Drug & supplement interaction

Goji + Clindamycin

Clindamycin brand names: Cleocin, Dalacin C, Cleocin T Gel, Clindesse, ClindaMax.

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

Goji has a moderate interaction with Clindamycin. Theoretically, goji berry might inhibit CYP3A4 and reduce metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Goji and Clindamycin

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Clindamycin

Clindamycin falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Goji interacts with.

Theoretically, goji berry might inhibit CYP3A4 and reduce metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that goji berry juice inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes. Concomitant use with goji may decrease metabolism and increase levels of CYP3A4 substrates. However, this has not been reported in humans.
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 short version: your body uses a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to help break down clindamycin. In laboratory tests, goji berry juice seemed to slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happened in real life, clindamycin could clear out of you a little more slowly and build up, which in theory might mean more of its usual side effects, like nausea, stomach upset, or loose stools.

The important part is the evidence. This is only from lab and animal studies, and it has never actually been reported in people. Eating goji berries as food is very unlikely to matter. If you take concentrated goji supplements, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on things. Please don't change your antibiotic on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Liu R, Tam TW, Mao J, et al. In vitro activity of Lycium barbarum (Goji) against major human phase I metabolism enzymes. Complement Integr Med. 2016;13(3):257-265.

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

Goji Also Interacts With Other Medications

Goji has 2 major, 929 moderate, 68 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Clindamycin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 929 Minor 68 No known interaction 1,831 (incl. Clindamycin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Goji

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Goji or Clindamycin

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

This page covers Goji only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Clindamycin page lists 169 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 123 moderate · 43 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Clindamycin page

“Someone on clindamycin (Cleocin) is usually mid-course against a stubborn bacterial infection, and often reaching for a probiotic to protect the gut at the same time. That instinct is understandable, but this list warrants genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Clindamycin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,738 real supplement products containing Goji, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Goji. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Clindamycin too, on top of Goji — 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 Goji and Clindamycin 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 Goji
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Clindamycin
Top 25%

#470 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 Goji

What is Goji?

Goji
  • General antioxidant support
  • Eye health
  • Immune support
  • Anti-aging and well-being
  • Blood sugar support

Goji berries are a nutritious fruit rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and plant polysaccharides, and they are safe for most people as a food. While they are popular for eye health, immune support, and general wellness, strong human evidence for most health claims is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated goji supplements, especially if you take medications or are pregnant.

Read the full Goji monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Clindamycin

What Is Clindamycin Used For?

Brand names: Cleocin, Dalacin C, Cleocin T Gel, Clindesse, ClindaMax

Clindamycin is prescribed for serious infections caused by certain bacteria — including anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that thrive without oxygen), streptococci, staphylococci, and pneumococci. It's often chosen when penicillin-type antibiotics can't be used, such as in people with a penicillin allergy.

It can treat infections of the lungs, skin and soft tissue, bloodstream, abdomen, and female reproductive organs. Because it carries real risks, doctors reserve it for infections where safer antibiotics aren't appropriate.

See full Clindamycin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Goji

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

2Major
929Moderate
68Minor
1,830No known interaction
2 Major 929 Moderate 68 Minor 1,830 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

929 interactions

Showing 60 of 929 moderate interactions — see all 929 on the Goji page.

Minor

68 interactions

Showing 60 of 68 minor interactions — see all 68 on the Goji page.

No interaction 1,830 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,830 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Goji list.

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

Can you take Goji with Clindamycin?
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 Goji and Clindamycin 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 Clindamycin and Goji?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.