Drug & supplement interaction

Griffonia Simplicifolia + Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine brand name: Remeron.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Griffonia Simplicifolia has a moderate interaction with Mirtazapine. Theoretically, taking Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract with antidepressant drugs might increase the risk of serotonergic adverse effects, such as serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders such as Call-Fleming syndrome.

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

Griffonia Simplicifolia and Mirtazapine

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

Moderate

ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Mirtazapine

Mirtazapine falls under ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS — the group Griffonia Simplicifolia interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract with antidepressant drugs might increase the risk of serotonergic adverse effects, such as serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders such as Call-Fleming syndrome.
Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract contains 5-HTP. Taking 5-HTP with antidepressant drugs increases the risk of serotonergic adverse effects.
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 simple version: mirtazapine already nudges your brain's serotonin activity to help lift mood. Griffonia seeds carry 5-HTP, which your body turns into more serotonin. Stack the two and you may end up with too much serotonin at once.

When serotonin runs high, you can get what's called serotonin syndrome, things like agitation, a racing heart, sweating, shivering, muscle twitching, or feeling confused. This concern is mostly theoretical, based on how these two work rather than lots of real-world cases, so don't panic if you've taken them together. Still, since both push the same direction, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them. Please don't change your mirtazapine on your own.

References
  1. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  2. Lemaire PA, Adosraku RK. An HPLC method for the direct assay of the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytrophan, in seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia. Phytochem Anal 2002;13(6):333-7.

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

Griffonia Simplicifolia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Griffonia Simplicifolia has 316 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Mirtazapine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Griffonia Simplicifolia

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Griffonia Simplicifolia or Mirtazapine

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

This page covers Griffonia Simplicifolia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Mirtazapine page lists 212 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major), St. John's Wort (major) and 1,3-dmaa (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 162 moderate · 46 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Mirtazapine page

“Depression and poor sleep tend to travel together, which is why people on mirtazapine (Remeron) so often eye herbal mood and sleep remedies, and that overlap is exactly where this list demands real care. Four of the 212 ingredients on file carry a major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Mirtazapine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3 real supplement products containing Griffonia Simplicifolia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Griffonia Simplicifolia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Mirtazapine too, on top of Griffonia Simplicifolia — 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 Griffonia Simplicifolia and Mirtazapine 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 Griffonia Simplicifolia
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Mirtazapine
Top 25%

#401 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 Griffonia Simplicifolia

What is Griffonia Simplicifolia?

Griffonia Simplicifolia
  • Low mood
  • Sleep problems
  • Anxiety
  • Appetite control
  • Headaches

Griffonia simplicifolia is a West African shrub whose seeds are a natural source of 5-HTP, a building block of the brain chemical serotonin. Some people use it for mood, sleep, and appetite, but high-quality human evidence is limited, and it should not replace prescribed treatment. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you take medicines that affect serotonin.

Read the full Griffonia Simplicifolia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Mirtazapine

What Is Mirtazapine Used For?

Brand name: Remeron

Mirtazapine tablets, mirtazapine orally disintegrating tablets, Remeron, and RemeronsолTab are all indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Major depressive disorder involves a persistently low or sad mood most days, often accompanied by loss of interest, sleep changes, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

The effectiveness of mirtazapine tablets in maintaining a response for up to 40 weeks after an initial treatment period has also been demonstrated. Patients should be reassessed periodically to determine whether continued treatment is needed.

See full Mirtazapine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Griffonia Simplicifolia

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

0Major
316Moderate
0Minor
2,513No known interaction
Moderate

316 interactions

Showing 60 of 316 moderate interactions — see all 316 on the Griffonia Simplicifolia page.

No interaction 2,513 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Griffonia Simplicifolia and Mirtazapine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Griffonia Simplicifolia with Mirtazapine?
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 Griffonia Simplicifolia and Mirtazapine 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.