Drug & supplement interaction

Pumpkin + Imiquimod

Imiquimod brand names: Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Pumpkin and Imiquimod 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

Pumpkin and Imiquimod

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 Imiquimod and Pumpkin 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.

Pumpkin safety at a glance

Pumpkin overall Generally safe Pumpkin as food is well tolerated; concentrated seed-oil supplements are generally safe for most adults.
Pregnancy Use caution Pumpkin as a food is fine, but there is not enough data on concentrated seed supplements, so avoid them unless your doctor approves.
Breastfeeding Use caution Pumpkin as a food is fine, but safety of concentrated supplements during breastfeeding is not well studied.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Imiquimod and Pumpkin? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Imiquimod

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Imiquimod is filed under a single classification — topical drugs. Pumpkin has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being lithium (moderate) — and none of Imiquimod’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

Pumpkin Does Interact With Other Medications

Pumpkin has 1 moderate known drug interaction in our database — Imiquimod isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1 No known interaction 2,829 (incl. Imiquimod)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Pumpkin

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Pumpkin and Imiquimod 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.

  • Itching / Swelling Additional detail

    Pumpkin

    “Orally, pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin pulp have been reported to cause anaphylactic reactions in children and adults. A case review highlights 4 cases of anaphylaxis in children (3 from pumpkin pulp, 1 from pumpkin seeds), and 7 cases in adults (1 from pumpkin flesh, 6 from pumpkin seeds).”

    Pumpkin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    1 source cited
    1. 107843. Gawryjolek J, Ludwig H, Zbikowska-Götz M, Bartuzi Z, Krogulska A. Anaphylaxis after consumption of pumpkin seeds in a 2-y-old child tolerant to its pulp: A case study. Nutrition 2021;89:111272. PubMed

    Imiquimod

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

  • Diarrhea Additional detail

    Pumpkin

    “Orally, pumpkin seed oil has been reported to cause mild abdominal discomfort in clinical trials. There are also two case reports of adults developing severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea following consumption of a meal containing either bitter-tasting pumpkin or undefined squash. These adverse effects were attributed to a high concentration of cucurbitacin, which is commonly found in wild pumpkins.”

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

    3 sources cited
    1. 5093. Marks L, Partin AW, Epstein JI, et al. Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2000;163:1451-6. DOI
    2. 92378. Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014;2014:549721. PubMed
    3. 104535. Assouly P. Hair loss associated with cucurbit poisoning. JAMA Dermatol. 2018 May 1;154(5):617-618. PubMed

    Imiquimod

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

Reported for Pumpkin but not commonly for Imiquimod: stomach upset, an allergic reaction, a severe allergic reaction and trouble swallowing.

Effects for Imiquimod come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Pumpkin come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Imiquimod

This page covers Pumpkin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Imiquimod page lists 3 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) (moderate), Turpentine Oil (moderate) and Alchemilla (minor).

By severity: 2 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Imiquimod page

“Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma) is a cream for warts, precancerous spots, and certain skin cancers, and its supplement list is short and workable for most people. Only 3 ingredients are on file, none rated major, and all involve products applied to the skin rather than swallowed.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Imiquimod interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2,055 real supplement products containing Pumpkin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Pumpkin. Even though Pumpkin itself has no known interaction with Imiquimod, 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 Pumpkin and Imiquimod 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 Pumpkin
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Imiquimod
Top half

#880 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 Pumpkin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Pumpkin and Imiquimod 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 Pumpkin

What is Pumpkin?

Pumpkin
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms
  • Overactive bladder
  • Eye and skin health (vitamin A source)
  • General nutrition and fiber
  • Hair health

Pumpkin is a nutritious squash, and its seeds and seed oil are the parts most often used as supplements, mainly for urinary and prostate symptoms. The evidence for these uses is limited and mostly preliminary, though eating pumpkin as a food is safe and a good source of vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated pumpkin seed supplements.

Cucurbita pepo · Cucurbitaceae · Fruit flesh, seeds, and seed oil · Whole food, capsules, softgels (seed oil), powders, raw or roasted seeds

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

Pumpkin: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for pumpkin supplements. Studies have used different forms and amounts of seed or seed oil, so it is hard to recommend one exact dose.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount.

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

Read the full Pumpkin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Imiquimod Topical

What Is Imiquimod Topical Used For?

Brand names: Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma

Imiquimod cream is used to treat three skin conditions in adults: actinic keratoses (rough, scaly patches on the skin caused by sun damage) on the face or scalp; superficial basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) on the trunk, neck, or limbs when surgery is not the best option; and external genital and perianal warts (condyloma acuminata) in patients 12 years and older.

It is not effective for molluscum contagiosum in children ages 2–12, and it has not been proven safe or effective in people with weakened immune systems. It should not be used for warts inside the urethra, vagina, cervix, rectum, or anal canal.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Imiquimod

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Erythema 183 reports
Fatigue 179 reports
Nausea 114 reports
Influenza like illness 102 reports
Application site erythema 100 reports
See full Imiquimod Topical drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Pumpkin

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

0Major
1Moderate
0Minor
2,828No known interaction
1 Moderate 2,828 No interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

No interaction 2,828 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,828 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Pumpkin list.

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

Pumpkin References

The 5 references that drive our Pumpkin 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. Marks L, Partin AW, Epstein JI, et al. Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2000;163:1451-6. DOI
  2. Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014;2014:549721. PubMed
  3. Vahlensieck W, Theurer C, Pfitzer E, Patz B, Banik N, Engelmann U. Effects of pumpkin seed in men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia in the one-year, randomized, placebo-controlled GRANU study. Urol Int 2015;94(3):286-95 PubMed
  4. Assouly P. Hair loss associated with cucurbit poisoning. JAMA Dermatol. 2018 May 1;154(5):617-618. PubMed
  5. Gawryjolek J, Ludwig H, Zbikowska-Götz M, Bartuzi Z, Krogulska A. Anaphylaxis after consumption of pumpkin seeds in a 2-y-old child tolerant to its pulp: A case study. Nutrition 2021;89:111272. PubMed

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 Pumpkin and Imiquimod Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Pumpkin with Imiquimod?
We do not list a known interaction between Pumpkin and Imiquimod. 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 Pumpkin and Imiquimod 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.
How was the Pumpkin and Imiquimod combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Imiquimod is filed under 1 classification, and Pumpkin has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Imiquimod'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 Pumpkin interact with any other medications?
Yes. Pumpkin has 1 documented drug interaction in our database — Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod interact with any supplements?
Yes. Imiquimod has documented interactions with 3 supplements in our database — Pumpkin is not one of them. The Imiquimod 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

Pumpkin monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Imiquimod Topical drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Imiquimod supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Imiquimod, 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 5 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Imiquimod and Pumpkin?

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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.