Garden Cress - Tegretol (Carbamazepine) Interaction
Herbal: Garden Cress
Also Known As: Lepidium sativum, Berro Hortelano, Cresson Alénois, Cresson de Jardin, Lepidio, Mastuerzo
Drug: Carbamazepine
Brand names:
Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Equetro, Carbatrol, Carnexiv
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
Jun 08, 2025
Interaction Details
Carbamazepine is classified as belonging to the following category: Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Theoretically, garden cress might increase the absorption rate of carbamazepine and result in blood concentrations outside of the therapeutic window.
Animal research shows that taking garden cress seed daily for 8 days prior to a single dose of carbamazepine does not significantly affect maximum concentrations or area under the curve of carbamazepine. However, the absorption rate is increased, with a 50% reduction (2 hours) in time to peak concentration, resulting in increased plasma levels within 3 hours of dosing and then decreased plasma levels from 5-12 hours after dosing. This has not been shown in humans.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
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
References
- Alkharfy KM, Al-Jenoobi FI, Alam MA, et al. Lepidium sativum but not Nigella sativa affects carbamazepine disposition in an animal model. Drug Metab Lett 2013;7:47-51.
Garden Cress Overview
Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is a fast-growing herb that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It is native to Europe and Asia and is cultivated for its flavorful, spicy leaves and seeds. Garden cress is often used in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes as a garnish or condiment.
Garden cress is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folic acid, and iron. It is also purported to have various health benefits, including improving digestion, reducing inflammation, and boosting the immune system.
Carbamazepine Overview
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Carbamazepine is used alone or in combination with other medications to control certain types of seizures in people with epilepsy. It is also used to treat trigeminal neuralgia (a condition that causes facial nerve pain). Carbamazepine extended-release capsules (Equetro brand only) are also used to treat episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited or irritated mood) or mixed episodes (symptoms of mania and depression that happen at the same time) in patients with bipolar I disorder (manic-depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Carbamazepine is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Garden Cress - More Interactions
Garden Cress interacts with 393 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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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
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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