Drug & supplement interaction

Propolis + Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene

Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene brand names: Darvocet-N 100, Darvocet-N 50, Wygesic, E-Lor.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene falls into 3 drug categories that Propolis can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, high doses of propolis might increase blood levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Propolis and Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Propolis interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Propolis in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene

Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group Propolis interacts with.

Theoretically, high doses of propolis might increase blood levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
In vitro research shows that propolis extract can inhibit CYP2D6. However, animal research shows that propolis extract does not significantly affect CYP2D6 activity when administered to rats at doses up to 250 mg/kg. It is postulated that the constituents of propolis that inhibit CYP2D6 in vitro do not have significant effects in vivo due to low bioavailability and hepatic first-pass effect. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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 gist with this combo. Propoxyphene is partly handled by a liver enzyme called CYP2D6, and in test-tube studies propolis can slow that enzyme down. In theory, slowing it could let propoxyphene build up a bit, which might mean more of its opioid effects like drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, or slowed breathing.

That said, I want to keep this in perspective. This is only seen in lab dishes, not in people, and animal studies didn't show a real effect, likely because not much propolis actually reaches the bloodstream. Everyday or food-level amounts are unlikely to matter; very concentrated supplement doses are the bigger question mark. It's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist to be safe.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Naramoto K, Kato M, Ichihara K. Effects of an ethanol extract of Brazilian green propolis on human cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in vitro. J Agric Food Chem 2014;62(46):11296-302. PubMed
  2. Ryu CS, Oh SJ, Oh JM, et al. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 by propolis in human liver microsomes. Toxicol Res 2016;32(3):207-13. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, high doses of propolis might increase blood levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
In vitro research shows that propolis extract can inhibit CYP1A2. However, animal research shows that propolis extract does not significantly affect CYP1A2 activity when administered to rats at doses up to 250 mg/kg. It is postulated that the constituents of propolis that inhibit CYP1A2 in vitro do not have significant effects in vivo due to low bioavailability and hepatic first-pass effect. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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 short version: the worry is that concentrated propolis might slow down a liver enzyme called CYP1A2, which could let certain medications build up a bit in your blood. With this combo pill, the propoxyphene part is an opioid pain reliever, so in theory higher levels could mean more drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, or nausea. The acetaminophen side isn't really the concern here.

But honestly, I'd keep this in perspective. This is only seen in lab dish studies, and animal research didn't show a real effect, likely because propolis doesn't absorb well. It's never been reported in actual people. Food or normal amounts are very unlikely to matter. If you take high-dose propolis supplements regularly, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Naramoto K, Kato M, Ichihara K. Effects of an ethanol extract of Brazilian green propolis on human cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in vitro. J Agric Food Chem 2014;62(46):11296-302. PubMed
  2. Ryu CS, Oh SJ, Oh JM, et al. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 by propolis in human liver microsomes. Toxicol Res 2016;32(3):207-13. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, propolis might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.
In vitro research shows that propolis can inhibit CYP2E1. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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 gist with this combo. The acetaminophen part of Darvocet is partly handled by a liver enzyme called CYP2E1. In test tube studies, propolis seems to slow that enzyme down a bit. In theory, slowing it could shift how acetaminophen breaks down. Importantly, this has never actually been shown to happen in people, so the concern is mostly on paper right now.

If anything did change, you might notice a little more sleepiness, dizziness, or stomach upset from the medicine. The bigger point with acetaminophen is always not to overdo the total daily dose, since too much is hard on the liver. I wouldn't lose sleep over occasional propolis use, but if you take it regularly, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on things.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Ryu CS, Oh SJ, Oh JM, et al. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 by propolis in human liver microsomes. Toxicol Res 2016;32(3):207-13. PubMed

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

Propolis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Propolis has 920 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 920 No known interaction 1,910 (incl. Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Propolis

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene

This page covers Propolis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene page lists 241 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 9 major · 191 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene page

“Darvocet and its relatives (acetaminophen with propoxyphene) combine an opioid with a common pain reliever, and I would be genuinely careful mixing supplements with it. Of the 241 ingredients on this page, nine carry a major rating, and most of the dangerous pairings share one problem.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 723 real supplement products containing Propolis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Propolis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene too, on top of Propolis — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Propolis and Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene 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 Propolis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene
Top 10%

#147 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 Propolis

What is Propolis?

Propolis
  • Cold sores and herpes lesions (topical)
  • Sore throat and mouth sores
  • Wound and skin healing
  • Immune support
  • Oral and gum health

Propolis is a natural, resin-like substance made by bees that has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in lab studies. Early research suggests it may help with cold sores, mouth sores, and minor wounds, but high-quality evidence is limited for most uses. It is generally well tolerated, but allergic reactions can occur, especially in people allergic to bee products.

Read the full Propolis monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Propolis

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

0Major
920Moderate
0Minor
1,909No known interaction
920 Moderate 1,909 No interaction
Moderate

920 interactions

Showing 60 of 920 moderate interactions — see all 920 on the Propolis page.

No interaction 1,909 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,909 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Propolis list.

See the full Propolis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Propolis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Propolis and Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene Together: Common Questions

Can you take Propolis with Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene?
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.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Propolis and Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene?
Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene belongs to more than one drug category, and Propolis interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Propolis and Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene 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 Acetaminophen, Propoxyphene and Propolis?

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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.