Drug & supplement interaction

Gamboge + Betamethasone Dipropionate

Betamethasone Dipropionate brand name: Sernivo.

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

Gamboge has a moderate interaction with Betamethasone Dipropionate. Theoretically, prolonged use might have additive effects with drugs that deplete potassium, including corticosteroids.

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

Gamboge and Betamethasone Dipropionate

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

Moderate

CORTICOSTEROIDS

Why this applies to Betamethasone Dipropionate

Betamethasone Dipropionate falls under CORTICOSTEROIDS — the group Gamboge interacts with.

Theoretically, prolonged use might have additive effects with drugs that deplete potassium, including corticosteroids.
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 good news for this particular pairing. Your betamethasone is the dipropionate cream or spray (Sernivo), which you rub onto your skin. Very little of it gets into your bloodstream, so the body-wide concerns that come with steroid pills usually don't apply here.

The theoretical worry on file is that gamboge, used as a harsh laxative, can flush potassium out of your body, and oral corticosteroids can do the same. Together that could in theory drop potassium too low, causing muscle weakness, cramps, or an irregular heartbeat. But this is based on pharmacology, not real cases, and a topical steroid contributes little to that. Honestly, my bigger concern is that gamboge itself is toxic and not safe to swallow. Please skip it and check with your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

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

Gamboge Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gamboge has 121 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Betamethasone Dipropionate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 No known interaction 2,709 (incl. Betamethasone Dipropionate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamboge

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Betamethasone Dipropionate

This page covers Gamboge only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Betamethasone Dipropionate page lists 107 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Lily-of-the-valley (major), St. John's Wort (major), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate), Alder Buckthorn (moderate) and Alfalfa (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 95 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Betamethasone Dipropionate page

“Betamethasone dipropionate (Sernivo) is a potent corticosteroid applied to the skin, and enough can absorb through it, especially over large areas or with long courses, that these interactions deserve genuine vigilance. Two of the 107 ingredients on file rate major: lily-of-the-valley, whose cardiac glycosides become more toxic when pr…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Betamethasone Dipropionate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamboge and Betamethasone Dipropionate 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 Gamboge
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Betamethasone Dipropionate
Top 25%

#437 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 Gamboge

What is Gamboge?

  • Laxative (purgative)
  • Expelling intestinal worms
  • Traditional wound care
  • Use as a yellow dye/pigment

Gamboge is a bright yellow tree resin used historically as a strong laxative and as an artists' pigment, but it is toxic in even modest amounts and is not a safe dietary supplement. Modern interest centers on its compound gambogic acid in laboratory cancer research, which does not make the raw resin safe to take. We recommend avoiding oral use of gamboge.

Read the full Gamboge monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Betamethasone Topical

What Is Betamethasone Topical Used For?

Brand name: Sernivo

Betamethasone topical is used to relieve the redness, swelling, and itching of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses (skin conditions that respond to steroid treatment). Sernivo Spray is specifically approved for plaque psoriasis of the body. Diprolene (topical cream, ointment, or gel) is indicated for inflammatory and itchy skin conditions in patients 13 years of age and older.

This medication is for use on the skin only. It is not approved for use on the face, groin, or underarms, and it is not for use in the eyes, mouth, or vagina.

See full Betamethasone Topical drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gamboge

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

0Major
121Moderate
0Minor
2,708No known interaction
121 Moderate 2,708 No interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

Showing 60 of 121 moderate interactions — see all 121 on the Gamboge page.

No interaction 2,708 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,708 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gamboge list.

See the full Gamboge interactions page
See every supplement checked against Betamethasone Dipropionate, 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
Gamboge monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Betamethasone Dipropionate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Betamethasone Dipropionate, ranked by severity Betamethasone Topical 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 Gamboge and Betamethasone Dipropionate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gamboge with Betamethasone Dipropionate?
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 Gamboge and Betamethasone Dipropionate 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 Betamethasone Dipropionate and Gamboge?

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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.