Drug & supplement interaction

Oregon Grape + Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine

Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine brand name: Juluca.

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

Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine falls into 2 drug categories that Oregon Grape can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, Oregon grape might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Oregon Grape and Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Oregon Grape interacts with whole categories of medication. Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Oregon Grape in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine

Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Oregon Grape interacts with.

Theoretically, Oregon grape might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
In vitro research and preliminary clinical evidence suggest that berberine, a constituent of Oregon grape, moderately inhibits cytochrome P450 3A4 (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 situation with Juluca, which combines dolutegravir and rilpivirine. The rilpivirine part is cleared mainly through a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Oregon grape contains berberine, which lab and early human studies suggest can modestly slow that same enzyme down. In theory, that could let rilpivirine build up a little higher in your blood, which might nudge up side effects like headache, trouble sleeping, odd dreams, or in rare cases changes in heart rhythm.

I want to be honest though: this is a theoretical concern based on how the enzyme behaves, not on real-world reports with this exact combo. Still, HIV medicines work best at steady levels, so please don't start Oregon grape without first checking with your pharmacist or HIV doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Wu X, Li Q, Xin H, Yu A, Zhong M. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61:567-72. PubMed
  2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  3. Guo, Y., Chen, Y., Tan, Z. R., Klaassen, C. D., and Zhou, H. H. Repeated administration of berberine inhibits cytochromes P450 in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2012;68(2):213-217. PubMed
  4. Hermann, R. and von, Richter O. Clinical evidence of herbal drugs as perpetrators of pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Planta Med 2012;78(13):1458-1477. PubMed
Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine also falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, Oregon grape might increase serum levels of drugs that are P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates.
In vitro research suggests that Oregon grape extracts inhibit P-gp efflux.
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 short version: Juluca combines two HIV medicines, dolutegravir and rilpivirine, and both rely on a transporter called P-glycoprotein (P-gp) to move them in and out of your body. Lab studies hint that the berberine in Oregon grape can block that transporter. If that happened in real life, slightly more of your medicine could stay in your bloodstream, which might mean a bit more nausea, headache, trouble sleeping, or odd dreams. Neither drug is a prodrug, so this points toward stronger effects, not weaker ones.

The key word is theoretical. This is based only on test-tube work, not on people, so we don't know if it truly matters. Because keeping HIV under control is so important, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding Oregon grape.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Fan Y, Zhou Z, Zhang L. Effect of Oregon grape root extracts on P-glycoprotein mediated transport in in vitro cell lines. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2024;26:11927. 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

Oregon Grape Also Interacts With Other Medications

Oregon Grape has 1,217 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,217 No known interaction 1,613 (incl. Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Oregon Grape

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine

This page covers Oregon Grape only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine page lists 159 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Calcium (major) and Cesium (major).

By severity: 9 major · 115 moderate · 35 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine page

“Juluca combines dolutegravir and rilpivirine into a single daily HIV pill, and staying suppressed depends on that pill working at full strength every day, which is why this list calls for real vigilance. Most of the 159 interacting supplements and herbs change how the body handles the medication, some raising its levels and others lowe…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 740 real supplement products containing Oregon Grape, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Oregon Grape. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine too, on top of Oregon Grape — 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 Oregon Grape and Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine 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 Oregon Grape
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine
Steady interest

#2,031 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 Oregon Grape

What is Oregon Grape?

Oregon Grape
  • Psoriasis (topical)
  • Eczema and other skin conditions
  • Digestive upset
  • Mild skin infections
  • General 'detox' or tonic use

Oregon grape is a shrub whose root contains berberine and related compounds. The strongest (though still modest) evidence is for topical creams that may slightly ease psoriasis; evidence for other uses is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Oregon Grape monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Oregon Grape

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

0Major
1,217Moderate
0Minor
1,612No known interaction
1,217 Moderate 1,612 No interaction
Moderate

1,217 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,217 moderate interactions — see all 1,217 on the Oregon Grape page.

No interaction 1,612 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,612 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Oregon Grape list.

See the full Oregon Grape interactions page
See every supplement checked against Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine, 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
Oregon Grape monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Oregon Grape and Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Oregon Grape with Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Oregon Grape and Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine?
Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine belongs to more than one drug category, and Oregon Grape interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Oregon Grape and Dolutegravir, Rilpivirine 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

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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.