Drug & supplement interaction

Fever Bark + Selexipag

Selexipag brand name: Uptravi.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Selexipag falls into 2 drug categories that Fever Bark can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fever bark might alter the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Fever Bark and Selexipag

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Fever Bark interacts with whole categories of medication. Selexipag falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Fever Bark in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Selexipag

Selexipag falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Fever Bark interacts with.

Theoretically, fever bark might alter the effects of antihypertensive drugs.
Yohimbine, a constituent of fever bark, is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist and has been reported to increase blood pressure in clinical research. Conversely, reserpine can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Theoretically, concomitant use of fever bark and antihypertensive drugs can interfere with blood pressure control.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

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

Here's the thing with Uptravi (selexipag): its whole job is to relax the blood vessels in your lungs to lower the pressure there. Fever bark is a bit of a wild card because it carries two opposing ingredients. Its yohimbine-like compounds can raise blood pressure, while its reserpine-like compounds can lower it. Either way, that can tug against how well your selexipag controls things.

I'll be honest, this is a theoretical concern based on the plant's chemistry, not solid human studies with this exact drug. Still, with a condition like pulmonary arterial hypertension, you don't want surprises. Watch for things like dizziness, flushing, headache, or feeling your heart race. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing the two.

References
  1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  2. Kearney T, Tu N, Haller C. Adverse drug events associated with yohimbine-containing products: a retrospective review of the California Poison Control System reported cases. Ann Pharmacother 2010;44:1022-9. PubMed
  3. Lobay D. Rauwolfia in the Treatment of Hypertension. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Jun;14(3):40-6.
  4. Sheldon MB, Kotte JH. Effect of Rauwolfia serpentina and reserpine on the blood pressure in essential hypertension; a long-term double-blind study. Circulation. 1957 Aug;16(2):200-6.
Minor

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 2

Selexipag also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Theoretically, combining fever bark with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might have additive effects; however, this has not been reported in clinical research.
Research in healthy adults shows that taking yohimbine, a constituent of fever bark, in doses of 8 mg or more, seems to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro by binding to the alpha-2 adrenoceptor. The effects of fever bark itself are unclear.
Severity Minor 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 honest picture for Uptravi (selexipag). The concern on file is really about fever bark's mild blood-thinning side, not about changing how selexipag itself works. One of the bark's compounds, yohimbine, has shown in lab dishes that it can make platelets a little less sticky. Selexipag is grouped with antiplatelet-type drugs because it can slightly affect platelets too, so in theory the two together might add up and make minor bleeding or bruising a touch more likely.

But notice the fine print: this is theoretical, based only on test-tube work, and has never actually been reported in people. The real-world risk looks small. Still, since fever bark is a potent, poorly studied herb, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Mustonen, P., Savola, J., and Lassila, R. Atipamezole, an imidazoline-type alpha(2)-adrenoceptor inhibitor, binds to human platelets and inhibits their adrenaline-induced aggregation more effectively than yohimbine. Thromb.Res 8-1-2000;99(3):231-237.
  2. Berlin, I., Crespo-Laumonnier, B., Cournot, A., Landault, C., Aubin, F., Legrand, J. C., and Puech, A. J. The alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine inhibits epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in healthy subjects. Clin Pharmacol.Ther. 199
  3. Braddock, L., Cowen, P. J., Elliott, J. M., Fraser, S., and Stump, K. Binding of yohimbine and imipramine to platelets in depressive illness. Psychol.Med 1986;16(4):765-773. PubMed
  4. Boon, N. A., Elliott, J. M., Grahame-Smith, D. G., John-Green, T., and Stump, K. A comparison of alpha 2-adrenoreceptor binding characteristics of intact human platelets identified by [3H]-yohimbine and [3H]- dihydroergocryptine. J Auton.Pharmacol 1983;3

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

Fever Bark Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fever Bark has 40 major, 673 moderate, 87 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Selexipag one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fever Bark

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Selexipag

This page covers Fever Bark only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Selexipag page lists 291 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 6 major · 258 moderate · 27 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Selexipag page

“People take selexipag (Uptravi) for pulmonary arterial hypertension, dangerously high pressure in the arteries of the lungs, and that diagnosis raises the stakes on this list of 291 interacting supplements. I would treat it with real vigilance.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Selexipag interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Fever Bark and Selexipag 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 Fever Bark
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Selexipag
Steady interest

#2,106 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 Fever Bark

What is Fever Bark?

Fever Bark
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Malaria (traditional)
  • Digestive complaints
  • Bitter tonic

Fever bark is the bark of the Australian tree Alstonia constricta, used in traditional medicine for fever, diarrhea, and infections. There is very little reliable human research to support these uses, and the bark contains potent alkaloids that may cause serious side effects. It is best avoided unless used under direct medical supervision.

Read the full Fever Bark monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Selexipag

What Is Selexipag Used For?

Brand name: Uptravi

Selexipag tablets are used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) — a type of high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. The goal is to slow the disease from getting worse and to reduce the chances of being hospitalized because of PAH.

Uptravi (selexipag) tablets are approved for both adults and children aged 2 years and older. Uptravi for injection (intravenous) is also available for adult patients who are already on Uptravi tablets but temporarily cannot take medicine by mouth.

See full Selexipag drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fever Bark

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

40Major
673Moderate
87Minor
2,029No known interaction
Major

40 interactions

Moderate

673 interactions

Showing 60 of 673 moderate interactions — see all 673 on the Fever Bark page.

Minor

87 interactions

Showing 60 of 87 minor interactions — see all 87 on the Fever Bark page.

No interaction 2,029 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 Fever Bark and Selexipag Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fever Bark with Selexipag?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Fever Bark and Selexipag?
Selexipag belongs to more than one drug category, and Fever Bark interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Fever Bark and Selexipag 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.