Drug & supplement interaction

Goldenseal + Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol

Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol brand names: Arthrotec 50, Arthrotec 75.

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

Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol falls into 2 drug categories that Goldenseal can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, goldenseal might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.

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

Goldenseal and Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Goldenseal interacts with whole categories of medication. Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Goldenseal 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 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol

Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Goldenseal interacts with.

Theoretically, goldenseal might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
In vitro research shows that goldenseal root extract can modestly inhibit CYP2C9. This effect may be due to its alkaloid constituents, hydrastine and berberine. However, this effect 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

Arthrotec combines diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory painkiller) with misoprostol (which helps protect your stomach). The diclofenac part is cleared from your body partly by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. Lab studies suggest goldenseal can mildly slow that enzyme down, which in theory could let diclofenac build up a bit and lead to stronger effects or more side effects, like stomach upset, ulcers or bleeding, fluid retention, or kidney strain.

Here's the honest part: this has only been seen in test tube and animal studies, never confirmed in real people. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, since diclofenac is already hard on the stomach and kidneys, it's worth mentioning goldenseal to your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Chatterjee P, Franklin MR. Human cytochrome p450 inhibition and metabolic-intermediate complex formation by goldenseal extract and its methylenedioxyphenyl components. Drug Metab Dispos 2003;31:1391-7. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 2

Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Theoretically, goldenseal might increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Goldenseal contains berberine. In vitro and animal research shows that berberine can inhibit platelet aggregation. However, this effect 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

Arthrotec pairs diclofenac (an NSAID pain reliever) with misoprostol (which protects your stomach). On its own, diclofenac can already nudge up bleeding risk because NSAIDs make platelets a little less sticky and can irritate the stomach lining. The concern here is that goldenseal contains berberine, which in lab and animal studies also seemed to keep platelets from clumping. Stacked together, they could in theory add up to a bit more bleeding tendency.

I want to be honest though: this hasn't actually been seen in people, so it's a theoretical concern, not a proven one. Still, watch for things like easy bruising, nosebleeds, dark or bloody stools, or stomach pain. Before combining them, 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. Wu, J. F. and Liu, T. P. [Effects of berberine on platelet aggregation and plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in rats with reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion]. Yao Xue.Xue.Bao. 1995;30(2):98-102.
  2. Tripathi YB and Shukla SD. Berberis artistata inhibits PAF induced aggregation of rabbit platelets. Phytotherapy Research 1996;10:628-630.

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

Goldenseal Also Interacts With Other Medications

Goldenseal has 1,235 moderate, 1 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,235 Minor 1 No known interaction 1,594 (incl. Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Goldenseal

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol

This page covers Goldenseal only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol page lists 306 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 7 major · 265 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol page

“Alcohol is the plainest hazard on this list. Beer and wine both carry major ratings with Arthrotec (diclofenac sodium and misoprostol) because mixing an NSAID with alcohol raises the risk of stomach bleeding, and bleeding is the thread running through most of these 306 entries.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,726 real supplement products containing Goldenseal, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Goldenseal. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol too, on top of Goldenseal — 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 Goldenseal and Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol 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 Goldenseal
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol
Top 5%

#113 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 Goldenseal

What is Goldenseal?

Goldenseal
  • Digestive upset and diarrhea
  • Colds and respiratory infections
  • Sore throat and mouth sores
  • Skin and eye irritation (topical/traditional)
  • Antimicrobial support

Goldenseal is a popular North American herb that contains berberine, a compound studied for antimicrobial effects. However, strong human evidence for its many traditional uses is largely lacking, and it should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Goldenseal monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Goldenseal

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

0Major
1,235Moderate
1Minor
1,593No known interaction
1,235 Moderate 1 Minor 1,593 No interaction
Moderate

1,235 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,235 moderate interactions — see all 1,235 on the Goldenseal page.

Minor

1 interaction

No interaction 1,593 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,593 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Goldenseal list.

See the full Goldenseal interactions page
See every supplement checked against Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol, 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
Goldenseal monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol, 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 Goldenseal and Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Goldenseal with Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol?
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 Goldenseal and Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol?
Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol belongs to more than one drug category, and Goldenseal 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 Goldenseal and Diclofenac Sodium, Misoprostol 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

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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.