Drug & supplement interaction

Goji + Methadone

Methadone brand name: Dolophine.

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

Methadone falls into 2 drug categories that Goji can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, goji berry might inhibit CYP2D6 and reduce metabolism of CYP2D6 substrates.

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

Goji and Methadone

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Methadone

Methadone falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group Goji interacts with.

Theoretically, goji berry might inhibit CYP2D6 and reduce metabolism of CYP2D6 substrates.
In vitro research shows that goji berry juice inhibits CYP2D6 enzymes. Concomitant use with goji may decrease metabolism and increase levels of CYP2D6 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 gist with goji and methadone. Lab studies (in test tubes, not people) suggest goji can slow down an enzyme called CYP2D6, which is one of the pathways your body uses to break methadone down. If that pathway slows, a bit more methadone could linger in your system. Methadone is an active drug, not a prodrug, so more lingering means stronger opioid effects: extra drowsiness, slowed breathing, constipation, or feeling dizzy.

That said, this is theoretical and hasn't been seen in real patients, and eating a handful of goji berries is very different from taking concentrated extracts. Methadone has a narrow safety margin, though, so before adding goji supplements, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

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.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

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

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 basic idea with goji and methadone. Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to help clear methadone out of your system. Lab tests suggest goji may slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happened in your body, methadone could clear more slowly and build up, which could mean stronger effects like heavy drowsiness, slowed breathing, or feeling foggy and sedated.

The big thing to know: this is only based on test-tube research, and it has not actually been seen in people. Eating goji berries as a food is very unlikely to be a problem. Concentrated goji supplements are the bigger question mark. Since methadone needs careful dosing, just check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding a goji supplement.

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 Methadone one above is among 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. Methadone)
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 Methadone

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 Methadone, 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 Methadone

This page covers Goji only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methadone page lists 223 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: 10 major · 174 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methadone page

“If you take methadone, choose your supplements with genuine care. Of the 223 ingredients on this page, most either add to methadone's sedating effect or change how fast your body clears it, which can push its blood level up or down.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methadone 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 Methadone 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 Methadone 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 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Methadone
Top half

#1,116 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 Methadone

What Is Methadone Used For?

Brand name: Dolophine

Methadone treats severe and persistent pain that requires daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and cannot be managed adequately with other options. It is available in several forms for this use, including oral solution, oral tablets, oral concentrate, and injectable forms (intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous). Injectable methadone is not approved for outpatient pain treatment — it is reserved for hospitalized patients unable to take oral medication.

Methadone is also used for the detoxification and maintenance treatment of opioid addiction (dependence on heroin or other morphine-like drugs). Oral forms — including tablets, dispersible tablets (such as Methadose Dispersible and DISKETS), and oral concentrates (such as Methadone Hydrochloride Intensol™, Methadose, and others) — are approved for this use. By law, methadone for opioid addiction treatment must be dispensed only by certified opioid treatment programs. Injectable methadone is not approved for outpatient addiction treatment.

See full Methadone 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 Methadone, 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 Methadone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Methadone, ranked by severity Methadone 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 Methadone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Goji with Methadone?
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 Goji and Methadone?
Methadone belongs to more than one drug category, and Goji 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 Goji and Methadone 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 Methadone and Goji?

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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.