Fo-ti + Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin brand name: Atorvaliq.
Atorvastatin falls into 2 drug categories that Fo-ti can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fo-ti might increase the risk of liver damage when taken with hepatotoxic drugs.
Read the full interaction reportFo-ti and Atorvastatin
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. Atorvastatin 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).
HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS
1 of 2Why this applies to Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Fo-ti interacts with.
Fo-ti has been linked to liver damage in many reports.
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.
Here's the simple version: both Fo-ti and atorvastatin can be tough on your liver, so putting them together may add up. Fo-ti (especially the processed root) has shown up in a number of liver-injury reports, and atorvastatin can occasionally bump up your liver enzymes on its own. The worry is that the two together could stress the liver more than either one alone.
To be fair, this is mostly theoretical and based on scattered case reports, not strong studies, so I don't want to scare you. Still, watch for things like yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, unusual tiredness, or pain in the upper right belly. Before combining them, check in with your pharmacist or doctor, who may simply keep an eye on your liver labs.
- Park GJ, Mann SP, Ngu MC. Acute hepatitis induced by Shou-Wu-Pian, a herbal product derived from Polygonum multiflorum. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2001;16:115-7.
- But PP, Tomlinson B, Lee KL. Hepatitis related to the Chinese medicine Shou-wu-pian manufactured from Polygonum multiflorum. Vet Hum Toxicol 1996;38:280-2.
- UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Polygonum multiflorum and liver reactions. April 2006. Available at: www.mhra.gov.uk/home/idcplg?IdcService= SS_GET_PAGE&useSecondary=true&ssDocName= CON2023590&ssTargetNodeId= 833 (Accessed 10 May 2
- Panis B, Wong DR, Hooymans PM, De Smet PA, Rosias PP. Recurrent toxic hepatitis in a Caucasian girl related to the use of Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese herbal preparation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2005;41:256-8. PubMed
- Mazzanti G, Battinelli L, Daniele C, et al. New case of acute hepatitis following the consumption of Shou Wu Pian, a Chinese herbal product derived from Polygonum multiflorum. Ann Intern Med 2004;140:E589-90.
- Cardenas A, Restrepo JC, Sierra F, Correa G. Acute hepatitis due to shen-min: a herbal product derived from Polygonum multiflorum. J Clin Gastroenterol 2006;40:629-32. PubMed
- Laird AR, Ramchandani N, deGoma EM, et al. Acute hepatitis associated with the use of an herbal supplement (Polygonum multiflorum) mimicking iron-overload syndrome. J Clin Gastroenterol 2008;42:861-2. PubMed
- 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
- Yuen, M. F., Tam, S., Fung, J., Wong, D. K., Wong, B. C., and Lai, C. L. Traditional Chinese medicine causing hepatotoxicity in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: a 1-year prospective study. Aliment.Pharmacol.Ther 10-15-2006;24(8):1179-1186. PubMed
- Bae, S. H., Kim, D. H., Bae, Y. S., Lee, K. J., Kim, D. W., Yoon, J. B., Hong, J. H., and Kim, S. H. [Toxic hepatitis associated with Polygoni multiflori]. Korean J.Hepatol. 2010;16(2):182-186. PubMed
- Furukawa, M., Kasajima, S., Nakamura, Y., Shouzushima, M., Nagatani, N., Takinishi, A., Taguchi, A., Fujita, M., Niimi, A., Misaka, R., and Nagahara, H. Toxic hepatitis induced by show-wu-pian, a Chinese herbal preparation. Intern.Med. 2010;49(15):1537-1 PubMed
- Dong H, Slain D, Cheng J, Ma W, Liang W. Eighteen cases of liver injury following ingestion of Polygonum multiflorum. Complement Ther Med 2014;22(1):70-4. PubMed
- Lei X, Chen J, Ren J, et al. Liver damage associated with Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.: a systematic review of case reports and case series. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015;2015:459749.
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
2 of 2Atorvastatin also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.
In vitro research suggests that fo-ti might inhibit CYP3A4. One in vitro study suggests that the degree of CYP3A4 inhibition may depend on the type of fo-ti extract (i.e., the raw plant leads to greater inhibition than extensively processed extracts). However, this evidence conflicts with animal research suggesting that fo-ti does not inhibit CYP3A4. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
Here's the short version: your body uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to clear atorvastatin out of your system. Lab studies hint that Fo-ti, especially the raw root, might slow that enzyme down. If that happened in real life, atorvastatin could build up a bit higher than usual, which can nudge up the chance of muscle aches or weakness, and rarely liver irritation.
Now the honest part: this is theoretical. It comes from test-tube work, and even animal studies didn't agree. It has never been reported in actual people. One more thing worth knowing is that Fo-ti itself has been tied to liver injury, and atorvastatin can affect the liver too, so I'd run this combo by your pharmacist or doctor before starting.
- 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
- 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
- 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
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Fo-ti Also Interacts With Other Medications
Fo-ti has 1,256 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Atorvastatin one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Fo-ti
We haven’t checked that one against Fo-ti yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Fo-ti. Pick one to open its full report.
Questions About Fo-ti or Atorvastatin
These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Fo-ti or Atorvastatin, 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:
- Can I Take Ginkgo With Apixaban (Eliquis) and Atorvastatin? ›
- Is It Safe to Eat Pomegranate Seeds With Pravastatin? ›
- Is It Safe to Drink Motherwort Tea While Taking Atorvastatin? ›
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Atorvastatin
This page covers Fo-ti only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Atorvastatin page lists 181 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Green Tea (major).
By severity: 9 major · 136 moderate · 36 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Atorvastatin page
“Grapefruit is the entry to understand first. Atorvastatin (Atorvaliq) is cleared by an enzyme called CYP3A4, and grapefruit blocks that enzyme, letting statin levels climb along with the risk of side effects like muscle pain.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
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 Atorvastatin 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:
Where Fo-ti and Atorvastatin 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.
#214 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#23 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
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.
About Atorvastatin
What Is Atorvastatin Used For?
Brand name: Atorvaliq
Atorvastatin is used alongside a healthy diet to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, triglycerides (blood fats), and other harmful lipids, while raising HDL ("good") cholesterol. It treats primary hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), mixed dyslipidemia (mixed abnormal blood fats), hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides), and inherited conditions such as heterozygous and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia — including in children aged 10 and older.
Beyond cholesterol control, atorvastatin is used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina (chest pain) in adults with coronary heart disease or multiple risk factors for it — including adults with type 2 diabetes who have risk factors for heart disease even without a confirmed heart disease diagnosis.
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.
No drugs match “”.
1,256 interactions
- Diclofenac Sodium ›
- Diltiazem ›
- Theophylline ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Aspirin ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Insulin (rdna) ›
- Naproxen ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Erythromycin ›
- Estradiol ›
- Minocycline ›
- Propranolol ›
- Tetracycline ›
- Lidocaine ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Hydrochlorothiazide ›
- Norethindrone ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Fenofibrate ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Prednisone ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Dexamethasone ›
- Glyburide ›
- Insulin (pork) ›
- Methyltestosterone ›
- Triazolam ›
- Zopiclone ›
- Bupropion ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Colchicine ›
- Fentanyl ›
- Flurbiprofen ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Orphenadrine ›
- Oxybutynin ›
- Oxycodone ›
- Phenytoin ›
- Prednisolone ›
- Tacrolimus ›
- Temazepam ›
- Allopurinol ›
- Budesonide ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Clindamycin ›
- Dextromethorphan ›
- Diclofenac Potassium ›
- Dipyridamole ›
- Doxorubicin ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Formoterol ›
- Indomethacin ›
- Insulin (human) ›
- Miconazole ›
- Morphine Sulfate ›
- Trimipramine ›
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.
- Levothyroxine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Docusate ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Levodopa ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Phenylephrine ›
- Vancomycin ›
- Hethylphenidate Hcl ›
- Phentermine, Topiramate ›
- Bentoquatam ›
- Dirithromycin ›
- Procainamide ›
- Hydroxychloroquine ›
- Azelaic Acid ›
- Dextrothyroxine ›
- Triptorelin ›
- Lomustine ›
- Tocainide ›
- Pizotifen ›
- Pentobarbitone ›
- Rocuronium ›
- Succimer ›
- Mitomycin C ›
- Telmisartan ›
- Lorazepam ›
- Chenodiol ›
- Desflurane ›
- Metronidazole ›
- Caspofungin ›
- Famotidine ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,573 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Fo-ti list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Atorvastatin Is Linked to Lower Levels of 2 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Atorvastatin as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Fo-ti — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Atorvastatin nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Fo-ti and Atorvastatin Together: Common Questions
Can you take Fo-ti with Atorvastatin?
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Fo-ti and Atorvastatin?
How serious is the Fo-ti and Atorvastatin interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Still Have a Question About Atorvastatin and Fo-ti?
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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.