Drug & supplement interaction

Lemon Balm + Levorphanol

Levorphanol brand name: Levo-Dromoran.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Lemon Balm has a moderate interaction with Levorphanol. Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.

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

Lemon Balm and Levorphanol

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Levorphanol

Levorphanol falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Lemon Balm interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Lemon balm seems to have CNS depressant activity in animals and in humans.
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 simple version: Levorphanol is a strong opioid pain reliever that calms your brain and nervous system. Lemon balm appears to have its own mild calming, sedative-like effect. Put the two together and those quieting effects can stack up, a so-called additive interaction.

In real life that could mean feeling more drowsy, foggy, or dizzy than usual, and in larger amounts it could even slow your breathing, which is the effect that matters most with any opioid. That said, this is mostly a theoretical concern based on lower-quality studies, not a hard certainty. An occasional cup of lemon balm tea is unlikely to cause trouble, but concentrated supplement capsules are a bigger question. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them.

References
  1. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, et al. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2002;72:953-64. PubMed
  2. Soulimani R, Fleurentin J, Mortier F, et al. Neurotropic action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis in the mouse. Planta Med. 1991 Apr;57:105-9.

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

Lemon Balm Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lemon Balm has 263 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Levorphanol one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lemon Balm

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Lemon Balm or Levorphanol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Lemon Balm or Levorphanol, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Levorphanol

This page covers Lemon Balm only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Levorphanol page lists 100 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), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 7 major · 78 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Levorphanol page

“Most of the ingredients that interact with levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran) pile onto the same hazard, deeper sedation. Because levorphanol is a potent opioid painkiller, that stacking can slow breathing rather than just cause drowsiness, so this page deserves real vigilance before you add a supplement to it.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Levorphanol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2,076 real supplement products containing Lemon Balm, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lemon Balm. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Levorphanol too, on top of Lemon Balm — 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 Lemon Balm and Levorphanol 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 Lemon Balm
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Levorphanol
Top half

#878 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 Lemon Balm

What is Lemon Balm?

Lemon Balm
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Sleep problems
  • Digestive upset
  • Cold sores
  • Restlessness or nervousness

Lemon balm is a gentle, lemon-scented mint-family herb traditionally used to ease stress, support sleep, and calm digestion, and topically for cold sores. Early studies are promising but generally small, so the evidence is limited. It is usually well tolerated for most adults, but pregnant or breastfeeding people should check with a doctor or pharmacist first.

Read the full Lemon Balm monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Levorphanol

What Is Levorphanol Used For?

Brand name: Levo-Dromoran

Levorphanol Tartrate Tablets are used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid — specifically when non-opioid or other pain treatments haven't provided enough relief or aren't a good fit for the patient.

It is not meant for everyday or mild pain. Prescribers weigh the serious risks of opioid therapy carefully before choosing this medication, and it should be used for only as long as the pain requires it.

See full Levorphanol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lemon Balm

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

0Major
263Moderate
0Minor
2,566No known interaction
Moderate

263 interactions

Showing 60 of 263 moderate interactions — see all 263 on the Lemon Balm page.

No interaction 2,566 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Lemon Balm and Levorphanol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lemon Balm with Levorphanol?
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 Lemon Balm and Levorphanol 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 Levorphanol and Lemon Balm?

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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.