Drug & supplement interaction

Mastic + Peginterferon alfa-2b

Peginterferon alfa-2b brand names: Peg-Intron, ViraferonPeg.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Peginterferon alfa-2b and Mastic in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Mastic at all — not against Peginterferon alfa-2b, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Mastic safety at a glance

Mastic overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in food and traditional amounts, but supplement-strength data are limited.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety information; best to avoid medicinal amounts during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information; best to avoid medicinal amounts while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Peginterferon alfa-2b and Mastic? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Mastic Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Peginterferon alfa-2b. It is the side-effect record for Mastic on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Mastic, this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Subcutaneously, administration of a specific mastic extract (RPh201, Regenera Pharma) has been most commonly reported to cause injection site pain and erythema. Pruritus, rash, and ecchymosis have also been reported with this extract.

    Topically, use of a specific mastic gum- and storax gum-containing product (Mastisol Liquid Adhesive, Ferndale Laboratories) has been associated with cases of allergic contact dermatiti…”

    Mastic · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 103266. Hazan Z, Adamsky K, Lucassen A, Levin LA. A first-in-human phase 1 randomized single and multiple ascending dose study of RPh201 in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2020;9(3):366-74. PubMed
    2. 106467. Moraschini V, Kischinhevsky ICC, Calasans-Maia MD, et al. Ineffectiveness of ozone therapy in nonsurgical periodontal treatment: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized clinical trials. Clin Oral Investig 2020;24(6):1877-1888. PubMed
  • Constipation / Diarrhea / Nausea Additional detail

    “Orally, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation have been rarely reported following use of mastic gum. In one case, constipation ceased two days after discontinuing mastic gum.”

    Mastic · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in constipation.

    3 sources cited
    1. 62051. Kaliora, A. C., Stathopoulou, M. G., Triantafillidis, J. K., Dedoussis, G. V., and Andrikopoulos, N. K. Chios mastic treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2-7-2007;13(5):748-753. PubMed
    2. 62069. Dabos, K. J., Sfika, E., Vlatta, L. J., and Giannikopoulos, G. The effect of mastic gum on Helicobacter pylori: a randomized pilot study. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(3-4):296-299. PubMed
    3. 62071. Dabos, K. J., Sfika, E., Vlatta, L. J., Frantzi, D., Amygdalos, G. I., and Giannikopoulos, G. Is Chios mastic gum effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia? A prospective randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2-3-20 PubMed
  • Itching Additional detail

    Recorded for Mastic in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

  • Dizziness / Headache Additional detail

    “Subcutaneously, administration of a specific mastic extract (RPh201, Regenera Pharma) has been reported to cause headache and dizziness.”

    Mastic · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 103266. Hazan Z, Adamsky K, Lucassen A, Levin LA. A first-in-human phase 1 randomized single and multiple ascending dose study of RPh201 in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2020;9(3):366-74. PubMed
  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Recorded for Mastic in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Dizziness / Headache above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Mastic — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Peginterferon alfa-2b to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Peginterferon alfa-2b.

Overlapping uses

What Peginterferon alfa-2b Is Prescribed For, and What Mastic Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Peginterferon alfa-2b is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Mastic is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Mastic has been studied for:

  • Cancer studied, not established Mastic has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Mastic for cancer

    Although there has been interest in using oral mastic for cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of mastic for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Peginterferon alfa-2b on your own; if you are taking Mastic for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Peginterferon alfa-2b

This page covers Mastic only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Peginterferon alfa-2b page lists 38 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Ashwagandha (moderate) and Black Cohosh (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 35 moderate.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Peginterferon alfa-2b page

“Someone taking peginterferon alfa-2b (Peg-Intron) is usually treating hepatitis C, so the liver is already the organ under strain, and all 38 supplement interactions on file for this drug pile additional liver stress on top of it. That earns genuine caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Peginterferon alfa-2b interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 104 real supplement products containing Mastic, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Mastic. Even though Mastic itself has no known interaction with Peginterferon alfa-2b, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b 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 Mastic
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Peginterferon alfa-2b
Steady interest

#2,788 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Mastic reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Mastic

What is Mastic?

Mastic
  • Indigestion and stomach upset
  • Stomach ulcers and H. pylori support
  • Oral and gum health
  • Bad breath
  • General antioxidant/anti-inflammatory support

Mastic is a resin from the mastic tree that has a long history of use for digestive complaints and oral health. Some small studies suggest it may help with indigestion, stomach ulcers, and dental hygiene, but the evidence is limited and not conclusive. It is generally well tolerated in food amounts, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it as a supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pistacia lentiscus · Anacardiaceae · Resin (gum) from the tree; sometimes the essential oil · Capsules, chewable gum/resin tears, powder, essential oil, mouthwash, toothpaste

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Mastic is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Mastic record says about it on its own.

Mastic: dosing

There is no official or standardized dose of mastic. Studies have used different forms and amounts, so it is hard to recommend one exact dose. The strength of capsules, powders, and chewing products can vary a lot between brands.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the suggested amount. Because supplements are not tightly regulated, choose a reputable brand when possible.

From our Mastic monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Mastic monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron)

What Is Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) Used For?

Brand names: Peg-Intron, ViraferonPeg

  • Peginterferon alfa-2b is used alone or in combination with ribavirin (a medication) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage and who have not been treated with interferon alpha (medication similar to peginterferon alfa-2b) in the past. Peginterferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called interferons. Peginterferon alfa-2b is a combination of interferon and polyethylene glycol, which helps the interferon stay active in your body for a longer period of time. Peginterferon alpha-2b works by decreasing the amount of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the body. Peginterferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications of hepatitis C such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. Peginterferon alfa-2b may not prevent the spread of hepatitis C to other people.

See full Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Mastic

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Mastic list.

See the full Mastic interactions page
See every supplement checked against Peginterferon alfa-2b, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Mastic References

The 5 references that drive our Mastic monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Kaliora, A. C., Stathopoulou, M. G., Triantafillidis, J. K., Dedoussis, G. V., and Andrikopoulos, N. K. Chios mastic treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2-7-2007;13(5):748-753. PubMed
  2. Dabos, K. J., Sfika, E., Vlatta, L. J., and Giannikopoulos, G. The effect of mastic gum on Helicobacter pylori: a randomized pilot study. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(3-4):296-299. PubMed
  3. Dabos, K. J., Sfika, E., Vlatta, L. J., Frantzi, D., Amygdalos, G. I., and Giannikopoulos, G. Is Chios mastic gum effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia? A prospective randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2-3-20 PubMed
  4. Hazan Z, Adamsky K, Lucassen A, Levin LA. A first-in-human phase 1 randomized single and multiple ascending dose study of RPh201 in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2020;9(3):366-74. PubMed
  5. Moraschini V, Kischinhevsky ICC, Calasans-Maia MD, et al. Ineffectiveness of ozone therapy in nonsurgical periodontal treatment: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized clinical trials. Clin Oral Investig 2020;24(6):1877-1888. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Mastic with Peginterferon alfa-2b?
We do not list a known interaction between Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Mastic and Peginterferon alfa-2b used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Mastic in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Peginterferon alfa-2b is being adjusted to a target.
Does Peginterferon alfa-2b interact with any supplements?
Yes. Peginterferon alfa-2b has documented interactions with 38 supplements in our database — Mastic is not one of them. The Peginterferon alfa-2b interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Mastic monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Peginterferon alfa-2b supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Peginterferon alfa-2b, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 5 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Peginterferon alfa-2b and Mastic?

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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.