Drug & supplement interaction

Motherwort + Oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine brand names: Trileptal, Oxtellar XR.

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

Motherwort has a moderate interaction with Oxcarbazepine. Theoretically, taking motherwort concomitantly with other CNS depressants may increase the risk of sedation.

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

Motherwort and Oxcarbazepine

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Motherwort interacts with.

Theoretically, taking motherwort concomitantly with other CNS depressants may increase the risk of sedation.
Motherwort has been reported to cause CNS depression and sedation.
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 with motherwort and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal, Oxtellar XR). This isn't about one changing how the other is broken down. Instead, both can have a calming, sedating effect on the brain. Oxcarbazepine already tends to cause drowsiness, dizziness, and trouble concentrating, especially when you first start it. Motherwort has been reported to add its own mild sedation on top of that.

So stacking the two together could leave you feeling sleepier or foggier than usual. I'll be straight with you though: this is a theoretical concern based on how each works, not something proven in studies, so I don't want you to panic. Still, before adding motherwort, run it by your pharmacist or doctor, and don't change your seizure medicine on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  2. Wojtyniak K, Szymanski M, Matlawska I. Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort): a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology. Phytother Res 2013;27(8):1115-20.

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

Motherwort Also Interacts With Other Medications

Motherwort has 247 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Oxcarbazepine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 247 No known interaction 2,583 (incl. Oxcarbazepine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Motherwort

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Motherwort or Oxcarbazepine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Motherwort or Oxcarbazepine, 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 Oxcarbazepine

This page covers Motherwort only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Oxcarbazepine page lists 122 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 · 99 moderate · 16 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Oxcarbazepine page

“People take oxcarbazepine (Trileptal, Oxtellar XR) to keep seizures in check, and I want anyone on it to read the seven major-rated interactions below before adding any supplement. Of the 122 ingredients on file, 78 have sedative effects, so the calming and sleep aids many patients reach for, kava among them, can pile drowsiness on top…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Oxcarbazepine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 400 real supplement products containing Motherwort, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Motherwort. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Oxcarbazepine too, on top of Motherwort — 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 Motherwort and Oxcarbazepine 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 Motherwort
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Oxcarbazepine
Top 25%

#395 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 Motherwort

What is Motherwort?

Motherwort
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Heart palpitations
  • Menstrual discomfort
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Insomnia

Motherwort is a traditional herb in the mint family long used for anxiety, heart palpitations, and women's reproductive complaints, but solid human evidence is very limited. It should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and anyone with a heart condition or taking heart or blood-thinning medicines should talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Read the full Motherwort monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Oxcarbazepine

What Is Oxcarbazepine Used For?

Brand names: Trileptal, Oxtellar XR

Oxcarbazepine treats partial-onset seizures (seizures that start in one area of the brain). Which uses are approved depends on the product and the patient's age.

Trileptal and oxcarbazepine tablets or oral suspension are used alone or added to other seizure medicines in adults. They are used alone in children 4 to 16 years and added to other medicines in children 2 to 16 years. Oxtellar XR and oxcarbazepine extended-release tablets are used for partial-onset seizures in patients 6 years and older.

See full Oxcarbazepine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Motherwort

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

0Major
247Moderate
0Minor
2,582No known interaction
247 Moderate 2,582 No interaction
Moderate

247 interactions

Showing 60 of 247 moderate interactions — see all 247 on the Motherwort page.

No interaction 2,582 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,582 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Motherwort list.

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

Can you take Motherwort with Oxcarbazepine?
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 Motherwort and Oxcarbazepine 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 Oxcarbazepine and Motherwort?

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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.