Drug & supplement interaction

Lovage + Theobromine

Theobromine brand name: Theobromine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Lovage has a moderate interaction with Theobromine. Theoretically, lovage root might interfere with diuretic therapy due to its aquaretic effects.

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

Lovage and Theobromine

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

Moderate

DIURETIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Theobromine

Theobromine falls under DIURETIC DRUGS — the group Lovage interacts with.

Theoretically, lovage root might interfere with diuretic therapy due to its aquaretic effects.
Some diuretics include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.
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 thing to know about pairing lovage with theobromine. Theobromine, the natural compound found in cocoa and chocolate, has a mild water-flushing (diuretic) effect of its own, much like caffeine. Lovage is also thought to be an "aquaretic," meaning it nudges your kidneys to pass more urine. So in theory, taking both together could stack those effects and leave you running to the bathroom more, or feeling a little more dehydrated than usual.

I want to be honest about the evidence here, though: this concern is purely theoretical, based on how the herb behaves in the lab, not on real cases in people. Everyday culinary amounts of lovage are unlikely to matter. If you're using concentrated lovage supplements regularly, just give your pharmacist or doctor a heads-up so they can keep an eye on your hydration.

References
  1. Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.

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

Lovage Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lovage has 74 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Theobromine 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 Lovage

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Theobromine

This page covers Lovage only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Theobromine page lists 97 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Mistletoe (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major) and Oleander (major).

By severity: 7 major · 75 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Theobromine page

“Theobromine, the caffeine cousin found in chocolate and used medically as a mild diuretic and blood vessel relaxer, deserves real care around supplements. Most of the trouble runs through its diuretic action: dozens of herbs, from aloe latex to apple cider vinegar, either add their own fluid-losing effect or drain potassium, and togeth…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Theobromine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 57 real supplement products containing Lovage, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lovage. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Theobromine too, on top of Lovage — 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 Lovage and Theobromine 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 Lovage
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Theobromine
Top half

#1,184 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 Lovage

What is Lovage?

  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Mild urinary tract flushing
  • Water retention (mild diuretic)
  • Coughs and congestion
  • Menstrual discomfort
  • Culinary flavoring

Lovage is a celery-like herb traditionally used for digestion, bloating, and as a mild diuretic to flush the urinary tract. Human evidence for these uses is very limited, and while culinary amounts are generally well tolerated, concentrated supplements and the essential oil should be used cautiously. Pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it.

Read the full Lovage monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lovage

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

0Major
74Moderate
0Minor
2,755No known interaction
Moderate

74 interactions

Showing 60 of 74 moderate interactions — see all 74 on the Lovage page.

No interaction 2,755 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Lovage and Theobromine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lovage with Theobromine?
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 Lovage and Theobromine 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 Theobromine and Lovage?

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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.