Drug & supplement interaction

Jequirity + Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine

Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine brand name: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine falls into 2 drug categories that Jequirity can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Evidence from in vitro research suggests that constituents of jequirity beans can inhibit platelet aggregation.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Jequirity and Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Jequirity interacts with whole categories of medication. Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Jequirity in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine

Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Jequirity interacts with.

Evidence from in vitro research suggests that constituents of jequirity beans can inhibit platelet aggregation. Theoretically, jequirity might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs. Some anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and 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

Your cold combo (Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold) contains aspirin, which already thins the blood by keeping platelets from clumping together. Lab studies suggest jequirity may do something similar, blocking platelet activity. Put the two together and, in theory, you could bruise more easily or bleed a bit longer from cuts, gums, or the stomach.

I want to be honest with you: this concern comes only from test-tube research, so it is theoretical, not proven in people. The much bigger worry is jequirity itself. Its seeds contain abrin, a poison as dangerous as ricin, so this is a plant you should not be taking at all. Please skip jequirity and check in with your pharmacist or doctor about safe cold relief.

References
  1. Kuo SC, Chen SC, Chen LH, et al. Potent antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic isoflavanquinones from the roots of Abrus precatorius. Planta Med 1995;61:307-12.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

In vitro research shows that jequirity extract inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes. Theoretically, taking jequirity may inhibit the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

First things first: jequirity isn't really a supplement you should be taking at all. Its seeds contain abrin, a toxin in the same family as ricin, so the bigger safety issue here is the plant itself, not how it mixes with your cold medicine.

As for the actual interaction, lab (test tube) research suggests jequirity may slow down a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In theory, that could let drugs cleared by this enzyme build up a bit. With this cold combo, the chlorpheniramine part is the most likely to be affected, which could mean a little extra drowsiness or dry mouth. But this is only theoretical, the effect is rated minor and unlikely, and there's no human evidence behind it. Please don't use jequirity, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining anything.

References
  1. Ai C, Miao X, Wang L, He J. Discovery and Activity Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effect of Four Kinds Traditional Chinese Medicine Extracts on the CYP3A4 Enzyme. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2022.

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

Jequirity Also Interacts With Other Medications

Jequirity has 207 moderate, 605 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Jequirity

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine

This page covers Jequirity only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine page lists 372 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 16 major · 308 moderate · 48 minor.

Open the Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Jequirity and Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine 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 Jequirity
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine
Top 5%

#53 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 Jequirity

What is Jequirity?

Jequirity
  • Asthma and cough
  • Fever
  • Sore throat and bronchitis
  • Liver complaints (hepatitis)
  • Constipation
  • Traditional infectious-disease remedies

Jequirity (Abrus precatorius) is a tropical plant whose bright red, black-tipped seeds contain abrin, one of the most toxic plant proteins known. Despite a long history in traditional medicine, the seeds are dangerously poisonous and there is no reliable evidence that it is safe or effective. It should not be used as a supplement or medicine.

Read the full Jequirity monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Jequirity

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

0Major
207Moderate
605Minor
2,017No known interaction
Moderate

207 interactions

Showing 60 of 207 moderate interactions — see all 207 on the Jequirity page.

Minor

605 interactions

Showing 60 of 605 minor interactions — see all 605 on the Jequirity page.

No interaction 2,017 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,017 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Jequirity 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 Jequirity and Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Jequirity with Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Jequirity and Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine?
Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine belongs to more than one drug category, and Jequirity interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Jequirity and Aspirin, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine 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.