Drug & supplement interaction

Khella + Interferon Beta-1b

Interferon Beta-1b brand names: Betaseron, Betaferon, Extavia.

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

Interferon Beta-1b 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 Interferon Beta-1b

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 Beta-1b 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 Interferon Beta-1b

Interferon Beta-1b 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 isn't about how your body breaks down Interferon Beta-1b. Khella seeds contain compounds (khellin and visnagin) that can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and some people taking interferon beta also notice their skin reacts more easily to the sun. Stack the two together and you might sunburn faster or develop a rash on sun-exposed skin.

I want to be honest about how strong this is: it's theoretical and based only on scattered, anecdotal reports, so for most folks it's a minor caution, not a red alert. If you do use khella, simple sun protection (sunscreen, a hat, covering up) goes a long way. Before adding khella, run it past your pharmacist or doctor, since herbal products like this aren't well studied.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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

Interferon Beta-1b 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

Here's the concern with pairing khella and your Interferon Beta-1b (Betaseron, Betaferon, Extavia). This isn't about one changing how the other is broken down. Instead, it's about adding up stress on the same organ, your liver. Interferon beta-1b can raise liver enzymes on its own, and that's something your doctor already watches with blood tests. Khella has also been shown to bump up those same liver enzyme levels.

Put them together and the worry is an additive effect, meaning the two could strain your liver more than either alone. This is largely theoretical, so don't panic, but signs like yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, belly pain, or unusual tiredness deserve attention. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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 Interferon Beta-1b one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 617 No known interaction 2,213 (incl. Interferon Beta-1b)
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 Interferon Beta-1b

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

“If you inject interferon beta-1b (Betaseron, Betaferon, Extavia) for multiple sclerosis, this supplement list is one to take seriously, mostly because of your liver. Interferon beta-1b can raise liver enzymes on its own, and 38 of the 57 ingredients on file add their own liver stress on top of that.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Interferon Beta-1b 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 Interferon Beta-1b 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 Interferon Beta-1b 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

#1,229 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Beta-1b
Top 10%

#241 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
Medication

About Interferon Beta-1b Injection

What Is Interferon Beta-1b Injection Used For?

Brand names: Betaseron, Betaferon, Extavia

  • Interferon beta-1b injection is used to reduce episodes of symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting (course of disease where symptoms flare up from time to time) of multiple sclerosis (MS, a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and patients may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control). Interferon beta-1b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. It is not known exactly how interferon beta-1b works to treat MS.

See full Interferon Beta-1b Injection drug information
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
617 Moderate 2,212 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,212 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Khella list.

See the full Khella interactions page
See every supplement checked against Interferon Beta-1b, 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
Khella monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Interferon Beta-1b supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Interferon Beta-1b, ranked by severity Interferon Beta-1b Injection 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 Khella and Interferon Beta-1b Together: Common Questions

Can you take Khella with Interferon Beta-1b?
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 Interferon Beta-1b?
Interferon Beta-1b 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 Interferon Beta-1b 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 Interferon Beta-1b and Khella?

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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.