Drug & supplement interaction

Indian Cassia + Theobromine

Theobromine brand name: Theobromine.

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

Indian Cassia has a moderate interaction with Theobromine. Theoretically, Indian cassia might increase the risk of potassium depletion in patients taking diuretic drugs.

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

Indian Cassia and Theobromine

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

Moderate

DIURETIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Theobromine

Theobromine falls under DIURETIC DRUGS — the group Indian Cassia interacts with.

Theoretically, Indian cassia might increase the risk of potassium depletion in patients taking diuretic drugs. However, this has not been shown in humans. Indian cassia leaf extract 200-400 mg/kg body weight has shown mild diuretic activity in animal research. The effect of Indian cassia on urine volume and electrolyte loss was similar to that of furosemide. Until more is known, use with caution.
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 simple version. Theobromine (a cousin of caffeine, found naturally in cocoa) has a mild diuretic action, meaning it nudges your kidneys to make more urine. In animal studies, concentrated Indian cassia extract acted a bit like a water pill too. Put together, the worry is that the two could add up and flush out a little more fluid and minerals like potassium than either would alone.

Keep this in perspective. This is only a theory based on animal research, and it has not been shown in people. Indian cassia used as a cooking spice in normal food amounts is very unlikely to matter. If you're taking concentrated cassia supplements or oils alongside theobromine, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Rahman M, Khatun A, Islam MM, et al. Evaluation of antimicrobial, cytotoxic, thrombolytic, diuretic properties and total phenolic content of Cinnamomum tamala. International Journal of Green Pharmacy. 2013 Jul 1;7(3):236. DOI

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

Indian Cassia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Indian Cassia has 160 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Theobromine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 160 No known interaction 2,670 (incl. Theobromine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Indian Cassia

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Theobromine

This page covers Indian Cassia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Theobromine page lists 97 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Mistletoe (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major) and Oleander (major).

By severity: 7 major · 75 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Theobromine page

“Theobromine, the caffeine cousin found in chocolate and used medically as a mild diuretic and blood vessel relaxer, deserves real care around supplements. Most of the trouble runs through its diuretic action: dozens of herbs, from aloe latex to apple cider vinegar, either add their own fluid-losing effect or drain potassium, and togeth…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Theobromine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Indian Cassia as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 31 real supplement products containing Indian Cassia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Indian Cassia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Theobromine too, on top of Indian Cassia — 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 Indian Cassia and Theobromine 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 Indian Cassia
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Theobromine
Top half

#1,070 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 Indian Cassia

What is Indian Cassia?

  • Flavoring food
  • Digestive upset
  • Blood sugar support
  • Cold and cough relief
  • Antimicrobial

Indian Cassia (Cinnamomum tamala), also known as Indian bay leaf or tejpat, is an aromatic leaf used widely as a cooking spice and in traditional medicine across South Asia. Human evidence for its health benefits is very limited, so it is best enjoyed as a culinary spice rather than relied on to treat any condition. Used as food it is generally well tolerated, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements or oils.

Read the full Indian Cassia monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Indian Cassia

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

0Major
160Moderate
0Minor
2,669No known interaction
160 Moderate 2,669 No interaction
Moderate

160 interactions

Showing 60 of 160 moderate interactions — see all 160 on the Indian Cassia page.

No interaction 2,669 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,669 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Indian Cassia list.

See the full Indian Cassia interactions page
See every supplement checked against Theobromine, 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
Indian Cassia monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Theobromine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Theobromine, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Indian Cassia and Theobromine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Indian Cassia with Theobromine?
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 Indian Cassia and Theobromine 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 Theobromine and Indian Cassia?

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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.