Khella + Interferon Alfa-2b
Interferon Alfa-2b brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon.
Interferon Alfa-2b 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 reportKhella and Interferon Alfa-2b
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. Interferon Alfa-2b 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).
PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS
1 of 2Why this applies to Interferon Alfa-2b
Interferon Alfa-2b falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Khella interacts with.
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.
Here's the thing to know about pairing khella with your Interferon Alfa-2b: this isn't about one changing the other's strength in your blood. Instead, both can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Khella contains compounds (khellin and visnagin) that are known to cause sun sensitivity, and interferon therapy can do the same. Put them together and you may sunburn faster or break out in a rash with less time outdoors than usual.
I'll be honest, this is a theoretical concern based on anecdotal reports, not strong studies, so don't panic. Still, while you're on interferon, it's smart to use sunscreen, wear a hat, and cover up. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding khella.
- 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.
- Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.
HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS
2 of 2Interferon Alfa-2b also falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS.
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.
Here's the thing to keep an eye on with this combination. Interferon alfa-2b can already be hard on your liver, which is exactly why your doctor checks your liver enzymes (those AST and ALT blood tests) while you're on it. Khella has been shown to raise those same liver enzymes in some cases, so stacking the two could put extra strain on your liver.
This concern is mostly theoretical and based on limited evidence, not strong proof, so I don't want to alarm you. Interferon doesn't rely on a liver enzyme to "switch on," so this isn't about changing how well it works. It's simply about not piling two liver stressors together. Please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before adding khella, since they're already watching your liver closely.
- Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
- 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.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Khella Also Interacts With Other Medications
Khella has 617 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Interferon Alfa-2b one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Khella
We haven’t checked that one against Khella yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Khella. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Alfa-2b
This page covers Khella only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Interferon Alfa-2b 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 Alfa-2b page
“People taking interferon alfa-2b (Intron A, Rebetron) are usually treating hepatitis or a cancer, so the liver may already be under strain, and that is exactly where most of this list points. Of the 57 supplements on file, 38 can add to liver stress, and all three major-rated interactions sit in that group: Siberian cocklebur, which ha…”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
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 Interferon Alfa-2b 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:
Where Khella and Interferon Alfa-2b 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.
#1,230 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,238 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Khella
What is 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.
About Interferon Alfa-2b Injection
What Is Interferon Alfa-2b Injection Used For?
Brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon
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Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions.
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Interferon alfa-2b injection is used
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alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,
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to treat chronic hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,
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to treat hairy cell leukemia (a white blood cell cancer),
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to treat genital warts,
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to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow on different parts of the body) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),
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to treat malignant melanoma (a cancer that begins in certain skin cells) in certain people who have had surgery to remove the cancer,
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along with another medication to treat follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer).
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Interferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. Interferon alfa-2b works to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) by decreasing the amount virus in the body. Interferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis B or hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications from these infections such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. It also may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B or C to other people. It is not known exactly how interferon alfa-2b works to treat cancer or genital warts.
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.
No drugs match “”.
617 interactions
- Diclofenac Sodium ›
- Diltiazem ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Diphenhydramine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Minocycline ›
- Tetracycline ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Hydrochlorothiazide ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Fenofibrate ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Glyburide ›
- Methyltestosterone ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Flurbiprofen ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Phenytoin ›
- Allopurinol ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Diclofenac Potassium ›
- Tazarotene ›
- Trimipramine ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Etodolac ›
- Griseofulvin ›
- Ketoprofen ›
- Lofepramine ›
- Meloxicam ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Nitrofurantoin ›
- Nortriptyline ›
- Ofloxacin ›
- Propoxyphene ›
- Rifampin ›
- Selegiline ›
- Testosterone Undecanoate ›
- Topiramate ›
- Tretinoin ›
- Trichlormethiazide ›
- Acarbose ›
- Aripiprazole ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Bendroflumethiazide ›
- Dapsone ›
- Desipramine ›
- Digoxin ›
- Doxepin ›
- Doxycycline Hyclate ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Eltrombopag ›
- Fluphenazine ›
- Hydroxyzine ›
- Interferon Beta-1b ›
- Isoniazid ›
Showing 60 of 617 moderate interactions — see all 617 on the Khella page.
No interaction 2,212 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Khella against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Diazepam ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Mannitol ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Finasteride ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Valsartan ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Estrogen ›
- Alprazolam ›
- Bromocriptine ›
- Dutasteride ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,212 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Khella list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Taking Khella and Interferon Alfa-2b Together: Common Questions
Can you take Khella with Interferon Alfa-2b?
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Khella and Interferon Alfa-2b?
How serious is the Khella and Interferon Alfa-2b interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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