Drug & supplement interaction

Purple Nut Sedge + Edrophonium, Atropine

Edrophonium, Atropine brand name: Enlon-Plus.

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

Edrophonium, Atropine falls into 2 drug categories that Purple Nut Sedge can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. In vitro, purple nut sedge dose-dependently inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Purple Nut Sedge and Edrophonium, Atropine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Purple Nut Sedge interacts with whole categories of medication. Edrophonium, Atropine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Purple Nut Sedge in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Edrophonium, Atropine

Edrophonium, Atropine falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group Purple Nut Sedge interacts with.

In vitro, purple nut sedge dose-dependently inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Theoretically, concurrent use of anticholinergic drugs and purple nut sedge might decrease the effectiveness of purple nut sedge or the anticholinergic agent.
Some anticholinergic drugs include atropine, benztropine (Cogentin), biperiden (Akineton), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane).
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 simple version. In lab dishes (not in people), purple nut sedge appears to block an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. The atropine part of Enlon-Plus works in the opposite direction by dialing down certain nerve signals, so in theory the two could partly cancel each other out. That might soften atropine's effects, like its job of keeping your heart rate up or drying secretions, and could nudge the supplement's own activity too.

Keep in mind this drug is given in a hospital or clinic for very specific reasons, like reversing muscle relaxants or testing for myasthenia gravis, so it isn't something you'd casually combine with a supplement. The evidence here is only test-tube level, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but please mention any supplements to your care team beforehand.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sharma R, Gupta R. Cyperus rotundus extract inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity from animal and plants as well as inhibits germination and seedling growth in wheat and tomato. Life Sci. 2007;80(24-25):2389-2392. PubMed
Moderate

CHOLINERGIC DRUGS

2 of 2

Edrophonium, Atropine also falls under CHOLINERGIC DRUGS.

In vitro, purple nut sedge dose-dependently inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Theoretically, concurrent use of purple nut sedge with cholinergic drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of cholinergic side effects.
Cholinergic drugs include bethanechol (Urecholine), donepezil (Aricept), echothiophate (Phospholine Iodide), edrophonium (Enlon, Reversol, Tensilon), neostigmine (Prostigmin), physostigmine (Antilirium), pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol), succinylcholine (Anectine, Quelicin), and tacrine (Cognex).
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 idea behind this pairing. In lab dishes, purple nut sedge appears to block an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which is the same enzyme that edrophonium itself blocks. Edrophonium works by raising acetylcholine levels to briefly boost nerve-to-muscle signaling, and your Enlon-Plus also includes atropine to soften the cholinergic side effects. So in theory, stacking nut sedge on top could add to the cholinergic load and bring on more of those effects: extra saliva and watery eyes, belly cramps, nausea, slow heartbeat, or muscle twitching.

That said, this is only test-tube reasoning, not proven in people, and edrophonium is given in a controlled medical setting. Still, mention any supplements to the team caring for you before they use it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sharma R, Gupta R. Cyperus rotundus extract inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity from animal and plants as well as inhibits germination and seedling growth in wheat and tomato. Life Sci. 2007;80(24-25):2389-2392. 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

Purple Nut Sedge Also Interacts With Other Medications

Purple Nut Sedge has 423 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Edrophonium, Atropine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 423 No known interaction 2,407 (incl. Edrophonium, Atropine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Purple Nut Sedge

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Edrophonium, Atropine

This page covers Purple Nut Sedge only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Edrophonium, Atropine page lists 34 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Angel's Trumpet (moderate), Arenaria Rubra (moderate) and Bacopa (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 29 moderate · 3 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Edrophonium, Atropine page

“Enlon-Plus combines edrophonium, which raises levels of the nerve messenger acetylcholine, with atropine, which tempers its side effects, and the supplements listed below can tip that balance in either direction. I read this list with real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Edrophonium, Atropine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Purple Nut Sedge and Edrophonium, Atropine 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 Purple Nut Sedge
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Edrophonium, Atropine
Top half

#1,350 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 Purple Nut Sedge

What is Purple Nut Sedge?

  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Menstrual cramps and irregular periods
  • Fever and inflammation
  • Skin and weight-related concerns
  • Antimicrobial uses

Purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a common weed whose tubers have a long history in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and other traditional medicine systems, mostly for digestive and menstrual complaints. Modern human evidence is very limited, so its benefits remain unproven. If you want to try it, talk with a pharmacist or doctor first, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Purple Nut Sedge monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Purple Nut Sedge

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

0Major
423Moderate
0Minor
2,406No known interaction
423 Moderate 2,406 No interaction
Moderate

423 interactions

Showing 60 of 423 moderate interactions — see all 423 on the Purple Nut Sedge page.

No interaction 2,406 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,406 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Purple Nut Sedge list.

See the full Purple Nut Sedge interactions page
See every supplement checked against Edrophonium, Atropine, 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
Purple Nut Sedge monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Edrophonium, Atropine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Edrophonium, Atropine, 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 Purple Nut Sedge and Edrophonium, Atropine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Purple Nut Sedge with Edrophonium, Atropine?
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 2 interactions listed for Purple Nut Sedge and Edrophonium, Atropine?
Edrophonium, Atropine belongs to more than one drug category, and Purple Nut Sedge 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 Purple Nut Sedge and Edrophonium, Atropine 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 Edrophonium, Atropine and Purple Nut Sedge?

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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.