Drug & supplement interaction

Panax Ginseng + Selegiline

Selegiline brand names: Carbex, Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar.

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

Selegiline falls into 2 drug categories that Panax Ginseng can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, Panax ginseng can interfere with MAOI therapy.

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

Panax Ginseng and Selegiline

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs)

1 of 2

Why this applies to Selegiline

Selegiline falls under MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs) — the group Panax Ginseng interacts with.

Theoretically, Panax ginseng can interfere with MAOI therapy.
Concomitant use of Panax ginseng with phenelzine (Nardil) is associated with insomnia, headache, tremors, and hypomania.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar) is an MAO-B inhibitor, and Panax ginseng has been reported to nudge the nervous system in a stimulating direction. We don't have solid studies pairing ginseng with selegiline specifically. The concern is borrowed from older case reports with another MAOI, phenelzine, where people noticed trouble sleeping, headaches, tremors, and a wired or overly elevated mood.

So the worry is that ginseng could add to or amplify that kind of overstimulation. Honestly, this is theoretical and based on weak, anecdotal evidence, so I wouldn't panic. But because selegiline already affects brain chemistry, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding ginseng, rather than starting it on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Shader RI, Greenblatt DJ. Phenelzine and the dream machine-ramblings and reflections. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1985;5:65. PubMed
  2. Jones BD, Runikis AM. Interaction of ginseng with phenelzine. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1987;7:201-2. PubMed
  3. Hu, Z., Yang, X., Ho, P. C., Chan, S. Y., Heng, P. W., Chan, E., Duan, W., Koh, H. L., and Zhou, S. Herb-drug interactions: a literature review. Drugs 2005;65(9):1239-1282. PubMed
Moderate

SELEGILINE (Eldepryl)

2 of 2
Theoretically, Panax ginseng might increase or decrease levels of selegiline, possibly altering the effects and side effects of selegiline.
Animal research shows that taking selegiline with a low dose of Panax ginseng extract (1 gram/kg) reduces selegiline bioavailability, while taking a high dose of Panax ginseng extract (3 grams/kg) increases selegiline bioavailability. More research is needed to confirm these effects.
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 honest picture with Panax ginseng and your selegiline: this one is mostly a theoretical concern based on animal studies, not solid human data. In those studies, the result actually went both ways. Lower doses of ginseng seemed to lower selegiline levels in the body, while higher doses raised them. So we can't even say for sure which direction it would tip in a person.

What that could mean: if ginseng nudged your selegiline higher, you might notice more side effects like trouble sleeping, dizziness, nausea, or lightheadedness when standing. If it lowered the level, your Parkinson's symptom control might feel less steady. Since this isn't well proven and effects can vary, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before adding ginseng rather than changing anything on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Yang L, Li CL, Tsai TH. Preclinical Herb-Drug Pharmacokinetic Interaction of Panax ginseng Extract and Selegiline in Freely Moving Rats. ACS Omega. 2020;5(9):4682-4688.

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

Panax Ginseng Also Interacts With Other Medications

Panax Ginseng has 1,129 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Selegiline one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,129 No known interaction 1,701 (incl. Selegiline)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Selegiline

This page covers Panax Ginseng only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Selegiline page lists 102 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Bitter Orange (major), Brewer's Yeast (major) and Cowhage (major).

By severity: 14 major · 75 moderate · 13 minor.

Open the Selegiline 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. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Selegiline too, on top of Panax Ginseng — 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 Panax Ginseng and Selegiline 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Selegiline
Steady interest

#2,174 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 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.

Read the full Panax Ginseng monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Selegiline

What Is Selegiline Used For?

Brand names: Carbex, Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar

Selegiline is used as an add-on treatment for people with Parkinson's disease who are already taking levodopa/carbidopa but are finding that the medication's effects are wearing off or becoming less reliable. It is not used alone — it only works as part of a combination approach.

In clinical studies, adding selegiline helped reduce the amount of daily levodopa needed, cut down on "off" time (periods when symptoms break through), and improved things like tremor, speech, movement, and overall daily function.

See full Selegiline 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
1,129Moderate
0Minor
1,700No known interaction
1,129 Moderate 1,700 No interaction
Moderate

1,129 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,129 moderate interactions — see all 1,129 on the Panax Ginseng page.

No interaction 1,700 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 1,700 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Panax Ginseng list.

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

Can you take Panax Ginseng with Selegiline?
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 Panax Ginseng and Selegiline?
Selegiline belongs to more than one drug category, and Panax Ginseng 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 Panax Ginseng and Selegiline 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 Selegiline 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.