Drug & supplement interaction

Lemon Balm + Methsuximide

Methsuximide brand name: Celontin.

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

Lemon Balm has a moderate interaction with Methsuximide. 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 Methsuximide

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Methsuximide

Methsuximide 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. Methsuximide (Celontin) is a seizure medicine that can leave you feeling drowsy, foggy, or dizzy on its own. Lemon balm is a calming herb that may also have a mild relaxing, sleepy effect. Put the two together and those effects could stack up, so you might feel sleepier or more lightheaded than usual.

Keep in mind this is mostly a theoretical concern based on animal studies and small human trials, not strong proof. For many people the effect is gentle, but everyone reacts differently. If you'd like to try lemon balm tea or a supplement alongside your Celontin, check with your pharmacist or doctor first, and go easy until you know how the combination makes you feel.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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 Methsuximide one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 263 No known interaction 2,567 (incl. Methsuximide)
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 Methsuximide

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 Methsuximide, 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 Methsuximide

This page covers Lemon Balm only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methsuximide page lists 105 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 · 82 moderate · 16 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methsuximide page

“Methsuximide (Celontin) treats absence seizures by quieting overactive brain signals, so anything else that slows the nervous system deserves genuine respect before you take it alongside. Of the 105 supplements and herbs on record, 78 add sedation on top of what the drug already does, and that group holds most of the 7 major-rated entr…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methsuximide 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 Methsuximide 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 Methsuximide 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Methsuximide
Steady interest

#2,562 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 Methsuximide

What Is Methsuximide Used For?

Brand name: Celontin

Methsuximide is used to control absence (petit mal) seizures — brief episodes of staring or lapses in consciousness — when other seizure medications have not worked. Both Celontin and the generic methsuximide capsules carry this indication.

It can also be used alongside other antiseizure medications when a person has absence seizures together with other types of epilepsy.

See full Methsuximide 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
263 Moderate 2,566 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,566 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Lemon Balm list.

See the full Lemon Balm interactions page
See every supplement checked against Methsuximide, 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
Lemon Balm monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Methsuximide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Methsuximide, ranked by severity Methsuximide 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 Lemon Balm and Methsuximide Together: Common Questions

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

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.