Guggul + Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate
Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate brand names: Estrostep Fe, Loestrin Fe, Microgestin FE, Junel Fe 1.5/30, Loestrin Fe 1.5/30, and others.
Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate
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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate
Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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 guggul and your birth control pill (Loestrin Fe and similar brands). The estrogen and progestin in these pills are cleared from your body by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Lab studies suggest that guggulsterones, the active part of guggul, may speed up that enzyme. If that happens in real life, your body could break down the hormones faster, leaving lower levels than you need.
Why that matters: weaker hormone levels can mean breakthrough bleeding or spotting, and in theory less reliable pregnancy protection. I want to be honest though, this is based only on test-tube research, not human studies, so we don't know how strong the effect really is. To be safe, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing guggul with your pill, and ask whether a backup method makes sense.
- 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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 pill (Loestrin Fe and the others like it) combines an estrogen, ethinyl estradiol, with a progestin and an iron supplement. The concern with guggul here is fairly mild and mostly theoretical. In lab dish studies, compounds in guggul appear to act a bit like estrogen by stimulating estrogen receptors. Layered on top of the estrogen already in your birth control, the worry is that this could add to estrogen-type effects.
In real life this might mean a higher chance of things like breast tenderness, nausea, bloating, or headaches. This is based only on test-tube work, not human studies, so we don't really know how much it matters at supplement doses. It shouldn't reduce how well your pill prevents pregnancy. Still, before adding guggul, it's worth a quick chat 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
ESTROGENS
3 of 3Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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.
Your birth control pill (Loestrin Fe and similar brands) contains two hormones, ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) and norethindrone, plus a little iron. Here's the thing about guggul: in lab dish studies, its active compounds (guggulsterones) seem to act a bit like estrogen by switching on estrogen receptors. So in theory, layering guggul on top of your estrogen could add to estrogen-like effects in the body.
What might that look like? Possibly more of the usual estrogen-related complaints, like breast tenderness, nausea, bloating, or headaches. I'll be honest with you, though: this is based only on test-tube research, not real people, so we don't actually know if it matters at normal doses. It's a just-in-case caution. Before starting guggul, please run it by 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 758 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate
This page covers Guggul only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate page lists 240 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 · 196 moderate · 38 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate page
“If you take a birth control pill that combines ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone, and iron (Loestrin Fe, Estrostep Fe, Microgestin Fe), a few supplements can genuinely undermine it, and I want you to know which ones first. Six of the 240 ingredients on file carry a major rating.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Open the Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate interaction page
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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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.
#207 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#307 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 “”.
758 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 758 moderate interactions — see all 758 on the Guggul page.
No interaction 2,071 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 ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Docusate ›
- Metformin ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Bupropion ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide ›
- Calcium Oxybate, Magnesium Oxybate, Potassium Oxybate, Sodium Oxybate ›
- Acetaminophen, Oxycodone ›
- Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, Isometheptene ›
- Amphetamine Aspartate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate ›
- Atenolol, Chlorthalidone ›
- Aminophylline, Amobarbital, Ephedrine ›
- Acetaminophen, Brompheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine ›
- Enalapril Maleate ›
- Bendroflumethiazide, Rauwolfia Serpentina ›
- Canagliflozin, Metformin ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Ephedrine, Phenobarbital, Theophylline ›
- Sacubitril, Valsartan ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Levodopa ›
- Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Rifampin ›
- Rosiglitazone Maleate ›
- Daunorubicin, Cytarabine ›
- Bismuth Subcarbonate, Calcium Carbonate, Opium ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim ›
- Ceftolozane Sulfate, Tazobactam Sodium ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,071 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate Is Linked to Lower Levels of 7 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate Together: Common Questions
Can you take Guggul with Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Guggul and Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate?
How serious is the Guggul and Ethinyl Estradiol, Norethindrone, Ferrous Fumarate 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.