Drug & supplement interaction

Phellodendron + Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir brand name: Vosevi.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Phellodendron has a moderate interaction with Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir. Theoretically, phellodendron might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Phellodendron and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Phellodendron interacts with.

Theoretically, phellodendron might increase serum levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Phellodendron contains berberine. In vitro research and preliminary clinical research show that berberine moderately inhibits CYP3A4. Theoretically, phellodendron might also inhibit CYP3A4.
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 gist for anyone taking Vosevi (sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir) for hepatitis C. The berberine in Phellodendron can mildly slow down a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, and your body uses that enzyme to help clear part of this medication, especially the velpatasvir and voxilaprevir pieces. In theory, that could let the drug build up a bit more than expected, which might mean more chance of side effects like headache, tiredness, nausea, or diarrhea.

I want to be honest though: this concern comes from lab and early research, not from real cases in people taking these two together, so it's theoretical rather than proven. Still, because finishing your hepatitis C course exactly right really matters, I'd run any Phellodendron product past your pharmacist or doctor before adding it.

References
  1. Wu X, Li Q, Xin H, Yu A, Zhong M. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61:567-72. PubMed
  2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  3. 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
  4. Hermann, R. and von, Richter O. Clinical evidence of herbal drugs as perpetrators of pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Planta Med 2012;78(13):1458-1477. 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

This page covers Phellodendron only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir page lists 173 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 130 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir page

“Vosevi (sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir) cures hepatitis C over a single short course, and that is exactly why I would be genuinely careful with supplements while taking it. Anything that drags its blood levels down can cost you the cure itself.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir
Steady interest

#1,522 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir

What Is Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir Used For?

Brand name: Vosevi

Vosevi is used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults who do not have cirrhosis or who have compensated cirrhosis (mild liver scarring that is still functioning). It is specifically for people who have already been treated with an HCV regimen before and need a different option.

Vosevi is approved for adults with HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 who previously took a medicine that included an NS5A inhibitor. It is also approved for adults with genotype 1a or 3 who previously took sofosbuvir without an NS5A inhibitor.

See full Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir 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
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
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
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phellodendron and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir Together: Common Questions

Can you take Phellodendron with Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir?
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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir and Phellodendron?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.