Drug & supplement interaction

Perillyl Alcohol + Peginterferon alfa-2b

Peginterferon alfa-2b brand names: Peg-Intron, ViraferonPeg.

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 Perillyl Alcohol and Peginterferon alfa-2b 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.

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Interaction report

Perillyl Alcohol and Peginterferon alfa-2b

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 Peginterferon alfa-2b and Perillyl Alcohol 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Perillyl Alcohol at all — not against Peginterferon alfa-2b, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Perillyl Alcohol safety at a glance

Perillyl Alcohol overall Use caution It is mostly an investigational compound with limited human safety data outside clinical trials.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety while breastfeeding is unknown, so avoid use.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Peginterferon alfa-2b and Perillyl Alcohol? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Perillyl Alcohol Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Peginterferon alfa-2b. It is the side-effect record for Perillyl Alcohol on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Perillyl Alcohol, this list is the first place to look. 3 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Low potassium Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, perillyl alcohol can cause adverse effects including gastrointestinal upset, reflux, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, and headache. In high doses, perillyl alcohol has been associated with single reports of acute pancreatitis, increased bilirubin, increased white blood cell count, and hypokalemia.

    Topically, perillyl alcohol has been rarely reported to cause a mild rash or tenderness.”

    Perillyl Alcohol · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    6 sources cited
    1. 15274. Bailey HH, Wilding G, Tutsch KD, et al. A phase I trial of perillyl alcohol administered four times daily for 14 days out of 28 days. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2004;54:368-76. PubMed
    2. 15277. Stearns V, Coop A, Singh B, et al. A pilot surrogate end point biomarker trial of perillyl alcohol in breast neoplasia. Clin Cancer Res 2004;10:7583-91. PubMed
    3. 15279. Morgan-Meadows S, Dubey S, Gould M, et al. Phase I trial of perillyl alcohol administered four times daily continuously. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2003;52:361-6. PubMed
    4. 15284. Liu G, Oettel K, Bailey H, et al. Phase II trial of perillyl alcohol (NSC 641066) administered daily in patients with metastatic androgen independent prostate cancer. Invest New Drugs 2003;21:367-72. PubMed
    5. 58047. Ripple, G. H., Gould, M. N., Arzoomanian, R. Z., Alberti, D., Feierabend, C., Simon, K., Binger, K., Tutsch, K. D., Pomplun, M., Wahamaki, A., Marnocha, R., Wilding, G., and Bailey, H. H. Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of perillyl alcohol adm
    6. 58132. Ripple GH, Gould MN, Stewart JA, and et al. Phase I clinical trial of perillyl alcohol administered daily. Clin Cancer Res 1998;4(5):1159-1164.

    “Use of high doses of perillyl alcohol orally can cause potassium depletion leading to hypokalemia.”

    Perillyl Alcohol · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypokalemia.

    3 sources cited
    1. 15284. Liu G, Oettel K, Bailey H, et al. Phase II trial of perillyl alcohol (NSC 641066) administered daily in patients with metastatic androgen independent prostate cancer. Invest New Drugs 2003;21:367-72. PubMed
    2. 16284. Granath J, Ingvarsson S, von Thiele U, Lundberg U. Stress management: a randomized study of cognitive behavioural therapy and yoga. Cogn Behav Ther 2006;35:3-10. PubMed
    3. 68708. Hudes, G. R., Szarka, C. E., Adams, A., Ranganathan, S., McCauley, R. A., Weiner, L. M., Langer, C. J., Litwin, S., Yeslow, G., Halberr, T., Qian, M., and Gallo, J. M. Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of perillyl alcohol (NSC 641066) in patients with refract
  • Pancreatitis Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, perillyl alcohol can cause gastrointestinal upset, reflux, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, bloating, belting, heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation. Some side effects appear to be dose related. Higher doses are more likely to cause gastrointestinal upset such as reflux.”

    Perillyl Alcohol · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in constipation.

    6 sources cited
    1. 15274. Bailey HH, Wilding G, Tutsch KD, et al. A phase I trial of perillyl alcohol administered four times daily for 14 days out of 28 days. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2004;54:368-76. PubMed
    2. 15277. Stearns V, Coop A, Singh B, et al. A pilot surrogate end point biomarker trial of perillyl alcohol in breast neoplasia. Clin Cancer Res 2004;10:7583-91. PubMed
    3. 15279. Morgan-Meadows S, Dubey S, Gould M, et al. Phase I trial of perillyl alcohol administered four times daily continuously. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2003;52:361-6. PubMed
    4. 15284. Liu G, Oettel K, Bailey H, et al. Phase II trial of perillyl alcohol (NSC 641066) administered daily in patients with metastatic androgen independent prostate cancer. Invest New Drugs 2003;21:367-72. PubMed
    5. 58047. Ripple, G. H., Gould, M. N., Arzoomanian, R. Z., Alberti, D., Feierabend, C., Simon, K., Binger, K., Tutsch, K. D., Pomplun, M., Wahamaki, A., Marnocha, R., Wilding, G., and Bailey, H. H. Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of perillyl alcohol adm
    6. 58132. Ripple GH, Gould MN, Stewart JA, and et al. Phase I clinical trial of perillyl alcohol administered daily. Clin Cancer Res 1998;4(5):1159-1164.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes Worth acting on Additional detail

    Recorded for Perillyl Alcohol in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low potassium above.

  • Heartburn / Stomach upset / Constipation Additional detail

    Recorded for Perillyl Alcohol in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low potassium above.

  • Bloating or gas / Reduced appetite Additional detail

    Recorded for Perillyl Alcohol in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Pancreatitis above.

  • A stuffy or runny nose / Itching Additional detail

    “Intranasally, perillyl alcohol has been associated with nasal soreness or itching, runny nose, and skin irritation.”

    Perillyl Alcohol · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in skin irritation.

    1 source cited
    1. 106535. Schönthal AH, Peereboom DM, Wagle N, et al. Phase I trial of intranasal NEO100, highly purified perillyl alcohol, in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Neurooncol Adv 2021;3(1):vdab005. PubMed

Showing the 10 most notable of 16 recorded effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Perillyl Alcohol — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Peginterferon alfa-2b to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Peginterferon alfa-2b.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Peginterferon alfa-2b

This page covers Perillyl Alcohol only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Peginterferon alfa-2b page lists 38 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Ashwagandha (moderate) and Black Cohosh (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 35 moderate.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Peginterferon alfa-2b page

“Someone taking peginterferon alfa-2b (Peg-Intron) is usually treating hepatitis C, so the liver is already the organ under strain, and all 38 supplement interactions on file for this drug pile additional liver stress on top of it. That earns genuine caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Peginterferon alfa-2b interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Perillyl Alcohol and Peginterferon alfa-2b 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 Perillyl Alcohol
Steady interest

#1,366 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Peginterferon alfa-2b
Steady interest

#1,874 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 Perillyl Alcohol reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Perillyl Alcohol and Peginterferon alfa-2b records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 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 Perillyl Alcohol

What is Perillyl Alcohol?

  • Cancer research (investigational)
  • Antioxidant interest
  • General wellness supplement
  • Aromatherapy-related products

Perillyl alcohol is a natural compound found in the essential oils of plants like mint, lavender, and citrus, and it has mainly been studied as an experimental anti-cancer agent rather than as an everyday supplement. The evidence in people is limited and still under investigation, so it should not be used to treat or prevent any disease without medical supervision. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Naturally found in the essential oils of plants such as lavender, peppermint, sage, cherries, and citrus fruits; often produced from limonene · Capsules, oral liquid, and (in research settings) intranasal preparations

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

Perillyl Alcohol: dosing

There is no established standard supplement dose of perillyl alcohol for the general public. The doses used in research were chosen for clinical trials and were given under close medical supervision, so they do not apply to over-the-counter use.If you choose to use a product that contains perillyl alcohol, follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed them.

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

Read the full Perillyl Alcohol monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron)

What Is Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) Used For?

Brand names: Peg-Intron, ViraferonPeg

  • Peginterferon alfa-2b is used alone or in combination with ribavirin (a medication) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage and who have not been treated with interferon alpha (medication similar to peginterferon alfa-2b) in the past. Peginterferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called interferons. Peginterferon alfa-2b is a combination of interferon and polyethylene glycol, which helps the interferon stay active in your body for a longer period of time. Peginterferon alpha-2b works by decreasing the amount of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the body. Peginterferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications of hepatitis C such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. Peginterferon alfa-2b may not prevent the spread of hepatitis C to other people.

See full Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Perillyl Alcohol

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Perillyl Alcohol list.

See the full Perillyl Alcohol interactions page
See every supplement checked against Peginterferon alfa-2b, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Perillyl Alcohol References

The 18 references that drive our Perillyl Alcohol 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. Bailey HH, Wilding G, Tutsch KD, et al. A phase I trial of perillyl alcohol administered four times daily for 14 days out of 28 days. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2004;54:368-76. PubMed
  2. Stearns V, Coop A, Singh B, et al. A pilot surrogate end point biomarker trial of perillyl alcohol in breast neoplasia. Clin Cancer Res 2004;10:7583-91. PubMed
  3. Morgan-Meadows S, Dubey S, Gould M, et al. Phase I trial of perillyl alcohol administered four times daily continuously. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2003;52:361-6. PubMed
  4. Liu G, Oettel K, Bailey H, et al. Phase II trial of perillyl alcohol (NSC 641066) administered daily in patients with metastatic androgen independent prostate cancer. Invest New Drugs 2003;21:367-72. PubMed
  5. Granath J, Ingvarsson S, von Thiele U, Lundberg U. Stress management: a randomized study of cognitive behavioural therapy and yoga. Cogn Behav Ther 2006;35:3-10. PubMed
  6. Ripple, G. H., Gould, M. N., Arzoomanian, R. Z., Alberti, D., Feierabend, C., Simon, K., Binger, K., Tutsch, K. D., Pomplun, M., Wahamaki, A., Marnocha, R., Wilding, G., and Bailey, H. H. Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of perillyl alcohol adm
  7. Ripple GH, Gould MN, Stewart JA, and et al. Phase I clinical trial of perillyl alcohol administered daily. Clin Cancer Res 1998;4(5):1159-1164.
  8. Hudes, G. R., Szarka, C. E., Adams, A., Ranganathan, S., McCauley, R. A., Weiner, L. M., Langer, C. J., Litwin, S., Yeslow, G., Halberr, T., Qian, M., and Gallo, J. M. Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of perillyl alcohol (NSC 641066) in patients with refract
  9. Bailey, H. H., Levy, D., Harris, L. S., Schink, J. C., Foss, F., Beatty, P., and Wadler, S. A phase II trial of daily perillyl alcohol in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E2E96. Gynecol.Oncol. 2002;85(3):464- PubMed
  10. Murren, J. R., Pizzorno, G., DiStasio, S. A., McKeon, A., Peccerillo, K., Gollerkari, A., McMurray, W., Burtness, B. A., Rutherford, T., Li, X., Ho, P. T., and Sartorelli, A. Phase I study of perillyl alcohol in patients with refractory malignancies. Canc PubMed
  11. Azzoli, C. G., Miller, V. A., Ng, K. K., Krug, L. M., Spriggs, D. R., Tong, W. P., Riedel, E. R., and Kris, M. G. A phase I trial of perillyl alcohol in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemother.Pharmacol. 2003;51(6):493-498. PubMed
  12. Meadows, S. M., Mulkerin, D., Berlin, J., Bailey, H., Kolesar, J., Warren, D., and Thomas, J. P. Phase II trial of perillyl alcohol in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Int J Gastrointest.Cancer 2002;32(2-3):125-128. PubMed
  13. Stratton SP, Alberts DS, Einspahr JG, et al. A phase 2a study of topical perillyl alcohol cream for chemoprevention of skin cancer. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2010;3(2):160-9. PubMed
  14. da Fonseca CO, Linden R, Futuro D, Gattass CR, Quirico-Santos T. Ras pathway activation in gliomas: a strategic target for intranasal administration of perillyl alcohol. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 2008;56(4):267-76. PubMed
  15. Stratton SP, Saboda KL, Myrdal PB, et al. Phase 1 study of topical perillyl alcohol cream for chemoprevention of skin cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2008;60(3):325-30. 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 Perillyl Alcohol and Peginterferon alfa-2b Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Perillyl Alcohol with Peginterferon alfa-2b?
We do not list a known interaction between Perillyl Alcohol and Peginterferon alfa-2b. 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.
Does Peginterferon alfa-2b interact with any supplements?
Yes. Peginterferon alfa-2b has documented interactions with 38 supplements in our database — Perillyl Alcohol is not one of them. The Peginterferon alfa-2b 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

Perillyl Alcohol monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Peginterferon alfa-2b supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Peginterferon alfa-2b, 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 18 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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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.