Drug & supplement interaction

Khella + Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine

Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine brand name: Hycomine Compound.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine falls into 2 drug categories that Khella can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, concomitant use might result in increased photosensitivity.

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

Khella and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine

Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Khella interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use might result in increased photosensitivity. Khella constituents can cause photosensitivity. Some drugs that cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), quinolones (Ciprofloxacin, others), sulfa drugs (Septra, Bactrim, others), and tetracycline.
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: this interaction isn't about how your body breaks down Hycomine Compound. It's about your skin. Khella seeds contain compounds (khellin and visnagin) that can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so you may sunburn faster or more severely than usual. This combo product itself isn't a classic sun-sensitizer, but pairing it with khella could stack that effect.

Honestly, the evidence here is thin (mostly anecdotal and theoretical), so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Just be smart: use sunscreen, cover up, and limit long sun exposure if you take khella. None of this changes how the hydrocodone, acetaminophen, or other ingredients work. If you're unsure, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Ossenkoppele PM, van der Sluis WG, van Vloten WA. [Phototoxic dermatitis following the use of Ammi majus fruit for vitiligo]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1991;135:478-80.
  2. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.
Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

2 of 2

Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine also falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS.

Theoretically, khella might have additive adverse effects on the liver when used with hepatotoxic drugs. Khella can increase liver transaminases. Some drugs that can adversely affect the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), and many others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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

This combination product (Hycomine Compound) contains acetaminophen, which is one of the better-known causes of liver stress when taken in high amounts or over long periods. Khella has been shown to raise liver enzymes (the markers we watch on bloodwork), so the worry here is that the two could add together and put a little extra burden on your liver.

To be clear, this is mostly a theoretical concern, and the bigger driver of liver risk with these products is usually too much acetaminophen, often from doubling up on other Tylenol-containing cold or pain medicines. Watch for warning signs like unusual tiredness, nausea, belly pain on the upper right side, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Before pairing khella with this medication, please check in with your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Harvengt C, Desager JP. HDL-cholesterol increase in normolipaemic subjects on khellin: a pilot study. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1983;3:363-6.

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

Khella Also Interacts With Other Medications

Khella has 617 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine 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 Khella

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine

This page covers Khella only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine page lists 339 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 17 major · 276 moderate · 46 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine page

“If you've been prescribed Hycomine Compound (acetaminophen, caffeine, chlorpheniramine, hydrocodone, and phenylephrine) for a hard cough or cold, this list deserves real attention, since 17 of the 339 flagged supplements are rated major and most of those magnify what the medicine already does. Anything sedating, alcohol included, stack…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 43 real supplement products containing Khella, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Khella. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine too, on top of Khella — 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 Khella and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine 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 Khella
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine
Top half

#781 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 Khella

What is Khella?

Khella
  • Asthma and bronchitis
  • Angina and heart-related chest pain
  • Kidney stones
  • Vitiligo and psoriasis
  • Mild high blood pressure

Khella is a Mediterranean herb whose seeds contain compounds like khellin that may relax smooth muscle in the airways and blood vessels. While it has a long history of traditional use for breathing and heart problems, modern evidence in supplement form is limited, and it can cause side effects and sun sensitivity, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Khella monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Khella

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

0Major
617Moderate
0Minor
2,212No known interaction
Moderate

617 interactions

Showing 60 of 617 moderate interactions — see all 617 on the Khella page.

No interaction 2,212 drugs checked — show the 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 Khella and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Khella with Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine?
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 Khella and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine?
Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine belongs to more than one drug category, and Khella 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 Khella and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine 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.