Guggul + Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel
Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel brand name: Lybrel.
Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel falls into 3 drug categories that Guggul can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, guggul might reduce the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Read the full interaction reportGuggul and Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel
These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 3 Interactions?
Guggul interacts with whole categories of medication. Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Guggul in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
1 of 3Why this applies to Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel
Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Guggul interacts with.
In vitro research shows that guggul constituents known as guggulsterones can induce CYP3A4.
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..
Here's the concern with combining guggul and your birth control pill (Lybrel). Both hormones in your pill, ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, are cleared from your body by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Lab studies suggest guggul may speed that enzyme up. If that happens, your body could break down the hormones faster, leaving lower levels in your blood.
For a birth control pill, weaker hormone levels could mean less reliable protection against pregnancy, and possibly some breakthrough bleeding or spotting. I want to be honest though: this is based only on test-tube and animal research, not on real patients, so it's theoretical. Still, since pregnancy prevention matters, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing the two.
- 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
CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS
2 of 3Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel also falls under CONTRACEPTIVE DRUGS.
In vitro research shows that guggul has estrogen-alpha receptor agonist activity.
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.
Your birth control pill, Lybrel, contains ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) plus levonorgestrel (a progestin). The concern here is pretty mild and mostly theoretical. In lab dish studies, guggul appears to mildly activate estrogen receptors, the same kind of receptors your pill's estrogen works on. On paper, stacking the two could slightly add to estrogen-type effects.
What might that look like in real life? Possibly more of the usual estrogen-related complaints, things like breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, or headaches. But honestly, this is based only on test-tube and animal data, so we don't know how much (if at all) it matters in people. I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding guggul.
- 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
ESTROGENS
3 of 3Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel also falls under ESTROGENS.
In vitro research shows that guggul constituents known as guggulsterones have estrogen-alpha receptor agonist activity.
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.
Lybrel is a combination birth control pill that uses ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) along with levonorgestrel. The concern here is pretty simple: lab studies suggest that guggul's active compounds, called guggulsterones, can act a little like estrogen by switching on estrogen receptors in the body. Stacked on top of the estrogen already in your pill, that could in theory add to estrogen-related effects.
What might that look like? Possibly more of the usual estrogen-type side effects, such as breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, bloating, or mood changes. I want to be honest, though: this is based only on test-tube research, not real people, so it's quite theoretical. Food or seasoning amounts won't matter, but concentrated supplement doses are the question mark. Before adding guggul, check with your pharmacist or doctor.
- 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.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Guggul Also Interacts With Other Medications
Guggul has 756 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Guggul
We haven’t checked that one against Guggul yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Guggul. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel
This page covers Guggul only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel page lists 239 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).
By severity: 6 major · 195 moderate · 38 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel page
“A daily birth control pill like Lybrel (ethinyl estradiol with levonorgestrel) only works when enough hormone stays in the bloodstream, and that is exactly what several supplements on this page can undermine. This list deserves genuine care, starting with the six major-rated entries.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
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 Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel 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:
Where Guggul and Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel 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.
#221 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#151 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Guggul
What is 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.
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.
No drugs match “”.
756 interactions
- Diclofenac Sodium ›
- Diltiazem ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Aspirin ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Naproxen ›
- Erythromycin ›
- Estradiol ›
- Minocycline ›
- Propranolol ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Lidocaine ›
- Norethindrone ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Prednisone ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Dexamethasone ›
- Triazolam ›
- Zopiclone ›
- Colchicine ›
- Fentanyl ›
- Oxybutynin ›
- Prednisolone ›
- Tacrolimus ›
- Temazepam ›
- Budesonide ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Clindamycin ›
- Dextromethorphan ›
- Diclofenac Potassium ›
- Dipyridamole ›
- Doxorubicin ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Miconazole ›
- Buprenorphine ›
- Conjugated Estrogens ›
- Diazepam ›
- Everolimus ›
- Ivabradine ›
- Ketoprofen ›
- Medroxyprogesterone ›
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ›
- Rifampin ›
- Testosterone Undecanoate ›
- Aripiprazole ›
- Bivalirudin ›
- Caffeine (otc Drug) ›
- Ciclesonide ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Cyclobenzaprine ›
- Dapsone ›
- Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate ›
- Erythromycin Stearate ›
- Etoposide ›
- Fluticasone Propionate ›
- Hydroxyzine ›
Showing 60 of 756 moderate interactions — see all 756 on the Guggul page.
No interaction 2,073 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Guggul against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Methylphenidate ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Docusate ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Bupropion ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Acetaminophen, Oxycodone ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Mannitol ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Valsartan ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Spironolactone ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Levodopa ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Venlafaxine ›
- Lenvatinib ›
- Vancomycin ›
- Phenylephrine ›
- Hethylphenidate Hcl ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,073 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Guggul list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel Is Linked to Lower Levels of 7 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Guggul — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Guggul and Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel Together: Common Questions
Can you take Guggul with Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Guggul and Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel?
How serious is the Guggul and Ethinyl estradiol, Levonogestrel interaction?
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.