Drug & supplement interaction

Picrorhiza + Theophylline

Theophylline brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, and others.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Picrorhiza and Theophylline 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Picrorhiza and Theophylline

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 Theophylline and Picrorhiza 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.

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.

Picrorhiza safety at a glance

Picrorhiza overall Use caution Generally used in traditional medicine, but human safety data are limited, so use with care.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety information; avoid use during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information; avoid use while breastfeeding.

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

Still wondering about combining Theophylline and Picrorhiza? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Theophylline

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Theophylline is filed under 6 classifications — including methylxanthines, cytochrome p450 1a2 (cyp1a2) substrates, cytochrome p450 1a2 (cyp1a2) substrates. Picrorhiza has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being antidiabetes drugs (moderate) and immunosuppressants (moderate) — and none of Theophylline’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Picrorhiza Does Interact With Other Medications

Picrorhiza has 207 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Theophylline isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 207 No known interaction 2,623 (incl. Theophylline)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Picrorhiza

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Picrorhiza and Theophylline May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Vomiting / Diarrhea reported in 9.7% of FDA reports for Theophylline Additional detail

    Picrorhiza

    “Orally, picrorhiza may cause vomiting, rash, anorexia, diarrhea, itching, and giddiness.”

    Picrorhiza · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.

    1 source cited
    1. 11858. Doshi VB, Shetye VM, Mahashur AA, Kamat SR. Picrorrhiza kurroa in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med 1983;29:89-95.

    “Orally, picrorhiza may cause vomiting, anorexia, and diarrhea.”

    Picrorhiza · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.

    1 source cited
    1. 11858. Doshi VB, Shetye VM, Mahashur AA, Kamat SR. Picrorrhiza kurroa in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med 1983;29:89-95.

    Theophylline

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Theophylline, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Itching / A skin rash Additional detail

    Picrorhiza

    “Orally, picrorhiza may cause rash and itching.”

    Picrorhiza · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    1 source cited
    1. 11858. Doshi VB, Shetye VM, Mahashur AA, Kamat SR. Picrorrhiza kurroa in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med 1983;29:89-95.

    Theophylline

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Theophylline. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Picrorhiza but not commonly for Theophylline: reduced appetite.

Effects for Theophylline come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Picrorhiza come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 12,164 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Theophylline that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Theophylline Is Prescribed For, and What Picrorhiza Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Theophylline is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Picrorhiza is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Theophylline is prescribed for: Theophylline — available as extended-release capsules (Theo-24), extended-release tablets, and oral solution (Elixophyllin) — is used to treat symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction caused by chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. All supported formulations share these indications. Theophylline is intended for patients with ongoing or recurring symptoms, not for sudden (acute) breathing attacks, which need faster-acting treatments.

Picrorhiza has been studied for:

  • Asthma studied, not established Picrorhiza has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Possibly Ineffective Read what the research shows

    Picrorhiza for asthma

    Taking picrorhiza orally for up to 12 weeks does not seem to help asthma symptoms or improve measurements of lung function.

    1 source cited
    1. 11858. Doshi VB, Shetye VM, Mahashur AA, Kamat SR. Picrorrhiza kurroa in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med 1983;29:89-95.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Theophylline on your own; if you are taking Picrorhiza for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Picrorhiza or Theophylline

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

This page covers Picrorhiza only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Theophylline page lists 126 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Sida Cordifolia (major), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 89 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Theophylline page

“Stop ephedra before anything else if you take theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, and others) for asthma or COPD. Both are stimulants, and together they raise the risk of serious heart and nervous system effects; Sida cordifolia, an herb that contains ephedrine, carries the same major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Theophylline interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 177 real supplement products containing Picrorhiza, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Picrorhiza. Even though Picrorhiza itself has no known interaction with Theophylline, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Picrorhiza and Theophylline 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 Picrorhiza
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Theophylline
Top half

#887 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 Picrorhiza reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Picrorhiza and Theophylline 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 Picrorhiza

What is Picrorhiza?

  • Liver support
  • Digestive complaints
  • Asthma and breathing problems
  • Skin conditions
  • Fever
  • Immune support

Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurroa) is a bitter Himalayan herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, mainly for liver and digestive complaints. Early lab and small human studies suggest possible liver-protective and anti-inflammatory effects, but high-quality evidence is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Picrorhiza kurroa · Plantaginaceae · Roots and rhizomes · Capsules, tablets, powder (churna), liquid extracts, and traditional herbal formulas

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

Picrorhiza: dosing

There is no well-established standard dose of Picrorhiza. The amount used can vary widely depending on the form (powder, capsule, or extract) and how concentrated the product is.The safest approach is to follow the dosing directions on the product label and not to exceed them.

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

Read the full Picrorhiza monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Theophylline

What Is Theophylline Used For?

Brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Uniphyl, Slo-phyllin Gyrocaps, Theolair, Theolair SR, Quibron-T/SR, Quibron-T, Aerolate III, Theo-X, Bronkodyl, Theoclear LA-130, Constant-T, Theoclear LA-260, Elixophyllin, Theovent, Theobid Jr Duracap, Respbid, Theobid Duracap

Theophylline — available as extended-release capsules (Theo-24), extended-release tablets, and oral solution (Elixophyllin) — is used to treat symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction caused by chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

All supported formulations share these indications. Theophylline is intended for patients with ongoing or recurring symptoms, not for sudden (acute) breathing attacks, which need faster-acting treatments.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Theophylline

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (12,323 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Dyspnea 2,441 reports
Asthma 2,097 reports
Pneumonia 1,466 reports
Wheezing 1,417 reports
Vomiting 1,230 reports
See full Theophylline drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Picrorhiza

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

0Major
207Moderate
0Minor
2,622No known interaction
207 Moderate 2,622 No interaction
Moderate

207 interactions

Showing 60 of 207 moderate interactions — see all 207 on the Picrorhiza page.

No interaction 2,622 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,622 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Picrorhiza list.

See the full Picrorhiza interactions page
See every supplement checked against Theophylline, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Picrorhiza References

The 7 references that drive our Picrorhiza 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. Sharma ML, Rao CS, Duda PL. Immunostimulatory activity of Picrorhiza kurroa leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 1994;41:185-92. PubMed
  2. Bedi KL, Zutshi U, Chopra CL, Amla V. Picrorhiza kurroa, an ayurvedic herb, may potentiate photochemotherapy in vitiligo. J Ethnopharmacol 1989;27:347-52. PubMed
  3. Vaidya AB, Antarkar DS, Doshi JC, et al. Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutaki) Royle ex Benth as a hepatoprotective agent--experimental & clinical studies. J Postgrad Med 1996;42:105-8.
  4. Baruah CC, Gupta PP, Nath A, et al. Anti-allergic and anti-anaphylactic activity of picroliv--a standardised iridoid glycoside fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa. Pharmacol Res 1998;38:487-92.
  5. Doshi VB, Shetye VM, Mahashur AA, Kamat SR. Picrorrhiza kurroa in bronchial asthma. J Postgrad Med 1983;29:89-95.
  6. Joy, K. L. and Kuttan, R. Anti-diabetic activity of Picrorrhiza kurroa extract. J Ethnopharmacol 11-1-1999;67(2):143-148. PubMed
  7. Brockwell C, Ampikaipakan S, Sexton DW, Price D, Freeman D, Thomas M, Ali M, Wilson AM. Adjunctive treatment with oral AKL1, a botanical nutraceutical, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2014;9:715-21. 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 Picrorhiza and Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Picrorhiza with Theophylline?
We do not list a known interaction between Picrorhiza and Theophylline. 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.
Do Picrorhiza and Theophylline have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Picrorhiza and Theophylline used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Picrorhiza in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Theophylline is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Picrorhiza and Theophylline combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Theophylline is filed under 6 classifications, and Picrorhiza has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Theophylline's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Picrorhiza interact with any other medications?
Yes. Picrorhiza has 207 documented drug interactions in our database — Theophylline is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Theophylline interact with any supplements?
Yes. Theophylline has documented interactions with 126 supplements in our database — Picrorhiza is not one of them. The Theophylline 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

Picrorhiza monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Theophylline drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Theophylline supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Theophylline, 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 7 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Theophylline and Picrorhiza?

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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.