Drug & supplement interaction

Fo-ti + Aspirin, Pentazocine

Aspirin, Pentazocine brand name: Talwin Compound.

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

Aspirin, Pentazocine falls into 2 drug categories that Fo-ti can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fo-ti might increase or decrease the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.

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

Fo-ti and Aspirin, Pentazocine

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Aspirin, Pentazocine

Aspirin, Pentazocine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Fo-ti interacts with.

Theoretically, fo-ti might increase or decrease the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
In vitro research suggests that fo-ti might inhibit CYP1A2. Additionally, in vitro research suggests that the degree of CYP1A2 inhibition depends on the type of fo-ti extract (i.e., the raw plant leads to greater inhibition than extensively processed extracts). However, in an animal study, an aqueous extract of fo-ti inhibited CYP1A2 while an alcoholic extract of fo-ti induced CYP1A2. Induction or inhibition of CYP1A2 by fo-ti has not been reported in humans.
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

Talwin Compound combines aspirin with pentazocine, a prescription pain reliever. The piece that touches this interaction is pentazocine, which the liver helps clear using an enzyme called CYP1A2. Fo-ti has shown, mostly in test tube and animal studies, that it might slow that enzyme down. If pentazocine clears more slowly, it could build up a bit, which in theory might add to side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, or slowed breathing.

Here's the honest part: this is theoretical. It has not been confirmed in people, and different fo-ti products may even act in opposite directions. The aspirin part isn't the concern here. Still, because pentazocine affects the brain and breathing, I'd run your fo-ti use past your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two. Please don't stop or change anything on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Unger M, Frank A. Simultaneous determination of the inhibitory potency of herbal extracts on the activity of six major cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and automated online extraction. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2004;1 PubMed
  2. Zhang Y, Ding T, Diao T, Deng M, Chen S. Effects of Polygonum multiflorum on the activity of cytochrome P450 isoforms in rats. Pharmazie 2015;70(1):47-54. DOI
  3. Xing Y, Yu Q, Zhou L, et al. Cytochrome P450-mediated herb-drug interaction (HDI) of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. based on pharmacokinetic studies and in vitro inhibition assays. Phytomedicine 2023;112:154710. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 2

Aspirin, Pentazocine also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Fo-ti has been linked to cases of acute liver failure which can decrease clotting factor production and increase the effects of anticoagulants. In one case, a patient who had been stable on warfarin presented with acute hepatitis and an INR elevated to 14.98. The patient had been taking fo-ti for 90 days prior to admission. Discontinuation of warfarin and fo-ti lead to a decrease in the INR and full recovery. Theoretically, concomitant use of fo-ti with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs may increase the risk of bleeding in some patients. Until more is known, monitor patients taking fo-ti and drugs that affect bleeding.
Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
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

The product you're asking about (Talwin Compound) pairs aspirin with the pain reliever pentazocine. Here, it's the aspirin part that matters, because aspirin already thins the blood by keeping platelets from sticking together. Fo-ti's concern isn't about how your body breaks down this drug. The worry is that Fo-ti has rarely been tied to liver injury, and a stressed liver makes fewer clotting factors. Stack that on top of aspirin and you could, in theory, bleed more easily.

To be fair, this is built on a few anecdotal reports, not strong studies, so it's a caution rather than a red alert. Still, keep an eye out for easy bruising, nosebleeds, dark stools, or stomach upset, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Jung KA, Min HJ, Yoo SS, et al. Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Twenty Five Cases of Acute Hepatitis Following Ingestion of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Gut Liver 2011;5(4):493-9. PubMed

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

Fo-ti Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fo-ti has 1,256 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Pentazocine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,256 No known interaction 1,574 (incl. Aspirin, Pentazocine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fo-ti

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Pentazocine

This page covers Fo-ti only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Pentazocine page lists 336 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), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Danshen (major).

By severity: 11 major · 283 moderate · 42 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aspirin, Pentazocine page

“Talwin Compound pairs pentazocine, an opioid painkiller, with aspirin, and I read its supplement list with more concern than most. The great majority of entries do one of two things: raise the bleeding risk that aspirin already carries, or deepen the sedation pentazocine causes.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin, Pentazocine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Fo-ti as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 976 real supplement products containing Fo-ti, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fo-ti. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Pentazocine too, on top of Fo-ti — 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 Fo-ti and Aspirin, Pentazocine 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 Fo-ti
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Pentazocine
Top 25%

#451 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 Fo-ti

What is Fo-ti?

  • Anti-aging and longevity
  • Hair graying and hair loss
  • General tonic for vitality
  • Constipation
  • High cholesterol

Fo-ti (He Shou Wu) is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine, often promoted for healthy aging and hair. High-quality human evidence for these benefits is limited, and processed Fo-ti has been linked to reports of liver injury, so caution and professional guidance are important.

Read the full Fo-ti monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fo-ti

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

0Major
1,256Moderate
0Minor
1,573No known interaction
1,256 Moderate 1,573 No interaction
Moderate

1,256 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,256 moderate interactions — see all 1,256 on the Fo-ti page.

No interaction 1,573 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,573 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Fo-ti list.

See the full Fo-ti interactions page
See every supplement checked against Aspirin, Pentazocine, 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
Fo-ti monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Aspirin, Pentazocine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Aspirin, Pentazocine, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Fo-ti and Aspirin, Pentazocine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fo-ti with Aspirin, Pentazocine?
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 Fo-ti and Aspirin, Pentazocine?
Aspirin, Pentazocine belongs to more than one drug category, and Fo-ti 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 Fo-ti and Aspirin, Pentazocine 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.