Drug & supplement interaction

Panax Ginseng + Lomustine

Lomustine brand name: Ceenu.

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 Panax Ginseng and Lomustine 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Panax Ginseng and Lomustine

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 Lomustine and Panax Ginseng 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.

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.

Panax Ginseng safety at a glance

Panax Ginseng overall Use caution Generally well tolerated short-term in healthy adults, but quality and long-term safety vary.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. Ginsenoside Rb1, an active constituent of Panax ginseng, has teratogenic effects in animal models; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety data; avoid while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Lomustine and Panax Ginseng? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Lomustine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Lomustine is filed under 3 classifications — alkylating agents, antineoplastics, oral drugs. Panax Ginseng has documented interactions with 20 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), antidiabetes drugs (moderate) and caffeine (moderate) — and none of Lomustine’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Panax Ginseng Does Interact With Other Medications

Panax Ginseng has 1,130 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Lomustine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,130 No known interaction 1,700 (incl. Lomustine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Panax Ginseng

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Panax Ginseng and Lomustine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Panax Ginseng

    “It is unclear if Panax ginseng is associated with adverse hepatic effects. Cholestatic hepatitis has been reported in a 65-year old male following oral use of a combination product containing Panax ginseng and other ingredients (Prostata). However, it is unclear if this adverse effect was due to Panax ginseng, other ingredients, or the combination.”

    Panax Ginseng · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hepatitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 598. Hamid S, Rojter S, Vierling J. Protracted cholestatic hepatitis after the use of Prostata. Ann Intern Med 1997;127:169-70.
    2. 114985. Arabi SM, Shahraki-Jazinaki M, Nayyerabadi M, et al. The Effect of Ginseng Supplementation on Lipid Profile: GRADE-assessed Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Pharm Des 2024;30(26):2047-205. PubMed

    Lomustine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lomustine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea reported in 9.0% of FDA reports for Lomustine Additional detail

    Panax Ginseng

    “Orally, Panax ginseng can cause decreased appetite, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and nausea. However, these effects are typically associated with long-term, high-dose usage. Some evidence suggests that fermented Panax ginseng is more likely to cause abdominal pain and diarrhea when compared with unfermented Panax ginseng.”

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

    6 sources cited
    1. 3353. Siegel RK. Ginseng Abuse Syndrome. JAMA 1979;241:1614-5. DOI
    2. 89734. Malati CY, Robertson SM, Hunt JD, Chairez C, Alfaro RM, Kovacs JA, Penzak SR. Influence of Panax ginseng on cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity in healthy participants. J Clin Pharmacol 2012;52(6):932-9.
    3. 103477. Shen L, Gwak SR, Joo JC, et al. Effectiveness and safety of Panax ginseng extract on hepatic dysfunction: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:2689565.
    4. 112841. Shin MB, Kim SA, Lee S, et al. Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Ginsenosides between Fermented and Non-Fermented Red Ginseng in Healthy Volunteers. Pharmaceutics 2022;14(12):2807. PubMed
    5. 114980. Gao J, Shi J, Ma X, et al. Effects of ginseng berry saponins from panax ginseng on glucose metabolism of patients with prediabetes: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Phytomedicine 2024;132:155842. PubMed
    6. 114985. Arabi SM, Shahraki-Jazinaki M, Nayyerabadi M, et al. The Effect of Ginseng Supplementation on Lipid Profile: GRADE-assessed Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Pharm Des 2024;30(26):2047-205. PubMed

    Lomustine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lomustine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Panax Ginseng but not commonly for Lomustine: a stroke or mini-stroke, a severe skin reaction, erection problems and raised blood pressure.

Effects for Lomustine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Panax Ginseng come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 2,533 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Lomustine that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Panax Ginseng in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. Ginsenoside Rb1, an active constituent of Panax ginseng, has teratogenic effects in animal models; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lomustine

This page covers Panax Ginseng only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lomustine page lists 25 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Acerola (moderate), Alpha-lipoic Acid (moderate), Coenzyme Q10 (moderate) and Coffee Charcoal (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 14 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lomustine page

“One capsule of lomustine (Ceenu) often carries a whole chemotherapy cycle, so supplements that keep it from being absorbed, or that blunt its cancer-fighting action, deserve more respect here than with most drugs. The lone major-rated interaction, activated charcoal, can bind lomustine in the gut and sharply cut how much reaches the body.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lomustine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 517 real supplement products containing Panax Ginseng, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Panax Ginseng. Even though Panax Ginseng itself has no known interaction with Lomustine, 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 Panax Ginseng and Lomustine 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 Panax Ginseng
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lomustine
Top 25%

#387 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 Panax Ginseng reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Panax Ginseng and Lomustine records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Panax Ginseng

What is Panax Ginseng?

Panax Ginseng
  • Boosting energy and fighting fatigue
  • Improving mental focus and memory
  • Coping with stress (adaptogen)
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Supporting immune health
  • Blood sugar support

Panax ginseng is a popular traditional herb used to boost energy, ease stress, and support overall wellness, though scientific evidence is mixed and mostly preliminary. It is generally well tolerated for short-term use in healthy adults, but it can cause side effects like trouble sleeping and may not be safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you have a medical condition or take other medicines.

Panax ginseng · Araliaceae · Root · Capsules, tablets, dried root, powder, tea, liquid extracts, energy drinks

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

Panax Ginseng: dosing

There is no single official or standardized dose for Panax ginseng. The right amount depends on the product, the form (such as dried root, extract, or red ginseng), and how it is standardized for ginsenosides.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not take more than recommended.

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

Read the full Panax Ginseng monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lomustine

What Is Lomustine Used For?

Brand name: Ceenu

Lomustine capsules are used to treat primary and metastatic brain tumors, typically after surgery and/or radiation therapy. Both Gleostine and Lomustine branded capsules share these approved uses.

Lomustine capsules are also used as part of a combination chemotherapy regimen for Hodgkin's lymphoma (a cancer of the lymph system) in patients whose disease has continued to progress after initial chemotherapy.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Lomustine

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (2,533 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Nausea 228 reports
Fatigue 211 reports
Thrombocytopenia 180 reports
Disease progression 141 reports
Neutropenia 130 reports
See full Lomustine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Panax Ginseng

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

0Major
1,130Moderate
0Minor
1,699No known interaction
1,130 Moderate 1,699 No interaction
Moderate

1,130 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,130 moderate interactions — see all 1,130 on the Panax Ginseng page.

No interaction 1,699 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,699 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Panax Ginseng list.

See the full Panax Ginseng interactions page
See every supplement checked against Lomustine, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Panax Ginseng References

The 66 references that drive our Panax Ginseng 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. Scaglione F, Cattaneo G, Alessandria M, Cogo R. Efficacy and safety of the standardized Ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1996;22:65-72.
  2. Palmer BV, Montgomery AC, Monteiro JC, et al. Gin Seng and mastalgia [letter]. BMJ 1978;1:1284. PubMed
  3. Hopkins MP, Androff L, Benninghoff AS. Ginseng face cream and unexplained vaginal bleeding. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1988;159:1121-2. PubMed
  4. Greenspan EM. Ginseng and vaginal bleeding [letter]. JAMA 1983;249:2018.
  5. Gonzalez-Seijo JC, Ramos YM, Lastra I. Manic episode and ginseng: Report of a possible case. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1995;15:447-8.
  6. Dega H, Laporte JL, Frances C, et al. Ginseng as a cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Lancet 1996;347:1344.
  7. Hamid S, Rojter S, Vierling J. Protracted cholestatic hepatitis after the use of Prostata. Ann Intern Med 1997;127:169-70.
  8. Shader RI, Greenblatt DJ. Phenelzine and the dream machine-ramblings and reflections. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1985;5:65. PubMed
  9. Jones BD, Runikis AM. Interaction of ginseng with phenelzine. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1987;7:201-2. PubMed
  10. Janetzky K, Morreale AP. Probable interaction between warfarin and ginseng. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1997;54:692-3. PubMed
  11. Becker BN. Ginseng-induced diuretic resistance. JAMA 1996;276:606-7. PubMed
  12. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA. Clinical assessment of potential cytochrome P450-mediated herb-drug interactions. AAPS Ann Mtg & Expo Indianapolis, IN: 2000; Oct 29 - Nov 2:presentation #3460.
  13. Park HJ, Lee JH, Song YB, Park KH. Effects of dietary supplementation of lipophilic fraction from Panax ginseng on cGMP and cAMP in rat platelets and on blood coagulation. Biol Pharm Bull 1996;19:1434-9. PubMed
  14. Zhu M, Chan KW, Ng LS, et al. Possible influences of ginseng on the pharmacodynamics of warfarin in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999;51:175-80.
  15. Choi HK, Jung GW, Moon KH, et al. Clinical study of SS-Cream in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation. Urology 2000;55:257-61. 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 Panax Ginseng and Lomustine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Panax Ginseng with Lomustine?
We do not list a known interaction between Panax Ginseng and Lomustine. 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.
Do Panax Ginseng and Lomustine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Panax Ginseng and Lomustine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Lomustine is filed under 3 classifications, and Panax Ginseng has documented interactions with 20 drug classes — none of Lomustine's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Panax Ginseng interact with any other medications?
Yes. Panax Ginseng has 1,130 documented drug interactions in our database — Lomustine is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Lomustine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Lomustine has documented interactions with 25 supplements in our database — Panax Ginseng is not one of them. The Lomustine 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

Panax Ginseng monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Lomustine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Lomustine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Lomustine, 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 66 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Lomustine and Panax Ginseng?

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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.