Drug & supplement interaction

Pleurisy Root + Estropipate

Estropipate brand names: Ogen, Ortho EST.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Pleurisy Root has a moderate interaction with Estropipate. Theoretically, excessive amounts of pleurisy root might interfere with hormone drug therapy.

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

Pleurisy Root and Estropipate

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

Moderate

ESTROGENS

Why this applies to Estropipate

Estropipate falls under ESTROGENS — the group Pleurisy Root interacts with.

Theoretically, excessive amounts of pleurisy root might interfere with hormone drug therapy.
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 honest picture: Estropipate is a form of estrogen you take for menopause symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness, or to help protect your bones. The concern with pleurisy root is mostly a paper-and-theory one. Some herbalists believe it has mild hormone-like or estrogen-affecting activity, so taking a lot of it could, in theory, nudge how your estrogen therapy works and make your symptom control less predictable.

I want to be clear that this is theoretical, based on the plant's makeup rather than real studies in people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. That said, pleurisy root also contains heart-affecting compounds and can be toxic, which is reason enough to be cautious. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two, and don't change your estropipate on your own.

References
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

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

Pleurisy Root Also Interacts With Other Medications

Pleurisy Root has 1 major, 115 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Estropipate 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 Pleurisy Root

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Pleurisy Root or Estropipate

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

This page covers Pleurisy Root only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Estropipate page lists 77 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Aletris (moderate), Alfalfa (moderate) and Androstenediol (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 61 moderate · 14 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Estropipate page

“Estropipate (Ogen, Ortho EST) is an estrogen taken for menopause symptoms, and the women who use it are drawn to hormone-touted herbs, which fill this list of 77 ingredients, so it deserves genuine care. Grapefruit is one of two major-rated entries; it blocks the enzyme that clears estrogen, so levels and side effects can climb.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Estropipate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Pleurisy Root and Estropipate 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 Pleurisy Root
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Estropipate
Steady interest

#1,952 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 Pleurisy Root

What is Pleurisy Root?

  • Respiratory congestion
  • Pleurisy and chest discomfort
  • Coughs and bronchitis
  • Promoting sweating during fevers
  • Loosening mucus

Pleurisy root is the dried root of Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), a plant used in traditional North American and herbal medicine mainly for respiratory complaints. There is very little modern scientific evidence that it works for any condition, and it contains compounds that can be toxic, so caution is strongly advised. Pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it, and anyone considering it should check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Pleurisy Root monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Estrogen

What Is Estrogen Used For?

Brand names: Ogen, Ortho EST

Based on the available product information, this Estrogen product is intended for external use on the skin — specifically the face, neck, or body. It is applied as part of a daily skincare routine.

For any specific medical concerns, the label recommends consulting a healthcare provider before use.

See full Estrogen drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Pleurisy Root

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

1Major
115Moderate
0Minor
2,713No known interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

115 interactions

Showing 60 of 115 moderate interactions — see all 115 on the Pleurisy Root page.

No interaction 2,713 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 Pleurisy Root and Estropipate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Pleurisy Root with Estropipate?
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 Pleurisy Root and Estropipate 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 Estropipate and Pleurisy Root?

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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.