Drug & supplement interaction

Phenethylamine (pea) + Frovatriptan

Frovatriptan brand name: Frova.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Phenethylamine (pea) has a moderate interaction with Frovatriptan. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with phenethylamine might increase the risk of serotonergic adverse effects.

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

Phenethylamine (pea) and Frovatriptan

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

Moderate

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Frovatriptan

Frovatriptan falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group Phenethylamine (pea) interacts with.

Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with phenethylamine might increase the risk of serotonergic adverse effects.
Animal research shows that phenethylamine increases levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with phenethylamine might increase the risk of additive serotonergic adverse effects, including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders. However, low-quality clinical research has used phenethylamine with selegiline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), with apparent safety.
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 with Frova (frovatriptan): this migraine medicine works on serotonin pathways to calm an attack. PEA can nudge up serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. So in theory, stacking the two together could add up and raise the small chance of too much serotonin activity, sometimes called serotonin syndrome (think agitation, fast heartbeat, sweating, shivering, or tremor). Both can also tighten blood vessels, so I'd keep an eye on blood pressure too.

I want to be honest, though: this is a theoretical concern based mostly on animal data, not solid human studies. It's not a hard 'never combine.' Still, since you're mixing two things that touch serotonin, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  2. Sabelli H, Fink P, Fawcett J, et al. Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1996;8(2):168-71.
  3. Xie Z, Miller G. Beta-phenylehtylamine alters monoamine transporter function via trace amine-associated receptor 1: implication for modulatory roles of trace amines in brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008;325(2):617-28.
  4. Nakamura M, Ishii A, Nakahara D. Characterization of beta-phenyltheylamine-induced monoamine release in rat nucleus accumbens: a microdialysis study. Eur J Pharmacol. 1998;349(2-3):163-9.
  5. Bailey B, Philips S, Boulton A. In vivo release of endogenous dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and some of their metabolites from rat caudate nucleus by phenylethylamine. Neurochem Res. 1987;12(2):173-8. 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

Phenethylamine (pea) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Phenethylamine (pea) has 186 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Frovatriptan 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 Phenethylamine (pea)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Phenethylamine (pea). Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Phenethylamine (pea) or Frovatriptan

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Phenethylamine (pea) or Frovatriptan, 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 Frovatriptan

This page covers Phenethylamine (pea) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Frovatriptan page lists 38 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Lithium (major), 5-htp (moderate), Acetyl-l-carnitine (moderate) and Ayahuasca (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 25 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Frovatriptan page

“If you take frovatriptan (Frova) for migraine attacks, lithium is the interaction to understand first. Frovatriptan itself works through serotonin, and lithium, one of two major-rated entries among the 38 supplements on file, can both mask and raise the risk of serotonin syndrome.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Frovatriptan interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Phenethylamine (pea) as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 208 real supplement products containing Phenethylamine (pea), each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Phenethylamine (pea). Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Frovatriptan too, on top of Phenethylamine (pea) — 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 Phenethylamine (pea) and Frovatriptan 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 Phenethylamine (pea)
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Frovatriptan
Steady interest

#2,543 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 Phenethylamine (pea)

What is Phenethylamine (pea)?

Phenethylamine (pea)
  • Mood support
  • Focus and concentration
  • Energy and pre-workout boost
  • Feeling of well-being
  • Athletic performance

Phenethylamine (PEA) is a natural compound made in the body and found in foods like chocolate; supplements are marketed for mood, focus, and energy. Reliable human research on the supplement is very limited, and it may raise blood pressure or heart rate, so people with heart or blood pressure problems should be cautious and check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Phenethylamine (pea) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Frovatriptan

What Is Frovatriptan Used For?

Brand name: Frova

Frovatriptan succinate tablets are used to treat a migraine headache once it has already started — with or without aura (visual or sensory symptoms that can precede a migraine). It is approved for adults only.

It is not used to prevent migraines from happening in the first place, and it has not been proven effective for cluster headaches. A clear diagnosis of migraine should be established before use.

See full Frovatriptan drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phenethylamine (pea)

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

0Major
186Moderate
0Minor
2,643No known interaction
Moderate

186 interactions

Showing 60 of 186 moderate interactions — see all 186 on the Phenethylamine (pea) page.

No interaction 2,643 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phenethylamine (pea) and Frovatriptan Together: Common Questions

Can you take Phenethylamine (pea) with Frovatriptan?
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 Phenethylamine (pea) and Frovatriptan 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 Frovatriptan and Phenethylamine (pea)?

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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.