Drug & supplement interaction

Peony + Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline brand names: Marax, Ami Rax.

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

Peony has a moderate interaction with Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline. Theoretically, use of peony may increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.

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

Peony and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Peony interacts with.

Theoretically, use of peony may increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
In vitro research shows that peony suppresses the metabolism of clozapine via weak-to-moderate inhibitory effects on CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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

This combination product contains theophylline, which your body clears largely through a liver enzyme called CYP1A2. In lab dishes, peony appears to slow that enzyme down a bit. If that held true in people, theophylline could build up higher than expected. Since theophylline has a narrow safety window, even small increases can matter and could bring on side effects like a racing heartbeat, jitteriness, nausea, trouble sleeping, or tremor.

Here's the reassuring part: this is only a theoretical concern based on test-tube research, not anything seen in actual patients, and the effect looked weak to moderate. I wouldn't panic, but I would loop in your pharmacist or doctor before adding peony so they can keep an eye on how you feel.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Wang W, Tian DD, Zheng B, et al. Peony-glycyrrhiza decoction, an herbal preparation, inhibits clozapine metabolism via cytochrome P450s, but not flavin-containing monooxygenase in in vitro models. Drug Metab Dispos 2015;43(7):1147-53. 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

Peony Also Interacts With Other Medications

Peony has 810 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 810 No known interaction 2,020 (incl. Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Peony

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

This page covers Peony only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline page lists 199 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Black Tea (major), Caffeine (major), Coffee (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 17 major · 143 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline page

“For anyone taking Marax (ephedrine, hydroxyzine, theophylline), nothing on this page matters more than caffeine. Paired with the ephedrine in this combination, caffeine from coffee, teas, guarana, and similar herbs has been linked to dangerous blood pressure spikes, heart attack, and stroke, and those stimulant pairings account for mos…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 71 real supplement products containing Peony, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Peony. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline too, on top of Peony — 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 Peony and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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 Peony
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline
Steady interest

#2,307 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 Peony

What is Peony?

Peony
  • Menstrual cramps and irregular periods
  • Muscle cramps and spasms
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Inflammation and pain
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Peony root is a traditional Chinese medicine herb often used for menstrual problems, cramps, and inflammation, frequently as part of combination formulas. Human evidence for most uses is limited or preliminary, so it should not replace proven treatments. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines.

Read the full Peony monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Peony

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

0Major
810Moderate
0Minor
2,019No known interaction
810 Moderate 2,019 No interaction
Moderate

810 interactions

Showing 60 of 810 moderate interactions — see all 810 on the Peony page.

No interaction 2,019 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,019 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Peony list.

See the full Peony interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline, 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
Peony monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline, 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 Peony and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Peony with Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline?
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 Peony and Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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 Ephedrine, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline and Peony?

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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.