Fo-ti + Pantoprazole
Pantoprazole brand names: Protonix, Pantoloc, Protonix IV.
Pantoprazole falls into 2 drug categories that Fo-ti can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fo-ti may increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.
Read the full interaction reportFo-ti and Pantoprazole
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. Pantoprazole 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).
CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES
1 of 2Why this applies to Pantoprazole
Pantoprazole falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES — the group Fo-ti interacts with.
Animal and in vitro research suggests that fo-ti may inhibit CYP2C19. An in vitro study suggests that the degree of CYP2C19 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 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 gist: your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP2C19 to break down pantoprazole. Lab and animal studies hint that Fo-ti may slow that enzyme down, especially the raw root rather than heavily processed extracts. If that happened, more pantoprazole could linger in your system, nudging up its effects and the chance of side effects like headache, stomach upset, diarrhea, or dizziness.
Now the reassuring part: this is purely theoretical, based on test-tube and animal work, and it has never actually been reported in people. Pantoprazole is also generally well tolerated, so a small bump is unlikely to be a big deal. Still, since Fo-ti has its own liver-safety concerns, run this combo by your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.
- 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
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
2 of 2Pantoprazole 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 basic idea: your body clears pantoprazole partly through a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In test-tube studies, fo-ti seems to slow that enzyme down a little. If that happened in real life, pantoprazole could hang around longer than usual, which in theory might mean slightly stronger effects or a bit more chance of side effects like headache, diarrhea, nausea, or stomach upset.
The good news is that this is very weak evidence. It comes from lab and animal work only, and it has not been seen in actual people. Pantoprazole is also a pretty forgiving medication, not a narrow-margin drug, so even if levels shifted a touch, it usually wouldn't cause trouble. I'd still mention to your pharmacist or doctor that you take fo-ti, especially since processed fo-ti has been linked to liver concerns.
- 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 Pantoprazole 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 Pantoprazole
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 Pantoprazole, 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 You Take Oil of Oregano and Black Seed Oil With Pantoprazole? ›
- Can You Take Macrobid With Famotidine And Pantoprazole? ›
- Which Acid-Reducing Drugs Are Safe With Plavix? ›
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 Pantoprazole
This page covers Fo-ti only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pantoprazole page lists 152 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).
By severity: 3 major · 100 moderate · 49 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pantoprazole page
“Pantoprazole (Protonix) is a stomach acid reducer for reflux and ulcers, generally an easy drug to live with, but three of the 152 supplements and herbs on this list earn genuine caution. Grapefruit and St.”
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 Pantoprazole 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 Pantoprazole 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.
#198 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#200 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 Pantoprazole
What Is Pantoprazole Used For?
Brand names: Protonix, Pantoloc, Protonix IV
Pantoprazole delayed-release tablets and oral suspension are used in adults and children 5 years and older to heal erosive esophagitis (EE) — damage to the esophagus caused by stomach acid — and to relieve GERD symptoms short-term (up to 8 weeks). In adults, they are also used to maintain that healing and reduce heartburn relapse, and to treat conditions where the stomach makes too much acid, including Zollinger-Ellison (ZE) Syndrome.
Intravenous (IV) pantoprazole — given by injection or infusion in a clinical setting — is approved in adults for short-term treatment of GERD with a history of erosive esophagitis (up to 10 days) and for pathological hypersecretory conditions including ZE Syndrome. PROTONIX I.V. is also approved for GERD/EE in pediatric patients 3 months and older (up to 7 days). IV pantoprazole is not approved for treating upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
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 ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Phentermine, Topiramate ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Levodopa ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Hethylphenidate Hcl ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Bentoquatam ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Azelaic Acid ›
- Pizotifen ›
- Phenylephrine ›
- Hydroxychloroquine ›
- Ribavirin Aerosol ›
- Procainamide ›
- Alglucosidase Alpha ›
- Salbutamol Sulfate ›
- Flutemetamol F-18 ›
- Vancomycin ›
- Triptorelin ›
- Dirithromycin ›
- Telmisartan ›
- Rocuronium ›
- Pentobarbitone ›
- Tocainide ›
- Dextrothyroxine ›
- Ferric Derisomaltose ›
- Mitomycin C ›
- Chenodiol ›
- Lorazepam ›
- Digitoxin ›
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
Pantoprazole Is Linked to Lower Levels of 9 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Pantoprazole 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 Pantoprazole 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 Pantoprazole Together: Common Questions
Can you take Fo-ti with Pantoprazole?
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Fo-ti and Pantoprazole?
How serious is the Fo-ti and Pantoprazole interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Still Have a Question About Pantoprazole 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.