Drug & supplement interaction

Pokeweed + Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine brand names: Gilchew, AH Chew D, Gilchew IR, Sudafed PE, Biorphen.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Pokeweed and Phenylephrine 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

Pokeweed and Phenylephrine

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 Phenylephrine and Pokeweed 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Pokeweed at all — not against Phenylephrine, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Pokeweed safety at a glance

Pokeweed overall Avoid Pokeweed is toxic and has caused serious poisonings, so it is best avoided.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When pokeweed is used orally or applied topically; avoid using. Evidence suggests the pokeweed berry has uterine stimulant and abortifacient effects. Pokeweed i... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When pokeweed is used orally or applied topically; avoid using. Evidence suggests the pokeweed berry has uterine stimulant and abortifacient effects. Pokeweed i... 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 Phenylephrine and Pokeweed? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Pokeweed and Phenylephrine 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. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on reported in 6.2% of FDA reports for Phenylephrine Additional detail

    Pokeweed

    “Pokeweed is generally regarded as unsafe for use. Any benefits of therapy may not outweigh the risk of toxicity. Orally, all parts of the pokeweed plant can cause nausea, vomiting, cramping, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, weakness, hypotension, bloody emesis, bloody diarrhea, tachycardia, difficulty breathing, salivation, urinary incontinence, spasms, convulsions, severe thirst…”

    Pokeweed · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    5 sources cited
    1. 3477. Furbee B, Wermuth M. Life-threatening plant poisoning. Crit Care Clin 1997;13:849-88. PubMed
    2. 3478. Lewis WH, Smith PR. Poke root herbal tea poisoning. JAMA 1979;242:2759-60. DOI
    3. 3479. Roberge R, Brader E, Martin ML, et al. The root of evil-pokeweed intoxication. Ann Emerg Med 1986;15:470-3. PubMed
    4. 3481. Barker BE, Farnes P, LaMarche PH. Haematological effects of pokeweed. Lancet 1967;1:437.
    5. 3482. Kell SO, Rosenberg SA, Conlon TJ, Spyker DA. A peek at poke: mitogenicity and epidemiology. Vet Hum Toxicol 1982;24:36.

    Phenylephrine

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

  • Nausea / Vomiting reported in 7.6% of FDA reports for Phenylephrine Additional detail

    Pokeweed

    “Orally, all parts of the pokeweed plant can cause nausea, vomiting, cramping, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, bloody emesis, and bloody diarrhea.”

    Pokeweed · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    3 sources cited
    1. 3477. Furbee B, Wermuth M. Life-threatening plant poisoning. Crit Care Clin 1997;13:849-88. PubMed
    2. 3478. Lewis WH, Smith PR. Poke root herbal tea poisoning. JAMA 1979;242:2759-60. DOI
    3. 3479. Roberge R, Brader E, Martin ML, et al. The root of evil-pokeweed intoxication. Ann Emerg Med 1986;15:470-3. PubMed

    Phenylephrine

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

Reported for Pokeweed but not commonly for Phenylephrine: loss of bladder control, a low platelet count, stomach pain and seizures.

Effects for Phenylephrine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Pokeweed come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 221,388 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Phenylephrine 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

Pokeweed in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When pokeweed is used orally or applied topically; avoid using. Evidence suggests the pokeweed berry has uterine stimulant and abortifacient effects. Pokeweed is generally considered unsafe for any use.

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Pokeweed or Phenylephrine

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

This page covers Pokeweed only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenylephrine page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 6 major · 60 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenylephrine page

“If you take phenylephrine (Sudafed PE, Biorphen) for congestion, treat this list as one that needs real attention, since six of its 81 entries carry a major rating. Phenylephrine tightens blood vessels to clear your nose, and more than half of the interactions here come from stimulant ingredients, ephedra above all, that can push blood…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenylephrine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 12 real supplement products containing Pokeweed, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Pokeweed. Even though Pokeweed itself has no known interaction with Phenylephrine, 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 Pokeweed and Phenylephrine 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 Pokeweed
Steady interest

#1,322 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Phenylephrine
Top 25%

#427 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 Pokeweed reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified October 4, 2026. The Pokeweed and Phenylephrine 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 Pokeweed

What is Pokeweed?

  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Skin conditions
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Respiratory complaints
  • Traditional 'blood cleansing'

Pokeweed is a wild North American plant that is toxic in most of its raw forms, and there is no reliable evidence that it safely treats any condition. Poisonings have occurred from eating the berries, root, or improperly prepared greens. Because of its serious safety risks, most experts recommend avoiding it.

Phytolacca americana · Phytolaccaceae · Root, berries, leaves, and young shoots · Tincture, dried root, capsules, topical preparations, and traditionally cooked greens ('poke sallet')

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

Pokeweed: dosing

There is no established safe dose for pokeweed. Because the plant is toxic and the amount of active and harmful compounds varies widely, no reliable medicinal dose can be recommended.We do not provide dosing for pokeweed because of its poisoning risk. For most people, the safest choice is to avoid pokeweed altogether.

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

Read the full Pokeweed monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Phenylephrine

What Is Phenylephrine Used For?

Brand names: Gilchew, AH Chew D, Gilchew IR, Sudafed PE, Biorphen

Phenylephrine is used in several different products, and each one has its own use.

Injection (IV): raises blood pressure in adults with clinically important hypotension (low blood pressure) caused mainly by widened blood vessels. Some injections are labeled for anesthesia only. Others are labeled for anesthesia and septic shock.

Eye drops: Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution is used to dilate the pupil.

Nasal products: temporarily relieve nasal and sinus congestion from the common cold, hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies.

Rectal suppositories: relieve itching, burning and discomfort from hemorrhoids and temporarily shrink hemorrhoidal tissue.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Phenylephrine

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (221,388 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 20,609 reports
Headache 17,301 reports
Nausea 16,925 reports
Diarrhea 14,221 reports
Dyspnea 13,719 reports
See full Phenylephrine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Pokeweed

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Pokeweed list.

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

Pokeweed References

The 7 references that drive our Pokeweed 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. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Furbee B, Wermuth M. Life-threatening plant poisoning. Crit Care Clin 1997;13:849-88. PubMed
  4. Lewis WH, Smith PR. Poke root herbal tea poisoning. JAMA 1979;242:2759-60. DOI
  5. Roberge R, Brader E, Martin ML, et al. The root of evil-pokeweed intoxication. Ann Emerg Med 1986;15:470-3. PubMed
  6. Barker BE, Farnes P, LaMarche PH. Haematological effects of pokeweed. Lancet 1967;1:437.
  7. Kell SO, Rosenberg SA, Conlon TJ, Spyker DA. A peek at poke: mitogenicity and epidemiology. Vet Hum Toxicol 1982;24:36.

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 Pokeweed and Phenylephrine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Pokeweed with Phenylephrine?
We do not list a known interaction between Pokeweed and Phenylephrine. 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 Pokeweed and Phenylephrine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 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.
Does Phenylephrine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Phenylephrine has documented interactions with 81 supplements in our database — Pokeweed is not one of them. The Phenylephrine 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

Pokeweed monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Phenylephrine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Phenylephrine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Phenylephrine, 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 Phenylephrine and Pokeweed?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.