Drug & supplement interaction

Ipecac + Interferon Beta-1a

Interferon Beta-1a brand names: Rebif, Avonex.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a 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

Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a

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 Beta-1a and Ipecac 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.

Ipecac safety at a glance

Ipecac overall Avoid No longer recommended for home or routine use due to risk of serious harm and lack of proven benefit.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally; ipecac is a potential uterine stimulant. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety is not established, so it should be avoided while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Interferon Beta-1a and Ipecac? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Interferon Beta-1a

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Interferon Beta-1a is filed under 2 classifications — photosensitizing drugs, hepatotoxic drugs. Ipecac has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being activated charcoal (major) — and none of Interferon Beta-1a’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

Ipecac Does Interact With Other Medications

Ipecac has 2 major, known drug interactions in our database — Interferon Beta-1a isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 No known interaction 2,828 (incl. Interferon Beta-1a)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ipecac

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

What to actually watch for

What Ipecac Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Interferon Beta-1a. It is the side-effect record for Ipecac on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Ipecac, this list is the first place to look. 4 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Muscle weakness / Heart failure Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, ipecac can cause hypotension, dyspnea, and tachycardia (11,56440). Chronic use is associated with cardiac myopathy and death related to heart failure (6,18,56391,56409,56424,56467). Overdose is associated with shock and cardiac arrhythmias (18).

    Intravenously, ipecac in total doses over 1 gram can lead to circulatory collapse (6).”

    Ipecac · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
    2. 56440. Brotman, M. C., Forbath, N., Garfinkel, P. E., and Humphrey, J. G. Myopathy due to ipecac syrup poisoning in a patient with anorexia nervosa. Can.Med.Assoc.J. 9-1-1981;125(5):453-454.
    3. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    4. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    5. 56391. Rashid, N. Medically unexplained myopathy due to ipecac abuse. Psychosomatics 2006;47(2):167-169. PubMed
    6. 56409. Day, L., Kelly, C., Reed, G., Andersen, J. M., and Keljo, J. M. Fatal cardiomyopathy: suspected child abuse by chronic ipecac administration. Vet.Hum.Toxicol. 1989;31(3):255-257.
  • An irregular heartbeat / Shortness of breath Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, ipecac syrup can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, GI irritation, dizziness, hypotension, dyspnea, and tachycardia. Rarely, it can also cause intracerebral hemorrhage, pneumomediastinum, retropneumoperitoneum, esophageal bleeding (3,6,11,13,15,18,56390,56440,56447,56448). Chronic use is associated with myopathies and death (6,18,56391,56412,56413,56414,56416,56421,56422,56424).”

    Ipecac · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 3. Tyler VE. Herbs of Choice. Binghamton, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1994.
    2. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    3. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
    4. 13. Robbers JE, Speedie MK, Tyler VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
    5. 15. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
    6. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  • Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, ipecac may cause dizziness (11). Overdose is associated with convulsions and coma (18).

    Intravenously, ipecac in total doses over 1 gram can lead to nervous system symptoms (6).”

    Ipecac · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in vertigo.

    3 sources cited
    1. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
    2. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, ipecac causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and GI irritation (3,6,11,13,15,18,56390,56464). In some cases, these adverse effects are severe. There is a case report of a pneumomediastinum (air in the membrane around the heart) and retropneumoperitoneum (air behind the chest cavity) indicative of esophageal rupture following administration of a therapeutic dose of ipecac.”

    Ipecac · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    6 sources cited
    1. 3. Tyler VE. Herbs of Choice. Binghamton, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1994.
    2. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    3. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
    4. 13. Robbers JE, Speedie MK, Tyler VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
    5. 15. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
    6. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  • A stuffy or runny nose Additional detail

    “When inhaled, ipecac powder has resulted in occupational allergy symptoms, such as rhinitis.”

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

    1 source cited
    1. 56445. Luczynska, C. M., Marshall, P. E., Scarisbrick, D. A., and Topping, M. D. Occupational allergy due to inhalation of ipecacuanha dust. Clin.Allergy 1984;14(2):169-175. DOI
  • A fast or pounding heartbeat / Low blood pressure Additional detail

    Recorded for Ipecac in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under An irregular heartbeat / Shortness of breath above.

  • Dizziness Additional detail

    Recorded for Ipecac in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under An irregular heartbeat / Shortness of breath above.

Showing the 10 most notable of 13 recorded effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Ipecac — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Interferon Beta-1a 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 Beta-1a.

Special populations

Ipecac in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally; ipecac is a potential uterine stimulant.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Beta-1a

This page covers Ipecac only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Interferon Beta-1a 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 Beta-1a page

“Siberian cocklebur, an herb tied to documented cases of liver failure, is the first name to know for anyone injecting interferon beta-1a (Rebif, Avonex) for multiple sclerosis. Interferon beta-1a can strain the liver on its own, which is why prescribers order routine liver blood tests, and 38 of the 57 supplements on file carry that sa…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Interferon Beta-1a interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a 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 Ipecac
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Beta-1a
Steady interest

#2,614 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 Ipecac reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Ipecac

What is Ipecac?

  • Inducing vomiting after poisoning (historical)
  • Cough and chest congestion (expectorant)
  • Nausea and vomiting (homeopathic use)
  • Amebic dysentery (historical)

Ipecac comes from the root of a South American plant and was once widely used as syrup of ipecac to make people vomit after swallowing poison. Medical groups no longer recommend it for poisoning because it is not proven helpful and can be dangerous, and misuse has caused serious harm. There is no safe, established home use for ipecac today, and you should call Poison Control rather than reach for it.

Carapichea ipecacuanha · Rubiaceae · Dried root and rhizome · Syrup (syrup of ipecac), tincture, liquid extract, homeopathic preparations

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

Ipecac: dosing

There is no recommended over-the-counter dose for ipecac because it is no longer advised for home use. We will not provide dosing amounts here, since using ipecac on your own can be harmful.If you have a product on hand, do not use it for poisoning—instead, call your Poison Control center or emergency services right away, as they can give the safest, up-to-date advice.For any homeopathic ipecac product, follow the directions on the label, but be aware these products are not proven to work.

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

Read the full Ipecac monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection

What Is Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection Used For?

Brand names: Rebif, Avonex

  • Interferon beta-1a intramuscular injection is used to treat adults with various forms of multiple sclerosis (MS; a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and people may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control) including:

    • clinically isolated syndrome (CIS; nerve symptom episodes that last at least 24 hours),

    • relapsing-remitting forms (course of disease where symptoms flare up from time to time), or

    • secondary progressive forms (course of disease where relapses occur more often).

  • Interferon beta-1a is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. It works by decreasing inflammation and preventing nerve damage that may cause symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Interferon Beta-1a

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (192,069 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Multiple sclerosis relapse 15,851 reports
Influenza like illness 13,253 reports
Fatigue 11,554 reports
Fall 10,604 reports
Multiple sclerosis 9,358 reports
See full Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ipecac

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

2Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,827No known interaction
2 Major 2,827 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

No interaction 2,827 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,827 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ipecac list.

See the full Ipecac interactions page
See every supplement checked against Interferon Beta-1a, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Ipecac References

The 39 references that drive our Ipecac 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. Tyler VE. Herbs of Choice. Binghamton, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1994.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  4. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  5. Robbers JE, Speedie MK, Tyler VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
  6. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  7. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  8. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  9. Burnham TH, ed. Drug Facts and Comparisons, Updated Monthly. Facts and Comparisons, St. Louis, MO.
  10. Ipecac for the home treatment of poisonings. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter 2003;19(12):191201.
  11. Anon. Position paper: Ipecac syrup. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2004;42:133-43. PubMed
  12. Wax, P. M., Cobaugh, D. J., and Lawrence, R. A. Should home ipecac-induced emesis be routinely recommended in the management of toxic berry ingestions? Vet.Hum.Toxicol. 1999;41(6):394-397.
  13. Bond, G. R. Home syrup of ipecac use does not reduce emergency department use or improve outcome. Pediatrics 2003;112(5):1061-1064. PubMed
  14. Meadows-Oliver, M. Syrup of ipecac: new guidelines from the AAP. J.Pediatr.Health Care 2004;18(2):109-110.
  15. Silber, T. J. Ipecac syrup abuse, morbidity, and mortality: isn't it time to repeal its over-the-counter status? J Adolesc.Health 2005;37(3):256-260. 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 Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Ipecac with Interferon Beta-1a?
We do not list a known interaction between Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a. 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 Ipecac and Interferon Beta-1a combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Interferon Beta-1a is filed under 2 classifications, and Ipecac has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Interferon Beta-1a'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 Ipecac interact with any other medications?
Yes. Ipecac has 2 documented drug interactions in our database — Interferon Beta-1a 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 Beta-1a interact with any supplements?
Yes. Interferon Beta-1a has documented interactions with 57 supplements in our database — Ipecac is not one of them. The Interferon Beta-1a interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Ipecac monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Interferon Beta-1a supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Interferon Beta-1a, 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 References The 39 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Interferon Beta-1a and Ipecac?

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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.