Drug & supplement interaction

Gossypol + Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline brand names: Marax, Ami Rax.

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

Gossypol has a moderate interaction with Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline. Theoretically, gossypol's male contraceptive effects might be reduced when taken with theophylline.

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

Gossypol and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

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

Moderate

THEOPHYLLINE

Why this applies to Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline falls under THEOPHYLLINE — the group Gossypol interacts with.

Theoretically, gossypol's male contraceptive effects might be reduced when taken with theophylline.
In vitro research shows that theophylline interferes with the ability of gossypol to decrease sperm motility.
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 thing to know about combining gossypol with your Marax-type product (which contains theophylline along with ephedrine and hydroxyzine): the interaction goes in an unusual direction. It isn't about gossypol changing your medication. Instead, the theophylline in your combo may blunt what gossypol does. In lab studies (test tube only, not people), theophylline got in the way of gossypol's ability to slow down sperm movement. So if someone were taking gossypol for its experimental contraceptive effect, theophylline might make it work less well.

Honestly, the bigger point is that gossypol itself isn't a safe, approved supplement. It can cause low potassium, organ toxicity, and possibly permanent infertility. Please don't self-treat with it, and talk with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing anything new with this medication.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Cowart CL, London SN, Vernon MW, Pedigo NG. The effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, forskolin, and theophylline on motility parameters in gossypol-treated human sperm. Fertil Steril 1994;61:929-34. 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

Gossypol Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gossypol has 103 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 103 No known interaction 2,727 (incl. Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gossypol

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

This page covers Gossypol only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline page lists 199 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Black Tea (major), Caffeine (major), Coffee (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 17 major · 143 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline page

“For anyone taking Marax (ephedrine, hydroxyzine, theophylline), nothing on this page matters more than caffeine. Paired with the ephedrine in this combination, caffeine from coffee, teas, guarana, and similar herbs has been linked to dangerous blood pressure spikes, heart attack, and stroke, and those stimulant pairings account for mos…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gossypol and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, 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 Gossypol
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline
Top half

#982 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 Gossypol

What is Gossypol?

Gossypol
  • Male contraception (research interest)
  • Reduction of sperm production
  • Endometriosis (historical/research)
  • Antiviral and antiparasitic research
  • Cancer cell research

Gossypol is a toxic yellow pigment from cotton plants that has been studied mainly as an experimental male contraceptive because it can lower sperm production. It is not an approved or safe over-the-counter supplement, and it carries serious risks including possibly permanent infertility, low potassium, and organ toxicity. It should not be used for self-treatment.

Read the full Gossypol monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gossypol

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

0Major
103Moderate
0Minor
2,726No known interaction
103 Moderate 2,726 No interaction
Moderate

103 interactions

Showing 60 of 103 moderate interactions — see all 103 on the Gossypol page.

No interaction 2,726 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,726 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gossypol list.

See the full Gossypol interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, 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
Gossypol monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline, 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 Gossypol and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gossypol with Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline?
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 Gossypol and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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.