Drug & supplement interaction

Golden Ragwort + Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate

Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate brand name: Soniphen.

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

Golden Ragwort has a moderate interaction with Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate. Theoretically, CYP3A4 inducers might increase the risk of adverse effects from the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents in golden ragwort.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Golden Ragwort and Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INDUCERS

Why this applies to Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate

Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INDUCERS — the group Golden Ragwort interacts with.

Theoretically, CYP3A4 inducers might increase the risk of adverse effects from the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents in golden ragwort.
Golden ragwort contains PAs. PAs are substrates of CYP3A4. Theoretically, drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase the conversion of PAs to toxic metabolites.
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 of this one. Phenobarbital is a strong CYP3A4 inducer, meaning it revs up that liver enzyme. Golden Ragwort's pyrrolizidine alkaloids get turned into harmful, liver-damaging byproducts by that same enzyme. So in theory, taking phenobarbital alongside this herb could speed up the creation of those toxic substances and raise the risk of liver injury.

I want to be honest with you though: this concern comes from lab and animal data, not real patient cases, so it's more of a caution than a proven danger. The bigger point is that Golden Ragwort really isn't safe to take internally on its own. Please skip it and check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding any herbal product.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  2. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. 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

Golden Ragwort Also Interacts With Other Medications

Golden Ragwort has 86 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 86 No known interaction 2,744 (incl. Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Golden Ragwort

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate

This page covers Golden Ragwort only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate page lists 141 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 Kava (major).

By severity: 8 major · 115 moderate · 18 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate page

“Phenobarbital with sodium nitrate (Soniphen) is a barbiturate, a heavy sedative used mainly for seizures, and its supplement list calls for real care before you add anything to it. Of the 141 ingredients on file, 78 pile extra sedation onto a drug that already slows breathing and reflexes, and six of the eight major-rated entries sit i…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Golden Ragwort, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Golden Ragwort. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate too, on top of Golden Ragwort — 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 Golden Ragwort and Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate 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 Golden Ragwort
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate
Steady interest

#2,692 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 Golden Ragwort

What is Golden Ragwort?

  • Menstrual complaints
  • Easing childbirth (traditional)
  • Urinary discomfort
  • Sore throat (folk use)

Golden Ragwort is a flowering plant once used in traditional and folk medicine, mainly for menstrual and female reproductive complaints. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause serious liver damage, so it is not considered safe for internal use, and modern herbalists generally avoid it.

Read the full Golden Ragwort monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Golden Ragwort

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

0Major
86Moderate
0Minor
2,743No known interaction
86 Moderate 2,743 No interaction
Moderate

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 moderate interactions — see all 86 on the Golden Ragwort page.

No interaction 2,743 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,743 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Golden Ragwort list.

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

Can you take Golden Ragwort with Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate?
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 Golden Ragwort and Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate 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 Phenobarbital, Sodium Nitrate and Golden Ragwort?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.