Drug & supplement interaction

Kava + Lusutrombopag

Lusutrombopag brand name: Mulpleta.

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

Kava has a moderate interaction with Lusutrombopag. It is unclear if kava inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp); research is conflicting.

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

Kava and Lusutrombopag

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

Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Lusutrombopag

Lusutrombopag falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES — the group Kava interacts with.

It is unclear if kava inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp); research is conflicting.
In vitro research shows that kava can inhibit P-gp efflux. However, a clinical study in healthy volunteers shows that taking kava standardized to provide 225 mg kavalactones daily for 14 days does not affect the pharmacokinetics of digoxin, a P-gp substrate. It is possible that the use of other P-gp substrates or higher doses of kava might still inhibit P-gp.
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 gist for lusutrombopag (Mulpleta). This medicine is moved around the body partly by a transporter called P-glycoprotein, and kava might slow that transporter down in the lab. In theory, blocking it could let a bit more lusutrombopag stay in your system, which could mean a slightly stronger platelet-boosting effect. Honestly though, the evidence here is thin and conflicting. A human study with kava didn't change levels of digoxin, another drug handled the same way, so a real-world problem seems unlikely at normal doses.

One thing I'd flag harder: kava has been tied to rare liver injury, and you'd be taking lusutrombopag because of chronic liver disease. That overlap matters more than the transporter question. Please run kava by your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Weiss J, Sauer A, Frank A, Unger M. Extracts and kavalactones of Piper methysticum G. Forst (kava-kava) inhibit P-glycoprotein in vitro. Drug Metab Dispos 2005;33:1580-3. PubMed
  2. Gurley BJ, Swain A, Barone GW, et al. Effect of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and kava kava (Piper methysticum) supplementation on digoxin pharmacokinetics in humans. Drug Metab Dispos 2007;35:240-5. PubMed
  3. Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL. Common Herbal Dietary Supplement-Drug Interactions. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(2):101-107.

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

Kava Also Interacts With Other Medications

Kava has 248 major, 576 moderate, 341 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Lusutrombopag one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 248 Moderate 576 Minor 341 No known interaction 1,665 (incl. Lusutrombopag)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Kava

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lusutrombopag

This page covers Kava only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lusutrombopag page lists 54 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), St. John's Wort (major), Bitter Melon (moderate), Black Pepper (moderate) and Bulbine Natalensis (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 35 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lusutrombopag page

“If you take lusutrombopag (Mulpleta), it is probably a short course meant to raise your platelet count before a procedure, and that narrow window is exactly why these 54 interactions deserve real respect. The two rated major, St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lusutrombopag interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 403 real supplement products containing Kava, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Kava. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Lusutrombopag too, on top of Kava — 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 Kava and Lusutrombopag 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 Kava
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lusutrombopag
Steady interest

#2,221 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 Kava

What is Kava?

Kava
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Restlessness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Relaxation in social or cultural settings
  • Menopausal symptoms

Kava is a Pacific Island plant traditionally used to promote relaxation and ease anxiety, and some studies suggest it may help mild anxiety. However, kava has been linked to rare but serious liver damage, so it should be used with caution, avoided by people with liver problems, and only used after talking with your pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Kava monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lusutrombopag

What Is Lusutrombopag Used For?

Brand name: Mulpleta

Mulpleta (lusutrombopag) is used to treat thrombocytopenia — a low platelet count — in adults who have chronic liver disease and are scheduled to have a procedure. Raising the platelet count before the procedure helps reduce the risk of bleeding.

Mulpleta is taken for a short, fixed course before the procedure. It is not meant to be used to bring platelet counts all the way to normal, or for long-term management of chronic liver disease.

See full Lusutrombopag drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Kava

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

248Major
576Moderate
341Minor
1,664No known interaction
248 Major 576 Moderate 341 Minor 1,664 No interaction
Major

248 interactions

Showing 60 of 248 major interactions — see all 248 on the Kava page.

Moderate

576 interactions

Showing 60 of 576 moderate interactions — see all 576 on the Kava page.

Minor

341 interactions

Showing 60 of 341 minor interactions — see all 341 on the Kava page.

No interaction 1,664 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,664 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Kava list.

See the full Kava interactions page
See every supplement checked against Lusutrombopag, 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
Kava monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Lusutrombopag supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Lusutrombopag, ranked by severity Lusutrombopag drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Kava and Lusutrombopag Together: Common Questions

Can you take Kava with Lusutrombopag?
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 Kava and Lusutrombopag 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 Lusutrombopag and Kava?

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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.