Frankincense + Papaverine
Papaverine brand names: Pavabid, Para Time, P 200, Pavabid HP.
We found no known interaction between Frankincense and Papaverine in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.
Frankincense and Papaverine
We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.
No Known Interaction Found
We did not find a documented interaction between Papaverine and Frankincense in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.
Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Frankincense at all — not against Papaverine, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.
If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.
Frankincense safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Papaverine
This page covers Frankincense only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Papaverine page lists 20 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Mistletoe (major), Beer (moderate), Coffee Charcoal (moderate) and European Mandrake (moderate).
By severity: 2 major · 9 moderate · 9 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Papaverine page
“Papaverine relaxes blood vessels to improve blood flow, and its interaction list warrants genuine care, since 2 of the 20 entries are rated major. Most of the list concerns absorption, fibers and gums that can change how much of an oral dose reaches your bloodstream, but the two majors come first.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Frankincense as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 56 real supplement products containing Frankincense, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Frankincense. Even though Frankincense itself has no known interaction with Papaverine, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Frankincense and Papaverine 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.
#478 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#2,150 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.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
- Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Frankincense reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Frankincense and Papaverine records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
- What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
About Frankincense
What is Frankincense?
- Joint pain and osteoarthritis
- Inflammation
- Digestive complaints
- Asthma and breathing problems
- Calming aromatherapy
Frankincense is the aromatic resin of the Boswellia tree and is best known for its boswellic acids, which may help with inflammation and joint pain. Early research is promising for conditions like osteoarthritis, but the evidence is still limited and dosing is not standardized. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Boswellia serrata · Burseraceae · Oleo-gum-resin from the tree bark; essential oil distilled from the resin · Capsules and tablets (often standardized Boswellia extract), resin, essential oil for aromatherapy, topical creams
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Frankincense is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Frankincense record says about it on its own.
Frankincense: dosing
There is no official, standardized dose of frankincense. Studies have used different Boswellia extracts standardized to varying amounts of boswellic acids, so it is hard to compare products directly.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and choose a reputable brand that lists its boswellic acid content. Essential oils are for inhalation or diluted topical use only and should never be taken by mouth.
From our Frankincense monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Papaverine
What Is Papaverine Used For?
Brand names: Pavabid, Para Time, P 200, Pavabid HP
Papaverine Hydrochloride Injection is used when smooth muscle goes into spasm — meaning it contracts abnormally and needs to be relaxed. It is given for vascular (blood vessel) spasms that can occur with conditions like acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina pectoris (chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart), and peripheral or pulmonary embolism (blockages in the limb or lung arteries).
It is also used for peripheral vascular disease where spasm plays a role, certain cerebral angiospastic states (blood vessel spasms in the brain), and visceral spasm — meaning painful cramping in internal organs such as the ureter, gallbladder (biliary colic), or intestines (gastrointestinal colic).
Other Drugs & Frankincense
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Frankincense — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Frankincense against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Testosterone ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Aspirin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Docusate ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Propranolol ›
- Metformin ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Letrozole ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Frankincense list.
Frankincense References
The 2 references that drive our Frankincense monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Acebo, E., Raton, J. A., Sautua, S., Eizaguirre, X., Trebol, I., and Perez, J. L. Allergic contact dermatitis from Boswellia serrata extract in a naturopathic cream. Contact Dermatitis 2004;51(2):91-92.
- Buonomo M, Hylwa S. Allergic contact dermatitis from Boswellia carterii (frankincense) oil. Contact Dermatitis 2021;85(4):465-467.
Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Taking Frankincense and Papaverine Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Frankincense with Papaverine?
Do Frankincense and Papaverine have any of the same side effects?
Does Papaverine interact with any supplements?
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.