Drug & supplement interaction

Hemp Agrimony + Interferon Alfa-2b

Interferon Alfa-2b brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Hemp Agrimony has a moderate interaction with Interferon Alfa-2b. Hemp agrimony contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA).

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

Hemp Agrimony and Interferon Alfa-2b

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

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Interferon Alfa-2b

Interferon Alfa-2b falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Hemp Agrimony interacts with.

Hemp agrimony contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). Theoretically, using hemp agrimony with hepatotoxic drugs might have additive adverse effects on the liver. Some drugs that can adversely affect the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ilosone, others), phenytoin (Dilantin), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and many others.
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 concern with pairing these two. Hemp agrimony can contain natural compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are known to be hard on the liver. Interferon Alfa-2b can already stress your liver on its own, and it is often used to treat liver conditions like hepatitis B and C in the first place. Stacking a liver-stressing herb on top of it could, in theory, add up and burden your liver more.

To be fair, this caution is theoretical, based on how each one behaves rather than studies in people taking them together. Still, since interferon isn't a prodrug and the worry here is overlapping liver strain (think fatigue, nausea, belly pain, yellowing of skin or eyes), I'd skip hemp agrimony and check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

References
  1. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  2. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. 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

Hemp Agrimony Also Interacts With Other Medications

Hemp Agrimony has 437 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Interferon Alfa-2b 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 Hemp Agrimony

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Alfa-2b

This page covers Hemp Agrimony only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Interferon Alfa-2b page lists 57 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angelica Archangelica (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 53 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Interferon Alfa-2b page

“People taking interferon alfa-2b (Intron A, Rebetron) are usually treating hepatitis or a cancer, so the liver may already be under strain, and that is exactly where most of this list points. Of the 57 supplements on file, 38 can add to liver stress, and all three major-rated interactions sit in that group: Siberian cocklebur, which ha…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Interferon Alfa-2b interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3 real supplement products containing Hemp Agrimony, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Hemp Agrimony. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Interferon Alfa-2b too, on top of Hemp Agrimony — 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 Hemp Agrimony and Interferon Alfa-2b 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 Hemp Agrimony
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Alfa-2b
Top half

#1,234 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 Hemp Agrimony

What is Hemp Agrimony?

Hemp Agrimony
  • Digestive complaints
  • Cold and flu symptoms
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Mild fever
  • Traditional 'tonic' or detox use

Hemp agrimony is a traditional European herb that has been used for digestion, colds, and as a general tonic, but there is very little reliable human research to support these uses. More importantly, the plant can contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that may harm the liver, so most experts do not recommend taking it internally. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using any product that contains hemp agrimony.

Read the full Hemp Agrimony monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Interferon Alfa-2b Injection

What Is Interferon Alfa-2b Injection Used For?

Brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon

  • Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions.

  • Interferon alfa-2b injection is used

    • alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

    • to treat chronic hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

    • to treat hairy cell leukemia (a white blood cell cancer),

    • to treat genital warts,

    • to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow on different parts of the body) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),

    • to treat malignant melanoma (a cancer that begins in certain skin cells) in certain people who have had surgery to remove the cancer,

    • along with another medication to treat follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer).

  • Interferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. Interferon alfa-2b works to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) by decreasing the amount virus in the body. Interferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis B or hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications from these infections such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. It also may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B or C to other people. It is not known exactly how interferon alfa-2b works to treat cancer or genital warts.

See full Interferon Alfa-2b Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Hemp Agrimony

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

0Major
437Moderate
0Minor
2,392No known interaction
Moderate

437 interactions

Showing 60 of 437 moderate interactions — see all 437 on the Hemp Agrimony page.

No interaction 2,392 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 Hemp Agrimony and Interferon Alfa-2b Together: Common Questions

Can you take Hemp Agrimony with Interferon Alfa-2b?
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 Hemp Agrimony and Interferon Alfa-2b 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.