Drug & supplement interaction

Peyote + Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine brand names: Gilchew, AH Chew D, Gilchew IR, Sudafed PE, Biorphen.

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

Peyote has a major interaction with Phenylephrine. Concomitant use of peyote with stimulant drugs may increase the risk of adverse CNS effects.

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

Peyote and Phenylephrine

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

Major

STIMULANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine falls under STIMULANT DRUGS — the group Peyote interacts with.

Concomitant use of peyote with stimulant drugs may increase the risk of adverse CNS effects. Some CNS stimulants include nicotine, cocaine, sympathomimetic amines, and amphetamines.
Severity Major 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 thing to know about pairing peyote with phenylephrine (the decongestant in products like Sudafed PE): both can rev up your system. Phenylephrine works by tightening blood vessels, which can nudge up your blood pressure and heart rate. Peyote's active compound, mescaline, stirs up the brain and can also have stimulating effects on the body. Stacking the two together could, in theory, add up to a stronger overload, things like a racing or pounding heart, higher blood pressure, jitteriness, headache, or feeling wired and anxious.

I'll be honest, this warning is based on how these substances behave in the body, not on solid studies, so the real-world risk isn't well measured. Still, since peyote isn't a safe or legal supplement to begin with, please don't combine them, and check with your pharmacist or doctor about any decongestant you take.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
  2. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.

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

Peyote Also Interacts With Other Medications

Peyote has 171 major, known drug interactions in our database — the Phenylephrine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 171 No known interaction 2,659 (incl. Phenylephrine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Peyote

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Peyote or Phenylephrine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Peyote or Phenylephrine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Phenylephrine

This page covers Peyote only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenylephrine page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major) and Sida Cordifolia (major).

By severity: 6 major · 60 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenylephrine page

“If you take phenylephrine (Sudafed PE, Biorphen) for congestion, treat this list as one that needs real attention, since six of its 81 entries carry a major rating. Phenylephrine tightens blood vessels to clear your nose, and more than half of the interactions here come from stimulant ingredients, ephedra above all, that can push blood…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenylephrine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Peyote and Phenylephrine 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 Peyote
Steady interest

#1,096 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Phenylephrine
Top 25%

#675 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 Peyote

What is Peyote?

  • Traditional and religious ceremonies
  • Spiritual or visionary experiences
  • Folk use for pain and fatigue
  • Folk use for fever and skin conditions

Peyote is a small spineless cactus that contains mescaline, a powerful hallucinogen. It is a federally controlled substance in the United States (with a narrow exemption for certain Native American religious use), is not a safe or proven dietary supplement, and should not be used for self-treatment.

Read the full Peyote monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Phenylephrine

What Is Phenylephrine Used For?

Brand names: Gilchew, AH Chew D, Gilchew IR, Sudafed PE, Biorphen

Phenylephrine is used in a number of different forms for different purposes. Intravenous (IV) phenylephrine — including products like Biorphen and Immphentiv — is given in hospital settings to raise blood pressure in adults when it drops dangerously low due to blood vessel widening (vasodilation), such as during anesthesia. Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection 10 mg/mL is also approved for use in septic shock (a life-threatening infection that causes a severe drop in blood pressure).

Nasal spray and drop products (such as Neo-Synephrine and Equate Nasal) temporarily relieve nasal congestion from colds, hay fever, or upper respiratory allergies. Ophthalmic (eye drop) solutions dilate the pupil for eye exams. Rectal suppository products (such as Preparation H and ReVIVOL-XR) help relieve itching, burning, and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.

See full Phenylephrine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Peyote

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

171Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,658No known interaction
171 Major 2,658 No interaction
Major

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 major interactions — see all 171 on the Peyote page.

No interaction 2,658 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,658 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Peyote list.

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

Can you take Peyote with Phenylephrine?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Peyote and Phenylephrine interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Phenylephrine and Peyote?

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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.