Drug & supplement interaction

German Chamomile + Ganaxolone

Ganaxolone brand name: Ztalmy.

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

Ganaxolone falls into 2 drug categories that German Chamomile can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, German chamomile might have additive effects when used with CNS depressants.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

German Chamomile and Ganaxolone

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

German Chamomile interacts with whole categories of medication. Ganaxolone falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with German Chamomile in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Ganaxolone

Ganaxolone falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group German Chamomile interacts with.

Theoretically, German chamomile might have additive effects when used with CNS depressants.
German chamomile has mild sedative effects. Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs with sedative properties can cause additive effects and side effects.
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 simple version: Ganaxolone (Ztalmy) is a medicine that calms overactive brain signaling to help control seizures, and one of its expected effects is making people feel sleepy or drowsy. Chamomile tea has its own mild calming, sleepy effect. So when you combine the two, the worry is that those sleepy effects could stack on top of each other.

In real life, that might mean feeling more tired, groggy, dizzy, or less steady on your feet than usual. I want to be honest though: this concern comes from lab and animal research, not from solid human studies, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. An occasional cup of tea is unlikely to be a big deal, but it's smart to check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding regular chamomile, especially in concentrated supplement form.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Viola H, Wasowski C, Levi de Stein M, et al. Apigenin, a component of Matricaria recutita flowers, is a central benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects. Planta Med 1995;61:213-6.
  2. Avallone R, Zanoli P, Puia G, et al. Pharmacological profile of apigenin, a flavonoid isolated from Matricaria chamomilla. Biochem Pharmacol 2000;59:1387-94. PubMed
  3. Loggia RD, Traversa U, Scarcia V, et al. Depressive effects of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch, tubular flowers, on central nervous system in mice. Pharmacol Res Commun 1982;14(2):153-162. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Ganaxolone also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP3A4 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
In vitro evidence shows that German chamomile might inhibit CYP3A4. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, there might be an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in patients taking German chamomile.
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

Ganaxolone (Ztalmy) is the seizure medicine used for CDKL5 deficiency disorder, and your body clears it mainly through a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In lab studies, German chamomile has shown it might slow that same enzyme down a bit. If that happened in a real person, ganaxolone could build up slightly more than expected, which might mean more of its usual side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or feeling extra sleepy.

Here's the reassuring part: this is only seen in test-tube research, not in actual patients, so it's theoretical. An occasional cup of chamomile tea is unlikely to cause trouble, but concentrated chamomile supplements are a bigger question mark. Before adding either, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  2. Ganzera M, Schneider P, Stuppner H. Inhibitory effects of the essential oil of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and its major constituents on human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Life Sci 2006;78(8):856-861. PubMed

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

German Chamomile Also Interacts With Other Medications

German Chamomile has 924 moderate, 35 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ganaxolone one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 924 Minor 35 No known interaction 1,871 (incl. Ganaxolone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against German Chamomile

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ganaxolone

This page covers German Chamomile only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ganaxolone page lists 195 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ganaxolone page

“Families managing CDKL5 deficiency disorder, the rare childhood epilepsy that ganaxolone (Ztalmy) treats, should read this supplement list carefully rather than skim it. Most entries fall into two camps.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ganaxolone interaction page

One more smart check

Taking German Chamomile as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 782 real supplement products containing German Chamomile, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides German Chamomile. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ganaxolone too, on top of German Chamomile — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where German Chamomile and Ganaxolone 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 German Chamomile
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ganaxolone
Top 25%

#344 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 German Chamomile

What is German Chamomile?

German Chamomile
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Sleep and relaxation
  • Digestive upset
  • Skin irritation and inflammation
  • Mouth sores and gum irritation

German chamomile is a widely used herbal remedy taken mainly as a tea for calming, sleep, and digestive complaints. Early research suggests possible benefits for mild anxiety and some skin or digestive issues, but the evidence is limited and most uses are based on tradition rather than strong proof. It is generally well tolerated, but people allergic to ragweed or related plants and those who are pregnant should be cautious.

Read the full German Chamomile monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ganaxolone

What Is Ganaxolone Used For?

Brand name: Ztalmy

Ztalmy (ganaxolone) oral suspension is approved to treat seizures associated with cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency disorder (CDD) in patients 2 years of age and older. CDD is a rare genetic disorder that causes frequent, hard-to-control seizures starting in infancy.

Ztalmy is typically used alongside other antiseizure medications — in clinical studies, nearly all patients were already taking at least one other antiseizure drug when they started Ztalmy.

See full Ganaxolone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & German Chamomile

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

0Major
924Moderate
35Minor
1,870No known interaction
924 Moderate 35 Minor 1,870 No interaction
Moderate

924 interactions

Showing 60 of 924 moderate interactions — see all 924 on the German Chamomile page.

Minor

35 interactions

No interaction 1,870 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,870 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full German Chamomile list.

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

Can you take German Chamomile with Ganaxolone?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for German Chamomile and Ganaxolone?
Ganaxolone belongs to more than one drug category, and German Chamomile interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the German Chamomile and Ganaxolone 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 Ganaxolone and German Chamomile?

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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.