tea, extracts, and as a culinary spice

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

Fenugreek: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for fenugreek, and the right amount depends on the product and reason for use. Studies have used a wide range of doses and different preparations, so there is no single agreed-upon amount.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed them.

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

Read the full Fenugreek monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Hydroxychloroquine

What Is Hydroxychloroquine Used For?

Brand name: Plaquenil

Hydroxychloroquine tablets are used to treat uncomplicated malaria and to help prevent malaria in areas where the parasite has not developed resistance to it — in both adults and children. It is also used in adults to treat rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.

There are important limits: it is not recommended for complicated or drug-resistant malaria, malaria acquired in regions where resistance is known, or to prevent malaria relapses caused by P. vivax or P. ovale. Its use for the autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis and lupus) is approved for adults only.

See full Hydroxychloroquine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fenugreek

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

0Major
224Moderate
165Minor
2,440No known interaction
Moderate

224 interactions

Showing 60 of 224 moderate interactions — see all 224 on the Fenugreek page.

Minor

165 interactions

Showing 60 of 165 minor interactions — see all 165 on the Fenugreek page.

No interaction 2,440 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Fenugreek References

The 30 references that drive our Fenugreek 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. Madar Z, Thorne R. Dietary fiber. Prog Food Nutr Sci 1987;11:153-74.
  2. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:301-6.
  3. Patil SP, Niphadkar PV, Bapat MM. Allergy to fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum). Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1997;78:297-300. PubMed
  4. Lambert J, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:509-12. PubMed
  5. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) on blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty PubMed
  6. Yalcin SS, Tekinalp G, Ozalp I. Peculiar odor of traditional food and maple syrup urine disease. Pediatr Int 1999;41:108-9. PubMed
  7. Sewell AC, Mosandl A, Bohles H. False diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease owing to ingestion of herbal tea. N Engl J Med 1999;341:769.. PubMed
  8. Abdo MS, al-Kafawi AA. Experimental studies on the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (abstract). Planta Med 1969;17:14-8.
  9. Gupta A, Gupta R, Lal B. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo controlled study. J Assoc Physicians India 2001;49:1057-61.
  10. Gabay MP. Galactogogues: medications that induce lactation. J Hum Lact 2002;18:274-9. PubMed
  11. Chevassus H, Gaillard JB, Farret A, et al. A fenugreek seed extract selectively reduces spontaneous fat intake in overweight subjects. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010;66(5):449-55. PubMed
  12. Turkyilmaz C, Onal E, Hirfanoglu IM, et al. The effect of galactagogue herbal tea on breast milk production and short-term catch-up of birth weight in the first week of life. J Altern Complement Med 2011;17(2):139-42. PubMed
  13. Swafford S, Berens P. Effect of fenugreek on breast milk volume. Abstract presented at: 5th International Meeting of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine; September 11-13,2000, Tucson, Arizona.
  14. Abdel-Barry, J. A., Abdel-Hassan, I. A., Jawad, A. M., and al Hakiem, M. H. Hypoglycaemic effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Trigonella foenum-graecum in healthy volunteers. East Mediterr.Health J 2000;6(1):83-88. DOI
  15. Parvizpur, A., Ahmadiani, A., and Kamalinejad, M. Probable role of spinal purinoceptors in the analgesic effect of Trigonella foenum (TFG) leaves extract. J Ethnopharmacol 3-8-2006;104(1-2):108-112. PubMed

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 Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Fenugreek with Hydroxychloroquine?
We do not list a known interaction between Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine. 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.
Do Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Hydroxychloroquine says to take it with food. If you take Fenugreek on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Hydroxychloroquine with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Hydroxychloroquine products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Fenugreek and Hydroxychloroquine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Hydroxychloroquine is filed under 3 classifications, and Fenugreek has documented interactions with 9 drug classes — none of Hydroxychloroquine'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 Fenugreek interact with any other medications?
Yes. Fenugreek has 389 documented drug interactions in our database — Hydroxychloroquine 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 Hydroxychloroquine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Hydroxychloroquine has documented interactions with 32 supplements in our database — Fenugreek is not one of them. The Hydroxychloroquine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Hydroxychloroquine and Fenugreek?

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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.