Drug & supplement interaction

Pokeweed + Sarilumab

Sarilumab brand name: Kevzara.

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 Pokeweed and Sarilumab 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 Sarilumab

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 Sarilumab 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 Sarilumab, 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 Sarilumab and Pokeweed? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Pokeweed and Sarilumab May Share a Side Effect

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.

  • A low platelet count Worth acting on 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.

    “Orally and topically, pokeweed has been reported to cause plasmacytosis, mitotic changes in peripheral blood cells, eosinophilia, thrombocytopenia, abnormal platelet morphology, and other hematologic abnormalities. When used topically, these effects are more likely to occur in individuals with cuts or abrasions on the skin. Protective gloves should be used to handle the plant.”

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

    4 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. 3481. Barker BE, Farnes P, LaMarche PH. Haematological effects of pokeweed. Lancet 1967;1:437.
    4. 3482. Kell SO, Rosenberg SA, Conlon TJ, Spyker DA. A peek at poke: mitogenicity and epidemiology. Vet Hum Toxicol 1982;24:36.

    Sarilumab

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

Reported for Pokeweed but not commonly for Sarilumab: shortness of breath, loss of bladder control, stomach pain and seizures.

Effects for Sarilumab 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 24,738 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Sarilumab 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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Sarilumab

This page covers Pokeweed only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sarilumab page lists 72 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate), Alfalfa (moderate), Alkanna (moderate), Alpine Ragwort (moderate) and American Ginseng (moderate).

By severity: 71 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sarilumab page

“Sarilumab (Kevzara) works by quieting an overactive immune system in rheumatoid arthritis, and most of the supplements on this page push the other way. Immune stimulants such as ashwagandha, astragalus, and American ginseng could in theory blunt the drug's benefit and let joint symptoms creep back.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sarilumab 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 Sarilumab, 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 Sarilumab 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

#1,109 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Sarilumab
Steady interest

#2,354 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 September 20, 2026. The Pokeweed and Sarilumab 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 Sarilumab Injection

What Is Sarilumab Injection Used For?

Brand name: Kevzara

Kevzara (sarilumab) injection is approved for three conditions. In adults, it treats moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when at least one other disease-modifying drug hasn't worked well enough or caused intolerance. It also treats polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who haven't responded adequately to corticosteroids or who can't tolerate tapering them.

Kevzara is also approved for polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) — a form of childhood arthritis — but only in patients who weigh 63 kg (about 139 lbs) or more. It is not approved for pediatric patients below that weight due to the lack of an appropriate dosage form.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Sarilumab

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (26,260 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Arthralgia 5,168 reports
Rheumatoid arthritis 4,646 reports
Joint swelling 4,578 reports
Fatigue 3,555 reports
Rash 3,349 reports
See full Sarilumab Injection 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 Sarilumab, 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 Sarilumab Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Pokeweed with Sarilumab?
We do not list a known interaction between Pokeweed and Sarilumab. 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 Sarilumab have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to one 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 Sarilumab interact with any supplements?
Yes. Sarilumab has documented interactions with 72 supplements in our database — Pokeweed is not one of them. The Sarilumab 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 Sarilumab Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Sarilumab supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Sarilumab, 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 Sarilumab and Pokeweed?

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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.