Drug & supplement interaction

Puravive + Tamoxifen Citrate

Tamoxifen Citrate brand names: Nolvadex, Soltamox.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated February 2024
The bottom line Moderate

Tamoxifen Citrate falls into 5 drug categories that Puravive can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Puravive contains quercetin, which has been shown in studies to mildly inhibit the CYP2C9 metabolizing enzyme.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions5
EvidenceC
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Puravive and Tamoxifen Citrate

These two interact in 5 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 5 Interactions?

Puravive interacts with whole categories of medication. Tamoxifen Citrate falls into 5 of those categories, so it can interact with Puravive in 5 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

1 of 5

Why this applies to Tamoxifen Citrate

Tamoxifen Citrate falls under Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates — the group Puravive interacts with.

Puravive contains quercetin, which has been shown in studies to mildly inhibit the CYP2C9 metabolizing enzyme. This inhibition could potentially increase the risk of side effects from drugs. A small clinical trial with healthy volunteers found that taking 500 mg of quercetin twice daily for 10 days before using diclofenac, a drug metabolized by CYP2C9, increased diclofenac plasma levels by 75% and extended its half-life by 32.5% (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29168292/). Combining quercetin with drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 could increase the risk of side effects, so caution is advised.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence C

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 something worth knowing about pairing Puravive with your tamoxifen. Puravive contains quercetin, which can mildly slow down a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. Tamoxifen is partly handled by this enzyme, so in theory blocking it could let a bit more tamoxifen build up in your blood. That might nudge up the usual tamoxifen side effects, things like hot flashes, leg swelling, mood changes, or nausea.

The good news is this is mostly theoretical for tamoxifen, based on a small study using a different drug (diclofenac), and the effect was modest. Food amounts of quercetin almost certainly don't matter, but concentrated supplement doses could. Since tamoxifen is a serious cancer medicine, please run Puravive past your oncologist or pharmacist before starting it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
Moderate

Qt Interval-Prolonging Drugs

2 of 5

Tamoxifen Citrate also falls under Qt Interval-Prolonging Drugs.

Puravive contains Panax ginseng. Panax ginseng is thought to have an additive effect with drugs that prolong the QT interval, potentially increasing the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. However, research findings on this matter are conflicting. Clinical studies indicate that short-term use of Panax ginseng can increase the QT interval (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27240158/). However, no changes in the QT interval have been observed with prolonged use (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11978148/).
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence C

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 Puravive and your tamoxifen. Puravive contains Panax ginseng, which some studies suggest can slightly stretch out the heart's electrical rhythm (what we call the QT interval). Tamoxifen can do the same thing on its own, so the worry is that stacking the two together might add up and, in rare cases, raise the chance of an irregular heartbeat.

I'll be honest though, the evidence here is mixed and on the weaker side. One study saw a small QT change with short-term ginseng, while longer use showed no change at all. So this is more of a theoretical caution than a proven danger. Still, since tamoxifen is an important long-term medication, I'd run Puravive past your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you have any heart rhythm history.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
Minor

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (Cyp2D6) Substrates

3 of 5

Tamoxifen Citrate also falls under Cytochrome P450 2D6 (Cyp2D6) Substrates.

Puravive contains Panax ginseng. Some research suggests that Panax ginseng might slow down the activity of an enzyme called CYP2D6 by about 6%. This enzyme plays a role in breaking down drugs in our system. One study (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32557706/) found that Panax ginseng slows down the breakdown of dextromethorphan, a drug that is processed by CYP2D6, but only to a small extent. It is important to note that not all studies agree on these effects, and some suggest that Panax ginseng might not have a significant impact on CYP2D6 at all. Nevertheless, it's important to be cautious if you're taking medications that are processed by CYP2D6 and consider discussing it with your healthcare provider.
Severity Minor 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 wrinkle with tamoxifen: it's actually a prodrug. Your body relies on the enzyme CYP2D6 to convert it into endoxifen, which is the active form that does the real anti-cancer work. So anything that slows CYP2D6 could, in theory, leave you with less of that active form and a weaker effect, which matters a lot for a cancer-prevention or cancer-treatment drug.

Now for the reassuring part. Puravive contains Panax ginseng, and the research here is weak and inconsistent. One study showed it slowed CYP2D6 by only about 6 percent, and other studies found no real effect at all. That's a small, uncertain signal. Still, because tamoxifen is so important, I'd run Puravive past your oncologist or pharmacist before starting it rather than guessing.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
Minor

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

4 of 5

Tamoxifen Citrate also falls under Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates.

Puravive contains Panax ginseng. Panax ginseng has the potential to affect the breakdown of drugs that are metabolized by an enzyme called CYP3A4. One example of such a drug is imatinib. There was a case where imatinib was thought to have caused liver damage, and it was believed that this might have been due to Panax ginseng inhibiting CYP3A4, which is involved in imatinib's metabolism (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20332334/). On the other hand, Panax ginseng has been found to increase the breakdown of another drug called midazolam, which is also metabolized by CYP3A4 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21646440/), suggesting Panax ginseng induces CYP3A4 in some cases (i.e., makes more potent). Given these contradictory findings, it is important to use Panax ginseng cautiously if you are taking medications that are metabolized by CYP3A4, as the interaction between Panax ginseng and these drugs is not fully understood.
Severity Minor 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 something worth knowing about this pair. Puravive contains Panax ginseng, which may nudge a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 in either direction (the research is genuinely mixed, sometimes speeding it up, sometimes slowing it down). Tamoxifen is interesting because it's actually a prodrug. Your body has to convert it into its active form (mostly through a different enzyme, CYP2D6) before it does its real cancer-fighting work, though CYP3A4 plays a supporting role too.

So in theory, ginseng could shift how much active drug you end up with. The good news: this is rated a minor interaction with weak, conflicting evidence, so it's more a caution than an alarm. Still, with a medication this important, I'd run Puravive past your oncologist or pharmacist before starting it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
Minor

P-Glycoprotein Substrates

5 of 5

Tamoxifen Citrate also falls under P-Glycoprotein Substrates.

Puravive contains quercetin. Theoretically, concurrent use of quercetin and P-glycoprotein substrates might alter the effects and adverse effects of the drugs. There is preliminary evidence suggesting that quercetin inhibits the P-glycoprotein efflux pump in the gastrointestinal tract. This inhibition could potentially increase the bioavailability and serum levels of drugs transported by this pump. For example, a small study in healthy volunteers found that pretreatment with quercetin increased bioavailability and plasma levels following a single dose of cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15581264/). However, other small studies have shown that quercetin might decrease the absorption of talinolol, another substrate of the gastrointestinal P-glycoprotein efflux pump. Interestingly, several days of quercetin treatment did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of saquinavir (Invirase) in another small study (source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16945047/). The reason for these discrepancies is not entirely clear. Until more is known, it is advisable to use quercetin cautiously in combination with P-glycoprotein substrates.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence C

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 connection worth knowing: Puravive contains quercetin, and quercetin may gently block a gut transporter called P-glycoprotein. Tamoxifen is one of the medicines that uses this pump, so in theory more of it could be absorbed and your blood levels could nudge upward. If that happened, you might notice more of tamoxifen's usual effects, like hot flashes, nausea, or fatigue.

That said, this is mostly theoretical. The evidence comes from small studies on other drugs, and the results were honestly all over the map. We don't have solid data on tamoxifen itself. Because tamoxifen is such an important breast cancer medicine, I'd still loop in your oncologist or pharmacist before adding Puravive, just to play it safe.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

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

Puravive Also Interacts With Other Medications

Puravive has 356 moderate, 881 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Tamoxifen Citrate one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 356 Minor 881 No known interaction 1,593 (incl. Tamoxifen Citrate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Puravive

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Puravive or Tamoxifen Citrate

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

This page covers Puravive only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tamoxifen Citrate page lists 210 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Beer (major) and Cesium (major).

By severity: 11 major · 166 moderate · 33 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tamoxifen Citrate page

“Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox) often stands between a breast cancer patient and a recurrence, so the stakes on this page run higher than usual. Eleven of the 210 supplements and herbs on file carry a major rating, and those eleven deserve your attention ahead of everything else.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tamoxifen Citrate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Puravive and Tamoxifen Citrate 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 Puravive
Steady interest

#1,263 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Tamoxifen Citrate
Top 10%

#273 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 Puravive

What is Puravive?

Puravive
  • Weight management
  • Metabolism support
  • Energy levels
  • General wellness
  • Stress and brain health

Puravive is a branded, multi-ingredient capsule marketed mainly for weight loss by claiming to boost brown fat activity, but there is no published, independent clinical research showing the product itself works for this purpose. Some individual ingredients have been studied in laboratory or small human studies, but those results do not prove the finished blend is safe or effective. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before trying it, especially if you have health conditions or take medications.

Read the full Puravive monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Tamoxifen

What Is Tamoxifen Used For?

Brand names: Nolvadex, Soltamox

Tamoxifen is used to treat estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer in both women and men, and as follow-up (adjuvant) therapy after surgery for early-stage breast cancer in women. It also reduces the occurrence of cancer in the opposite breast when used as adjuvant therapy.

In women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS — an early, non-invasive breast change) following surgery and radiation, tamoxifen lowers the risk of developing invasive breast cancer. It is also approved to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women who are at high risk but have not yet been diagnosed. Both Tamoxifen Citrate tablets and Soltamox oral solution share these indications.

See full Tamoxifen drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Puravive

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

0Major
356Moderate
881Minor
1,592No known interaction
356 Moderate 881 Minor 1,592 No interaction
Moderate

356 interactions

Showing 60 of 356 moderate interactions — see all 356 on the Puravive page.

Minor

881 interactions

Showing 60 of 881 minor interactions — see all 881 on the Puravive page.

No interaction 1,592 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,592 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Puravive list.

See the full Puravive interactions page
See every supplement checked against Tamoxifen Citrate, 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
Puravive monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Tamoxifen Citrate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Tamoxifen Citrate, ranked by severity Tamoxifen drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Puravive and Tamoxifen Citrate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Puravive with Tamoxifen Citrate?
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 5 interactions listed for Puravive and Tamoxifen Citrate?
Tamoxifen Citrate belongs to more than one drug category, and Puravive 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 Puravive and Tamoxifen Citrate 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 Tamoxifen Citrate and Puravive?

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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.