Drug & supplement interaction

Hemp + Interferon Alfa-2b

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

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Hemp and Interferon Alfa-2b in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Hemp and Interferon Alfa-2b

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Interferon Alfa-2b and Hemp in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Hemp safety at a glance

Hemp overall Use caution Hemp seed foods are generally well tolerated, but concentrated extracts and supplements are less studied.
Pregnancy Use caution Hemp seed foods are likely fine in normal amounts, but concentrated extracts should be avoided due to limited safety data.
Breastfeeding Use caution Food amounts of hemp seed are likely okay, but supplements and extracts are not well studied, so caution is advised.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Interferon Alfa-2b and Hemp? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Interferon Alfa-2b

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Interferon Alfa-2b is filed under 2 classifications — photosensitizing drugs, hepatotoxic drugs. Hemp has documented interactions with 6 drug classes — the most serious being estrogens (moderate), ace inhibitors (aceis) (minor) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (minor) — and none of Interferon Alfa-2b’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Hemp Does Interact With Other Medications

Hemp has 41 moderate, 897 minor known drug interactions in our database — Interferon Alfa-2b isn’t 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

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

What to actually watch for

What Hemp Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Interferon Alfa-2b. It is the side-effect record for Hemp on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Hemp, this list is the first place to look. 4 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Fainting / An irregular heartbeat Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, hemp products are generally well tolerated in food amounts. In larger amounts, hemp seed oil seems to be well tolerated.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Rare cases of anaphylaxis have been reported. Long QT syndrome, torsades de pointes, and syncope have also been reported rarely.”

    Hemp · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in torsades de pointes.

    “Acquired long QT syndrome, torsades de pointes, and syncope have been reported in a 56-year-old woman following the intake of supplements containing hemp oil. The hemp supplements provided cannabidiol (CBD), and possibly cannabigerol (CBG). Although the exact dose is unknown, up to six times the recommended dose had been used for approximately 6 weeks, in combination with a supplement containing berberine.”

    Hemp · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in torsades de pointes.

    1 source cited
    1. 110104. Déléaval M, Burri H, Bakelants E. Harmless herbs? A case report of acquired long QT syndrome and torsades de pointes in a patient taking herbal supplements. HeartRhythm Case Rep 2022;8(5):309-12. PubMed
  • Wheezing / Shortness of breath / Hives Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, there are case reports of allergy to hemp seed, although this is uncommon. A 44-year-old male developed hives during a meal of hemp seed-crusted seafoods. Later, he developed facial swelling, shortness of breath, and problems speaking. Evaluation revealed allergy to a specific protein in hemp seed. He did not react to smoked cannabis.”

    Hemp · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    4 sources cited
    1. 101140. Stadtmauer G, Beyer K, Bardina L, Sicherer SH. Anaphylaxis to ingestion of hempseed (Cannabis sativa). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;112(1):216-7. PubMed
    2. 101154. Alkhammash S, Tsui H, Thomson DMP. Cannabis and hemp seed allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019;7(7):2429-2430.e1. PubMed
    3. 110288. Clark E, Nilsson U, Samaran Q, Raison-Peyron N. Allergic contact dermatitis from Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil. Contact Dermatitis 2022;87(3):292-293.
    4. 101155. Stokes JR, Hartel R, Ford LB, Casale TB. Cannabis (hemp) positive skin tests and respiratory symptoms. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2000;85(3):238-40. PubMed
  • Seizures / Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, there is a case report of elevated liver enzymes and hepatitis in a two-year-old boy given hemp extract 2.5 mL, providing 125 mg phytocannabinoid, five to eight times daily for infantile spasms and refractory seizures. The total dose of phytocannabinoids was approximately 60-100 mg/kg daily.”

    Hemp · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

    1 source cited
    1. 110287. Singh M, Sehgal M, Yacoub M, et al. Severe liver dysfunction in a toddler receiving nonprescription phytocannabinoid. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2022;62(4):1438-1440. PubMed
  • A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Recorded for Hemp in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Fainting / An irregular heartbeat above.

  • Swelling / A skin rash Additional detail

    Recorded for Hemp in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Wheezing / Shortness of breath / Hives above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Hemp — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Interferon Alfa-2b to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Interferon Alfa-2b.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Alfa-2b

This page covers Hemp 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 as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 720 real supplement products containing Hemp, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Hemp. Even though Hemp itself has no known interaction with Interferon Alfa-2b, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Hemp 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
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Alfa-2b
Steady interest

#1,898 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Hemp reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Hemp and Interferon Alfa-2b records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Hemp

What is Hemp?

Hemp
  • Plant-based protein source
  • Heart health support
  • Skin and hair health
  • Reducing inflammation
  • General nutrition (omega fatty acids)

Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are nutritious foods rich in protein, fiber, and healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and they are generally safe for most people as part of the diet. While the nutrition is real, strong human evidence that hemp supplements treat specific medical conditions is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using hemp products for a health concern, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Cannabis sativa · Cannabaceae · Seeds (hemp hearts), seed oil, protein powder, and sometimes leaves and extracts · Hemp seeds (hearts), hemp seed oil, hemp protein powder, capsules, and food products

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Hemp is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Hemp record says about it on its own.

Hemp: dosing

There is no official standard dose for hemp as a supplement. As a food, people often add a few tablespoons of hemp seeds, oil, or protein powder to meals and snacks.Because products vary widely in strength and form, the best approach is to follow the directions on the product label. They can help you decide whether it is a good fit and what amount may be reasonable for you.

From our Hemp monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Hemp 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

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

0Major
41Moderate
897Minor
1,891No known interaction
Moderate

41 interactions

Minor

897 interactions

Showing 60 of 897 minor interactions — see all 897 on the Hemp page.

No interaction 1,891 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Hemp References

The 12 references that drive our Hemp monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Kaul N, Kreml R, Austria JA, et al. A comparison of fish oil, flaxseed oil and hempseed oil supplementation on selected parameters of cardiovascular health in healthy volunteers. J Am Coll Nutr 2008;27:51-8. PubMed
  2. Saberivand A, Karimi I, Becker LA, et al. The effects of Cannabis sativa L. seed (hempseed) in the ovariectomized rat model of menopause. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2010;32(7):467-73. PubMed
  3. Girgih AT, Alashi A, He R, Malomo S, Aluko RE. Preventive and treatment effects of a hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) meal protein hydrolysate against high blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Eur J Nutr. 2014;53(5):1237-46. PubMed
  4. Richard MN, Ganguly R, Steigerwald SN, Al-Khalifa A, Pierce GN. Dietary hempseed reduces platelet aggregation. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5(2):424-5. PubMed
  5. Stadtmauer G, Beyer K, Bardina L, Sicherer SH. Anaphylaxis to ingestion of hempseed (Cannabis sativa). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;112(1):216-7. PubMed
  6. Del Bo' C, Deon V, Abello F, et al. Eight-week hempseed oil intervention improves the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phospholipids and the omega-3 index, but does not affect the lipid profile in children and adolescents with primary hyperlipidemia. PubMed
  7. Alkhammash S, Tsui H, Thomson DMP. Cannabis and hemp seed allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019;7(7):2429-2430.e1. PubMed
  8. Stokes JR, Hartel R, Ford LB, Casale TB. Cannabis (hemp) positive skin tests and respiratory symptoms. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2000;85(3):238-40. PubMed
  9. Déléaval M, Burri H, Bakelants E. Harmless herbs? A case report of acquired long QT syndrome and torsades de pointes in a patient taking herbal supplements. HeartRhythm Case Rep 2022;8(5):309-12. PubMed
  10. Singh M, Sehgal M, Yacoub M, et al. Severe liver dysfunction in a toddler receiving nonprescription phytocannabinoid. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) 2022;62(4):1438-1440. PubMed
  11. Clark E, Nilsson U, Samaran Q, Raison-Peyron N. Allergic contact dermatitis from Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil. Contact Dermatitis 2022;87(3):292-293.
  12. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Hemp and Interferon Alfa-2b Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Hemp with Interferon Alfa-2b?
We do not list a known interaction between Hemp and Interferon Alfa-2b. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
How was the Hemp and Interferon Alfa-2b combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Interferon Alfa-2b is filed under 2 classifications, and Hemp has documented interactions with 6 drug classes — none of Interferon Alfa-2b's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Hemp interact with any other medications?
Yes. Hemp has 938 documented drug interactions in our database — Interferon Alfa-2b is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Interferon Alfa-2b interact with any supplements?
Yes. Interferon Alfa-2b has documented interactions with 57 supplements in our database — Hemp is not one of them. The Interferon Alfa-2b interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Interferon Alfa-2b and Hemp?

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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.