Drug & supplement interaction

Rabdosia Rubescens + Armodafinil

Armodafinil brand name: Nuvigil.

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

Armodafinil falls into 2 drug categories that Rabdosia Rubescens can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Rabdosia rubescens might increase levels of p-glycoprotein substrates.

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

Rabdosia Rubescens and Armodafinil

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Armodafinil

Armodafinil falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES — the group Rabdosia Rubescens interacts with.

Rabdosia rubescens might increase levels of p-glycoprotein substrates. In vitro research shows that Rabdosia rubescens extract inhibits p-glycoprotein levels and activity. Drugs that might be affected include some chemotherapeutic agents (doxorubicin, etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine), antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir), H2 antagonists (cimetidine, ranitidine), some calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil), digoxin, corticosteroids, erythromycin, cisapride (Propulsid), fexofenadine (Allegra), cyclosporine, loperamide (Imodium), quinidine, and others.
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 basic idea with Armodafinil (Nuvigil) and this herb. Rabdosia rubescens has been shown in lab dishes to block a transporter called P-glycoprotein, which acts like a pump that helps shuttle certain drugs out of your body. If that pump slows down, drugs it moves can build up a little higher than expected. For Armodafinil, that could in theory nudge up its wakefulness-promoting effects and side effects like headache, jitteriness, a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or nausea.

That said, I want to keep this in perspective. The evidence here is only test-tube research, not real people, so we honestly don't know if it matters in everyday use. Still, it's worth mentioning this combo to your pharmacist or doctor before adding the supplement.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Li F, Fan J, Wu Z, et al. Reversal effects of Rabdosia rubescens extract on multidrug resistance of MCF-7/Adr cells in vitro. Pharm Biol. 2013;51(9):1196-203.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Armodafinil also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

In vitro research shows that oridonin, a constituent of Rabdosia rubescens, induces cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. Also, in an animal model, oridonin induces a gene homologous to CYP3A4. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, watch for a decrease in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in patients taking Rabdosia rubescens. Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 that might be affected are some benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, others), felodipine (Plendil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, others); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); some HIV antivirals such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); some HMG CoA reductase inhibitors such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor); some macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin (Biaxin); quinidine; and many others.
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: your body relies partly on an enzyme called CYP3A4 to break down armodafinil (Nuvigil). Lab studies suggest a compound in Rabdosia rubescens called oridonin may speed up that enzyme. If that holds true in people, your body could clear armodafinil a bit faster, which might make it feel weaker. The practical worry would be more daytime sleepiness creeping back, since that's exactly what armodafinil is meant to control.

I want to be honest, though: this is only seen so far in test-tube and animal research, never confirmed in humans, so it's more of a theoretical heads-up than a proven problem. Still, if you take armodafinil to stay alert and safe (especially for driving or work), please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding this herb.

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

Rabdosia Rubescens Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rabdosia Rubescens has 713 moderate, 69 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Armodafinil one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 713 Minor 69 No known interaction 2,048 (incl. Armodafinil)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rabdosia Rubescens

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Armodafinil

This page covers Rabdosia Rubescens only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Armodafinil page lists 223 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major), Jalap (major) and Oleander (major).

By severity: 9 major · 176 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Armodafinil page

“Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a wakefulness drug that works like a stimulant, and the supplements that matter most here do the same thing. Nine of the 223 ingredients on file rate major, and this list warrants real care, starting with those nine.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Armodafinil interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Rabdosia Rubescens and Armodafinil 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 Rabdosia Rubescens
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Armodafinil
Top half

#1,045 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 Rabdosia Rubescens

What is Rabdosia Rubescens?

Rabdosia Rubescens
  • Sore throat and respiratory complaints
  • Inflammation
  • Antimicrobial support
  • Digestive complaints
  • Traditional cancer support

Rabdosia rubescens is a Chinese herb traditionally used for sore throats, inflammation, and infections, and its compound oridonin has drawn lab interest for possible anticancer effects. However, strong human evidence is lacking for any use, and safety has not been well studied, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Read the full Rabdosia Rubescens monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Armodafinil

What Is Armodafinil Used For?

Brand name: Nuvigil

Armodafinil tablets (including the brand Nuvigil) are used to improve wakefulness in adults who have excessive sleepiness linked to one of three conditions: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), narcolepsy, or shift work disorder (SWD).

In obstructive sleep apnea, armodafinil treats the sleepiness itself — not the underlying airway obstruction. If CPAP (a breathing device worn during sleep) is the right treatment for you, your doctor should try that first before adding armodafinil for sleepiness.

See full Armodafinil drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rabdosia Rubescens

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

0Major
713Moderate
69Minor
2,047No known interaction
713 Moderate 69 Minor 2,047 No interaction
Moderate

713 interactions

Showing 60 of 713 moderate interactions — see all 713 on the Rabdosia Rubescens page.

Minor

69 interactions

Showing 60 of 69 minor interactions — see all 69 on the Rabdosia Rubescens page.

No interaction 2,047 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,047 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Rabdosia Rubescens list.

See the full Rabdosia Rubescens interactions page
See every supplement checked against Armodafinil, 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
Rabdosia Rubescens monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Armodafinil supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Armodafinil, ranked by severity Armodafinil 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 Rabdosia Rubescens and Armodafinil Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rabdosia Rubescens with Armodafinil?
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 Rabdosia Rubescens and Armodafinil?
Armodafinil belongs to more than one drug category, and Rabdosia Rubescens 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 Rabdosia Rubescens and Armodafinil 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

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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.