Drug & supplement interaction

Pleurisy Root + Methyclothiazide, Reserpine

Methyclothiazide, Reserpine brand name: Diutensen-R.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Pleurisy Root has a moderate interaction with Methyclothiazide, Reserpine. Theoretically, concomitant use of potassium-depleting diuretics and pleurisy root can increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity due to potassium depletion.

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

Pleurisy Root and Methyclothiazide, Reserpine

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

Moderate

DIURETIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Methyclothiazide, Reserpine

Methyclothiazide, Reserpine falls under DIURETIC DRUGS — the group Pleurisy Root interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of potassium-depleting diuretics and pleurisy root can increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity due to potassium depletion. Some diuretics that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.
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

Your medication Diutensen-R contains a water pill called methyclothiazide. Like other thiazide diuretics, it can lower your body's potassium over time. Here's where pleurisy root comes in: this herb naturally contains heart-active compounds (cardiac glycosides). When potassium runs low, the heart becomes more sensitive to those compounds, which on paper raises the chance of an irregular or unsafe heartbeat.

I want to be honest that this concern is theoretical, based on how these substances behave rather than real-world reports. Still, since pleurisy root can be toxic and your pill already nudges potassium down, I wouldn't pair them casually. Watch for muscle weakness, cramps, palpitations, or dizziness, and please check with your pharmacist or doctor before using this herb.

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

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 Methyclothiazide, Reserpine 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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Methyclothiazide, Reserpine

This page covers Pleurisy Root only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methyclothiazide, Reserpine page lists 228 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Asarabacca (major) and Dolomite (major).

By severity: 10 major · 193 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methyclothiazide, Reserpine page

“Diutensen-R pairs methyclothiazide, a thiazide diuretic, with reserpine, and both halves work to pull blood pressure down, which is why the 228 supplement and herbal interactions on file here deserve genuine vigilance. Most entries either push blood pressure lower than intended or deepen the diuretic effect, draining more fluid and pot…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methyclothiazide, Reserpine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Pleurisy Root and Methyclothiazide, Reserpine 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
Steady interest

#1,091 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Methyclothiazide, Reserpine
Steady interest

#1,833 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
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 Methyclothiazide, Reserpine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Pleurisy Root with Methyclothiazide, Reserpine?
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 Methyclothiazide, Reserpine 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

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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.