Drug & supplement interaction

Lemongrass + Erdafitinib

Erdafitinib brand name: Balversa.

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

Lemongrass has a moderate interaction with Erdafitinib. Theoretically, lemongrass might decrease the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Lemongrass and Erdafitinib

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Erdafitinib

Erdafitinib falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Lemongrass interacts with.

Theoretically, lemongrass might decrease the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.
Animal research shows that lemongrass and its constituent citral inhibit CYP3A4.
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 gist for erdafitinib (Balversa): your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to help clear this drug out of your system. Lemongrass, mainly through a compound called citral, may slow that enzyme down. If that happens, erdafitinib could build up a bit higher than expected, which might mean more of its typical side effects, things like high phosphate levels, mouth sores, dry or irritated eyes, dry mouth, diarrhea, or nail and skin changes.

Now, the important part: this concern comes only from lab and animal studies, not from people, so it's largely theoretical. The small amount of lemongrass in cooking or an occasional tea is unlikely to matter. Concentrated supplements or the essential oil are a different story. Since erdafitinib is a serious cancer medicine, please run any lemongrass supplement past your oncologist or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Li CC, Yu HF, Chang CH, Liu YT, Yao HT. Effects of lemongrass oil and citral on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, oxidative stress, and acetaminophen toxicity in rats. J Food Drug Anal 2018;26(1):432-8. 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

Lemongrass Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lemongrass has 709 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Erdafitinib one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 709 No known interaction 2,121 (incl. Erdafitinib)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lemongrass

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Erdafitinib

This page covers Lemongrass only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Erdafitinib page lists 169 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Phosphate Salts (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 127 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Erdafitinib page

“Erdafitinib (Balversa) treats bladder cancers driven by FGFR gene changes, and its benefit depends on holding a steady drug level, so this is a list to be genuinely careful with. Four entries are rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Erdafitinib interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 417 real supplement products containing Lemongrass, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lemongrass. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Erdafitinib too, on top of Lemongrass — 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 Lemongrass and Erdafitinib 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 Lemongrass
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Erdafitinib
Steady interest

#2,452 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 Lemongrass

What is Lemongrass?

Lemongrass
  • Digestive upset
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Antimicrobial/antifungal
  • Insect repellent
  • Flavoring in food and drinks

Lemongrass is a fragrant tropical grass widely used as a cooking herb, a tea, and an aromatherapy oil. It is generally considered safe in the small amounts used in food, but most of its claimed health benefits come from laboratory or animal studies rather than strong human research. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements or the essential oil, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Read the full Lemongrass monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Erdafitinib

What Is Erdafitinib Used For?

Brand name: Balversa

Erdafitinib, sold as Balversa, treats adults with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (cancer of the bladder and urinary tract that has spread or can't be removed). The tumor must have susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations, and the cancer must have progressed on or after at least one earlier systemic therapy.

An FDA-approved test on the tumor is used to confirm the FGFR3 change before treatment starts. Balversa is not recommended for people who are eligible for PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy and have not yet received it.

See full Erdafitinib drug information Erdafitinib NDC codes and packages
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lemongrass

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

0Major
709Moderate
0Minor
2,120No known interaction
709 Moderate 2,120 No interaction
Moderate

709 interactions

Showing 60 of 709 moderate interactions — see all 709 on the Lemongrass page.

No interaction 2,120 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,120 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Lemongrass list.

See the full Lemongrass interactions page
See every supplement checked against Erdafitinib, 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
Lemongrass monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Erdafitinib supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Erdafitinib, ranked by severity Erdafitinib drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Erdafitinib NDC codes and packages › Every package, labeler and price in the FDA directory 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 Lemongrass and Erdafitinib Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lemongrass with Erdafitinib?
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 Lemongrass and Erdafitinib 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 Erdafitinib and Lemongrass?

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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.