Drug & supplement interaction

German Chamomile + Theophylline

Theophylline brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, and others.

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

German Chamomile has a minor interaction with Theophylline. Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP1A2 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.

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

German Chamomile and Theophylline

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

Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Theophylline

Theophylline falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group German Chamomile interacts with.

Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP1A2 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
In vitro and animal research shows that German chamomile might inhibit CYP1A2. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, there might be an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 in patients taking German chamomile.
Severity Minor 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 gist: your body clears theophylline mainly through a liver enzyme called CYP1A2. German chamomile may slow that enzyme down a bit, at least in lab and animal studies. If it does, theophylline could clear more slowly and build up in your blood, nudging levels upward.

Why I mention it at all is that theophylline is a narrow-window medicine, meaning the gap between a helpful dose and too much is small. Higher levels can cause nausea, a racing or pounding heart, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, or in serious cases tremors or seizures. That said, this has not been seen in real people yet, and an occasional cup of chamomile tea is unlikely to matter much. Concentrated supplements are a bigger question mark. Please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Maliakal PP, Wanwimolruk S. Effect of herbal teas on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001;53:1323-9. 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 925 moderate, 34 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Theophylline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 925 Minor 34 No known interaction 1,871 (incl. Theophylline)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About German Chamomile or Theophylline

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers German Chamomile or Theophylline, 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:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Theophylline

This page covers German Chamomile only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Theophylline page lists 126 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Sida Cordifolia (major), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 89 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Theophylline page

“Stop ephedra before anything else if you take theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, and others) for asthma or COPD. Both are stimulants, and together they raise the risk of serious heart and nervous system effects; Sida cordifolia, an herb that contains ephedrine, carries the same major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Theophylline 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 Theophylline 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 Theophylline 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Theophylline
Steady interest

#1,906 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 Theophylline

What Is Theophylline Used For?

Brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Uniphyl, Slo-phyllin Gyrocaps, Theolair, Theolair SR, Quibron-T/SR, Quibron-T, Aerolate III, Theo-X, Bronkodyl, Theoclear LA-130, Constant-T, Theoclear LA-260, Elixophyllin, Theovent, Theobid Jr Duracap, Respbid, Theobid Duracap

Theophylline — available as extended-release capsules (Theo-24), extended-release tablets, and oral solution (Elixophyllin) — is used to treat symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction caused by chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

All supported formulations share these indications. Theophylline is intended for patients with ongoing or recurring symptoms, not for sudden (acute) breathing attacks, which need faster-acting treatments.

See full Theophylline 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
925Moderate
34Minor
1,870No known interaction
925 Moderate 34 Minor 1,870 No interaction
Moderate

925 interactions

Showing 60 of 925 moderate interactions — see all 925 on the German Chamomile page.

Minor

34 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 Theophylline, 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 Theophylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Theophylline, ranked by severity Theophylline 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 Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take German Chamomile with Theophylline?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the German Chamomile and Theophylline interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Theophylline 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.