Drug & supplement interaction

Hedge Mustard + Clarithromycin

Clarithromycin brand names: Biaxin, Biaxin XL.

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

Hedge Mustard has a moderate interaction with Clarithromycin. Theoretically, taking hedge mustard with macrolide antibiotics might increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity.

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

Hedge Mustard and Clarithromycin

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

Moderate

MACROLIDE ANTIBIOTICS

Why this applies to Clarithromycin

Clarithromycin falls under MACROLIDE ANTIBIOTICS — the group Hedge Mustard interacts with.

Theoretically, taking hedge mustard with macrolide antibiotics might increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity.

The flowering above ground parts of hedge mustard contain cardioactive glycosides. Macrolide antibiotics appear to increase the gastrointestinal absorption of oral digoxin. Theoretically, concomitant use of macrolide antibiotics might increase the absorption of the cardiac glycosides found in hedge mustard.
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 twist with this pairing: the concern isn't really about the clarithromycin itself. The above-ground parts of hedge mustard contain natural heart-active compounds called cardiac glycosides, similar in action to the heart medication digoxin. Clarithromycin (Biaxin) is known to boost how much of those glycosides your gut absorbs. So in theory, taking them together could let more of the herb's heart compounds into your system than expected.

If that happened, you might see signs like nausea, a slow or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or vision changes. I want to be honest, though: this is a theoretical worry based on how these substances behave, not something proven in people. Still, since the heart is involved, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
  3. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

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

Hedge Mustard Also Interacts With Other Medications

Hedge Mustard has 132 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Clarithromycin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 132 No known interaction 2,698 (incl. Clarithromycin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Hedge Mustard

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Hedge Mustard or Clarithromycin

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

This page covers Hedge Mustard only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Clarithromycin page lists 196 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 9 major · 146 moderate · 41 minor.

Open the Clarithromycin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Hedge Mustard and Clarithromycin 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 Hedge Mustard
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Clarithromycin
Top 25%

#444 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 Hedge Mustard

What is Hedge Mustard?

  • Hoarseness and voice loss
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Mild laryngitis
  • Throat irritation

Hedge mustard is a traditional European herb long nicknamed the 'singer's plant' because it was used to soothe hoarseness and sore throats. Solid scientific evidence for these uses is very limited, so it is best seen as a folk remedy rather than a proven treatment. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Hedge Mustard monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Clarithromycin

What Is Clarithromycin Used For?

Brand names: Biaxin, Biaxin XL

Clarithromycin tablets and oral suspension treat a range of mild to moderate bacterial infections in adults and children, including community-acquired pneumonia, acute sinus infections, acute bacterial flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, strep throat and tonsillitis, uncomplicated skin infections, and middle ear infections in children. Tablets are also used in adults to eliminate H. pylori bacteria (in combination with other medicines) to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence.

Clarithromycin tablets — but not the extended-release tablet — are also used to treat and prevent disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections in people with advanced HIV. Clarithromycin extended-release tablets are approved only for acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, and community-acquired pneumonia in adults — not for the other conditions listed above.

See full Clarithromycin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Hedge Mustard

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

0Major
132Moderate
0Minor
2,697No known interaction
132 Moderate 2,697 No interaction
Moderate

132 interactions

Showing 60 of 132 moderate interactions — see all 132 on the Hedge Mustard page.

No interaction 2,697 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,697 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Hedge Mustard list.

See the full Hedge Mustard interactions page
See every supplement checked against Clarithromycin, 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
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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Hedge Mustard and Clarithromycin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Hedge Mustard with Clarithromycin?
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 Hedge Mustard and Clarithromycin 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

Still Have a Question About Clarithromycin and Hedge Mustard?

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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.