Drug & supplement interaction

Phellodendron + Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin brand names: Robitussin, Humibid LA, Amibid LA, Numobid, Muco-Fen 800, and others.

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

Phellodendron has a moderate interaction with Guaifenesin. Theoretically, phellodendron may increase serum levels of dextromethorphan.

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

Phellodendron and Guaifenesin

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

Moderate

DEXTROMETHORPHAN (Robitussin DM, others)

Theoretically, phellodendron may increase serum levels of dextromethorphan.
Phellodendron contains berberine. Preliminary clinical research shows that berberine can inhibit cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) activity and reduce the metabolism of dextromethorphan. Theoretically, phellodendron may also inhibit the metabolism of dextromethorphan.
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 a little wrinkle worth knowing about. The interaction on file actually involves dextromethorphan, the cough suppressant that often shares a bottle with guaifenesin in those combo products like Robitussin DM. The concern is that berberine in phellodendron may slow down a liver enzyme called CYP2D6, which could let dextromethorphan build up in your blood and possibly cause more drowsiness or dizziness.

The good news for guaifenesin itself: it works mainly by thinning mucus and is cleared by the body in a different way, so it isn't really tied to that CYP2D6 pathway. This warning is theoretical and points at the dextromethorphan partner, not guaifenesin alone. If your product contains both, it's worth a quick check with your pharmacist before adding phellodendron.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Guo, Y., Chen, Y., Tan, Z. R., Klaassen, C. D., and Zhou, H. H. Repeated administration of berberine inhibits cytochromes P450 in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2012;68(2):213-217. 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

Phellodendron Also Interacts With Other Medications

Phellodendron has 1,159 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Guaifenesin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,159 No known interaction 1,671 (incl. Guaifenesin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Phellodendron

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Phellodendron or Guaifenesin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Phellodendron or Guaifenesin, 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 Guaifenesin

This page covers Phellodendron only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Guaifenesin page lists 26 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Berberine (moderate), Bitter Orange (moderate) and Coffee Charcoal (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 15 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Guaifenesin page

“Guaifenesin (Robitussin, Humibid LA) loosens chest mucus, and by itself it is a mild medicine, but two of the 26 supplements on this list rate major, so those two deserve your attention first. Activated charcoal can bind the drug in your gut and blunt what it does, and grapefruit raises blood levels of dextromethorphan, the cough suppr…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Guaifenesin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 393 real supplement products containing Phellodendron, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Phellodendron. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Guaifenesin too, on top of Phellodendron — 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 Phellodendron and Guaifenesin 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 Phellodendron
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Guaifenesin
Top 5%

#105 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 Phellodendron

What is Phellodendron?

Phellodendron
  • Digestive complaints and diarrhea
  • Inflammation and joint discomfort
  • Stress and weight management (in combination products)
  • Skin conditions (topical, traditional)
  • Antimicrobial support

Phellodendron is a traditional Chinese medicine bark (Huang Bai) that contains berberine and other plant compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in lab studies. Human evidence for most uses is limited, and it is often sold in combination with other herbs, making its individual effects hard to judge. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Phellodendron monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Guaifenesin

What Is Guaifenesin Used For?

Brand names: Robitussin, Humibid LA, Amibid LA, Numobid, Muco-Fen 800, Bidex, Organidin, X-pect, Mucinex

Guaifenesin helps loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions — the sticky fluid in your airways — so your cough can clear it out more effectively. It is used to relieve chest congestion associated with colds, respiratory infections, and other conditions that cause a mucus-filled cough.

This use is supported across multiple products including tablets, extended-release tablets, and oral solutions such as Childrens Mucus Relief, Tussin, Guaifenesin STRAWBERRY-BANANA FLAVOR, 12 Hour Mucus Relief, 365 Whole Foods Market Guaifenesin, Dr. Simi Mucus Relief, and others.

See full Guaifenesin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phellodendron

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

0Major
1,159Moderate
0Minor
1,670No known interaction
1,159 Moderate 1,670 No interaction
Moderate

1,159 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,159 moderate interactions — see all 1,159 on the Phellodendron page.

No interaction 1,670 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,670 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Phellodendron list.

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

Can you take Phellodendron with Guaifenesin?
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 Phellodendron and Guaifenesin 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 Guaifenesin and Phellodendron?

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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.