Drug & supplement interaction

Lemon Balm + Liotrix

Liotrix brand names: Euthroid 3, Euthroid 1/2, Euthroid 1.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Lemon Balm has a moderate interaction with Liotrix. Theoretically, lemon balm might interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Lemon Balm and Liotrix

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

Moderate

THYROID HORMONE

Why this applies to Liotrix

Liotrix falls under THYROID HORMONE — the group Lemon Balm interacts with.

Theoretically, lemon balm might interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
In vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), preventing TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In animals, lemon balm extract has been shown to decrease levels of circulating TSH and inhibit thyroid secretion.
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 thinking on this one. Liotrix is a thyroid hormone replacement, basically a man-made version of what your thyroid should be making. The concern with lemon balm comes from lab and animal studies, where its plant compounds appeared to lower thyroid signaling and dampen thyroid activity. In theory, regularly taking concentrated lemon balm could nudge against the work your liotrix is doing to keep your levels steady.

I want to be honest though, this is theoretical and based on test-tube and animal research, not solid human studies. An occasional cup of lemon balm tea is unlikely to throw things off. If you're taking daily supplement-strength doses, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on your TSH and watch for any return of tiredness, weight changes, or feeling cold. Don't change anything on your own.

References
  1. Sourgens H, Winterhoff H, Gumbinger HG, et al. Antihormonal effects of plant extracts. TSH- and prolactin-suppressing properties of Lithospermum officinale and other plants. Planta Med. 1982 Jun;45:78-86. DOI
  2. Auf'mkolk M, Ingbar JC, Amir SM, et al. Inhibition by certain plant extracts of the binding and adenylate cyclase stimulatory effect of bovine thyrotropin in human thyroid membranes. Endocrinology. 1984 Aug;115:527-34. PubMed
  3. Santini F, Vitti P, Ceccarini G, et al. In vitro assay of thyroid disruptors affecting TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 Oct;26:950-5. PubMed

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 Liotrix 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 Liotrix

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 Liotrix, 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 Liotrix

This page covers Lemon Balm only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Liotrix page lists 38 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Tiratricol (major), Acetyl-l-carnitine (moderate), Alpha-lipoic Acid (moderate) and Ascophyllum Nodosum (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 26 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Liotrix page

“Liotrix (Euthroid) combines both thyroid hormones, and since steady hormone levels are the entire point of treatment, this list deserves a slow, serious read. Most entries fall into two camps: twenty-one ingredients act on the hormone itself, some boosting it and others blunting it, while another seventeen change how well the dose is a…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Liotrix 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 Liotrix 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 Liotrix 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 Liotrix
Steady interest

#2,300 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 Liotrix

What Is Liotrix Used For?

Brand names: Euthroid 3, Euthroid 1/2, Euthroid 1

  • Liotrix is used to treat hypothyroidism (a condition that results when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone). Symptoms of hypothyroidism include lack of energy, depression, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, dry coarse hair, muscle cramps, decreased concentration, aches and pains, swelling of the legs, and increased sensitivity to cold. When taken correctly, liotrix can reverse these symptoms. Liotrix is also used to treat goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). This medication is also used to test for hyperthyroidism (a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone). Liotrix is in a class of medications called thyroid agents. It works by supplying the thyroid hormones normally produced by the body.

See full Liotrix 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 Liotrix Together: Common Questions

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

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.