Drug & supplement interaction

Pleurisy Root + Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

Glycerol Phenylbutyrate brand name: Ravicti.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 27, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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 label for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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

Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

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 Glycerol Phenylbutyrate and Pleurisy Root 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.

Pleurisy Root safety at a glance

Pleurisy Root overall Use caution It contains potentially toxic compounds and has little safety data, so use cautiously and under guidance.
Pregnancy Avoid Traditionally used to stimulate the uterus and considered unsafe in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Glycerol Phenylbutyrate and Pleurisy Root? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Glycerol Phenylbutyrate is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Pleurisy Root has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being digoxin (lanoxin) (major), diuretic drugs (moderate) and estrogens (moderate) — and none of Glycerol Phenylbutyrate’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

Pleurisy Root Does Interact With Other Medications

Pleurisy Root has 1 major, 116 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Glycerol Phenylbutyrate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 Moderate 116 No known interaction 2,713 (incl. Glycerol Phenylbutyrate)
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.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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.

  • Stomach upset / Vomiting / Nausea reported in 12.2% of FDA reports for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Additional detail

    Pleurisy Root

    “Orally, pleurisy root can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, and vomiting (19). When consumed in large quantities, pleurisy root may cause digitalis-like poisoning symptoms (18). Acute digitalis poisoning symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, contracted pupils, blurred vision, strong slow pulse, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, excessive urination, fatigue, muscle weakness and tremors, stupor, confusion, convu…”

    Pleurisy Root · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    5 sources cited
    1. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
    2. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    4. 159. Gossel TA, Bricker JD. Principles of Clinical Toxicology. New York, NY:Raven Press, 1994.
    5. 501. De Smet PAGM, Keller K, Hansel R, Chandler RF, Eds. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 1. Verlag, Berlin: Springer, 1992. DOI

    “Orally, pleurisy root can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, and vomiting (19). When consumed in large quantities, pleurisy root may cause digitalis-like poisoning symptoms (18). Acute digitalis poisoning symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal upset (6,159,501).”

    Pleurisy Root · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    5 sources cited
    1. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
    2. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    4. 159. Gossel TA, Bricker JD. Principles of Clinical Toxicology. New York, NY:Raven Press, 1994.
    5. 501. De Smet PAGM, Keller K, Hansel R, Chandler RF, Eds. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 1. Verlag, Berlin: Springer, 1992. DOI

    Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

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

  • Tiredness / Dizziness Additional detail

    Pleurisy Root

    “Orally, consuming large quantities of pleurisy root may cause digitalis-like poisoning symptoms (18). Acute digitalis poisoning symptoms include dizziness, stupor, confusion, convulsions, and fatigue (6,159,501).”

    Pleurisy Root · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fatigue.

    4 sources cited
    1. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    2. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    3. 159. Gossel TA, Bricker JD. Principles of Clinical Toxicology. New York, NY:Raven Press, 1994.
    4. 501. De Smet PAGM, Keller K, Hansel R, Chandler RF, Eds. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 1. Verlag, Berlin: Springer, 1992. DOI

    Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

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

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Pleurisy Root

    “Topically, pleurisy root may cause dermatitis (19).”

    Pleurisy Root · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    1 source cited
    1. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

    Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

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

Reported for Pleurisy Root but not commonly for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate: muscle weakness, blurred vision, seizures and a slow heartbeat.

Effects for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Pleurisy Root come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 1,358 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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.

Special populations

Pleurisy Root in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Products Have a Food Rule — Pleurisy Root Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Glycerol Phenylbutyrate says to take it with food. If you take Pleurisy Root on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Glycerol Phenylbutyrate with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Glycerol Phenylbutyrate products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Instruct patients to take glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid with food or formula and to administer directly into the mouth via oral syringe.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

This page covers Pleurisy Root only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glycerol Phenylbutyrate page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Glycerol Phenylbutyrate page

“Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate) pulls ammonia out of the blood in people with urea cycle disorders, so a dose that never gets absorbed is not a small problem, it can let ammonia climb toward dangerous levels. That is why this list deserves real attention even though it is short.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Glycerol Phenylbutyrate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glycerol Phenylbutyrate
Top 10%

#252 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 Pleurisy Root reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 27, 2026. The Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 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.

Asclepias tuberosa · Apocynaceae · Dried root · Tea, tincture, capsules, dried root

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

Pleurisy Root: dosing

There is no well-established or standardized dose for pleurisy root, and the strength of products can vary widely. Because of its potential toxicity, more is not better and self-dosing can be risky.If you choose to use a commercial product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them.

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

Read the full Pleurisy Root monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

What Is Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Used For?

Brand name: Ravicti

Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid — available as the brand Ravicti and as a generic — is used for the long-term (chronic) management of urea cycle disorders (UCDs). UCDs are rare inherited conditions where the body cannot properly convert ammonia into urea, causing toxic ammonia levels to build up in the blood and brain.

It is used in patients whose ammonia cannot be controlled by a low-protein diet and/or amino acid supplements alone. It must always be used alongside dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, additional dietary supplements such as essential amino acids, arginine, or citrulline. It is not for treating a sudden, severe spike in ammonia (acute hyperammonemia), and its safety and effectiveness for N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency have not been established.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (1,358 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Ammonia increased 197 reports
Vomiting 165 reports
Hyperammonaemia 158 reports
Decreased appetite 104 reports
Nausea 74 reports
See full Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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
116Moderate
0Minor
2,712No known interaction
1 Major 116 Moderate 2,712 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

116 interactions

Showing 60 of 116 moderate interactions — see all 116 on the Pleurisy Root page.

No interaction 2,712 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,712 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Pleurisy Root list.

See the full Pleurisy Root interactions page
See every supplement checked against Glycerol Phenylbutyrate, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Pleurisy Root References

The 7 references that drive our Pleurisy Root 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. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  5. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  6. Gossel TA, Bricker JD. Principles of Clinical Toxicology. New York, NY:Raven Press, 1994.
  7. De Smet PAGM, Keller K, Hansel R, Chandler RF, Eds. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 1. Verlag, Berlin: Springer, 1992. DOI

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 Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Pleurisy Root with Glycerol Phenylbutyrate?
We do not list a known interaction between Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate. 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 Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 6 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.
Should I take Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Glycerol Phenylbutyrate says to take it with food. If you take Pleurisy Root on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Glycerol Phenylbutyrate with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Glycerol Phenylbutyrate products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Pleurisy Root and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Glycerol Phenylbutyrate is filed under 1 classification, and Pleurisy Root has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Glycerol Phenylbutyrate'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 Pleurisy Root interact with any other medications?
Yes. Pleurisy Root has 117 documented drug interactions in our database — Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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 Glycerol Phenylbutyrate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Glycerol Phenylbutyrate has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Pleurisy Root is not one of them. The Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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

Pleurisy Root monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Glycerol Phenylbutyrate drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Glycerol Phenylbutyrate supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Glycerol Phenylbutyrate, 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 Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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.