Drug & supplement interaction

Guggul + Cabozantinib S-Malate

Cabozantinib S-Malate brand name: Cabometyx.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Guggul has a moderate interaction with Cabozantinib S-Malate. Theoretically, guggul might reduce the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Guggul and Cabozantinib S-Malate

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Cabozantinib S-Malate

Cabozantinib S-Malate falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Guggul interacts with.

Theoretically, guggul might reduce the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that guggul constituents known as guggulsterones can induce CYP3A4.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the concern with pairing guggul and Cabometyx (cabozantinib). Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to break this cancer medicine down. Lab studies suggest the active compounds in guggul (guggulsterones) can speed that enzyme up. If that happens in people, your body could clear cabozantinib faster, leaving lower levels in your blood. For a cancer treatment, weaker levels could mean it doesn't work as well as it should, which is a real worry.

I want to be honest about the evidence though: this is based on test-tube and animal research, not human studies, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. Still, with a serious drug like this, I wouldn't gamble. Please check with your oncologist or pharmacist before adding guggul.

References
  1. Brobst DE, Ding X, Creech KL, et al. Guggulsterone activates multiple nuclear receptors and induces CYP3A gene expression through the pregnane X receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2004;310:528-35. 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

Guggul Also Interacts With Other Medications

Guggul has 756 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Cabozantinib S-Malate 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 Guggul

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cabozantinib S-Malate

This page covers Guggul only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cabozantinib S-Malate page lists 138 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 94 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Cabozantinib S-Malate page

“Cabozantinib (Cabometyx) treats kidney, liver, and thyroid cancers, and because its dosing is calibrated carefully, its supplement list warrants genuine care. Of the 138 ingredients with a known interaction, the great majority involve the CYP3A4 enzyme that clears the drug, so an herb can push cabozantinib levels high enough to worsen…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Cabozantinib S-Malate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 955 real supplement products containing Guggul, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Guggul. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Cabozantinib S-Malate too, on top of Guggul — 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 Guggul and Cabozantinib S-Malate 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 Guggul
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Cabozantinib S-Malate
Steady interest

#2,393 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 Guggul

What is Guggul?

Guggul
  • High cholesterol
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Weight management
  • Acne
  • Skin conditions

Guggul is a gum resin from the Commiphora wightii tree, long used in Ayurvedic medicine for cholesterol, joint, and skin problems. Modern studies are mixed and often low-quality, and it can cause stomach upset and skin rashes. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Guggul monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cabozantinib

What Is Cabozantinib Used For?

Brand name: Cabometyx

Cabozantinib treats several types of cancer. Cabometyx (tablet) is used for advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) — either alone or combined with nivolumab as a first-line treatment — as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) in patients previously treated with sorafenib, differentiated thyroid cancer that has progressed after prior therapy, and pancreatic or extra-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that have been previously treated. For thyroid cancer and NETs, Cabometyx is approved for adults and adolescents aged 12 and older.

Cometriq (capsule) is approved specifically for progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (a different type of thyroid cancer). Cometriq and Cabometyx are not interchangeable — do not substitute one for the other.

See full Cabozantinib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Guggul

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

0Major
756Moderate
0Minor
2,073No known interaction
Moderate

756 interactions

Showing 60 of 756 moderate interactions — see all 756 on the Guggul page.

No interaction 2,073 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 Guggul and Cabozantinib S-Malate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Guggul with Cabozantinib S-Malate?
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 Guggul and Cabozantinib S-Malate 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.