Drug & supplement interaction

Feverfew + Defibrotide Sodium

Defibrotide Sodium brand name: Defitelio.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Feverfew has a moderate interaction with Defibrotide Sodium. Theoretically, feverfew might have additive effects and increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Feverfew and Defibrotide Sodium

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Defibrotide Sodium

Defibrotide Sodium falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Feverfew interacts with.

Theoretically, feverfew might have additive effects and increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Laboratory research suggests that feverfew may inhibit platelet aggregation. Additionally, in one case report, a 36-year-old patient taking feverfew 2400 mg daily for 3 months experienced vaginal bleeding and a prolonged menstrual cycle, with a modest increase in partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and prothrombin time (PT).
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 thing to keep in mind: defibrotide (Defitelio) is given in the hospital to help prevent blood clots in the liver after a stem-cell transplant. By itself, it already nudges your body away from clotting, so bleeding is one of its main known risks. Feverfew may add to that because lab studies suggest it can make platelets (the cells that help blood clot) a little less sticky. Stack the two and you could, in theory, see easier bruising, nosebleeds, or heavier bleeding.

I want to be straight with you: this concern is theoretical, based mostly on test-tube work and a single case report, not strong human studies. Still, defibrotide is reserved for seriously ill people, so don't add feverfew without first clearing it with the transplant team or your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Awang DVC. Prescribing therapeutic feverfew (Tancetum pathrnium (L.) Schultz Bip., syn. Chrysanthemumparthenium (L.) Bernh). Int Med 1998;1:11-3.
  2. Heptinstall S, Groenewegen WA, Spangenberg P, Loesche W. Extracts of feverfew may inhibit platelet behaviour via neutralization of sulphydryl groups. J Pharm Pharmacol 1987;39:459-65. PubMed
  3. Heptinstall S, White A, Williamson L, Mitchell JR. Extracts of feverfew inhibit granule secretion in blood platelets and polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Lancet 1985;1:1071-4. PubMed
  4. Makheja AN, Bailey JM. A platelet phospholipase inhibitor from the medicinal herb feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). Prostaglandins Leukot Med 1982;8:653-60.
  5. Groenewegen WA, Heptinstall S. A comparison of the effects of an extract of feverfew and parthenolide, a component of feverfew, on human platelet activity in-vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol 1990;42:553-7. PubMed
  6. Heptinstall S, Groenewegen WA, Spangenberg P, Losche W. Inhibition of platelet behaviour by feverfew: a mechanism of action involving sulphydryl groups. Folia Haematol Int Mag Klin Morphol Blutforsch 1988;115:447-9.
  7. Biggs MJ, Johnson ES, Persaud NP, Ratcliffe DM. Platelet aggregation in patients using feverfew for migraine. Lancet 1982;2:776. PubMed
  8. Alenzi KA, Alharbi FH, Tawhari FM, Fradees GS. Alteration of Coagulation Test Results and Vaginal Bleeding Associated With the Use of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). J Med Cases 2021;12(1):9-12.

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

Feverfew Also Interacts With Other Medications

Feverfew has 928 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Defibrotide Sodium one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 928 No known interaction 1,902 (incl. Defibrotide Sodium)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Feverfew

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Defibrotide Sodium

This page covers Feverfew only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Defibrotide Sodium page lists 202 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), Aconite (moderate), Allspice (moderate) and Aloe (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 183 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Defibrotide Sodium page

“Defibrotide (Defitelio) is an intravenous drug for severe veno-occlusive disease of the liver after a stem cell transplant, and part of how it works is by reducing the blood's tendency to clot. That makes bleeding the single thread running through this entire list, and it deserves real care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Defibrotide Sodium interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 520 real supplement products containing Feverfew, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Feverfew. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Defibrotide Sodium too, on top of Feverfew — 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 Feverfew and Defibrotide Sodium 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 Feverfew
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Defibrotide Sodium
Steady interest

#1,596 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 Feverfew

What is Feverfew?

Feverfew
  • Migraine prevention
  • Headache
  • Fever (traditional)
  • Arthritis and joint pain
  • Menstrual discomfort

Feverfew is a daisy-family herb best known for migraine prevention, where some studies suggest it may modestly lower how often migraines occur, though the evidence is mixed. It is generally well tolerated for short-term use in most adults but should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding and by people allergic to ragweed and related plants. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Read the full Feverfew monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Defibrotide Injection

What Is Defibrotide Injection Used For?

Brand name: Defitelio

Defitelio (defibrotide injection) is used to treat hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) — also called sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) — in adult and pediatric patients. This is a serious condition where small blood vessels in the liver become blocked, most often after a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT).

Defitelio is specifically indicated when VOD is accompanied by kidney dysfunction or pulmonary (lung) dysfunction, making it a treatment for one of the most severe forms of this complication.

See full Defibrotide Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Feverfew

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

0Major
928Moderate
0Minor
1,901No known interaction
928 Moderate 1,901 No interaction
Moderate

928 interactions

Showing 60 of 928 moderate interactions — see all 928 on the Feverfew page.

No interaction 1,901 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,901 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Feverfew list.

See the full Feverfew interactions page
See every supplement checked against Defibrotide Sodium, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Feverfew monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Defibrotide Sodium supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Defibrotide Sodium, ranked by severity Defibrotide Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Feverfew and Defibrotide Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Feverfew with Defibrotide Sodium?
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 Feverfew and Defibrotide Sodium 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

Still Have a Question About Defibrotide Sodium and Feverfew?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.