Drug & supplement interaction

Rabdosia Rubescens + Lacosamide

Lacosamide brand names: Vimpat, Motpoly XR.

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

Lacosamide falls into 2 drug categories that Rabdosia Rubescens can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. In vitro research shows that oridonin, a constituent of Rabdosia rubescens, induces cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme.

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

Rabdosia Rubescens and Lacosamide

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. Lacosamide 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

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Lacosamide

Lacosamide falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Rabdosia Rubescens interacts with.

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 gist for Vimpat (lacosamide): a compound in Rabdosia rubescens called oridonin appears to speed up a liver enzyme (CYP3A4) that helps clear certain medications. Since lacosamide is partly broken down by that pathway, in theory this herb could lower your lacosamide levels a bit. For a seizure medicine, that's the worry that matters most. If your blood level drifts down, your seizures could become harder to control.

The honest part: this is based only on lab and animal studies, and it has not been seen in real people. Lacosamide also relies on several enzymes, not just one, so the effect (if any) may be small. Still, because breakthrough seizures are serious, I'd run this by your neurologist or pharmacist before adding the supplement rather than experimenting on your own.

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

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Lacosamide also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

In vitro research shows that oridonin, a constituent of Rabdosia rubescens, induces cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) enzyme. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, watch for a decrease in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 in patients taking Rabdosia rubescens. Some drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), ibuprofen (Motrin), meloxicam (Mobic), and piroxicam (Feldene); celecoxib (Celebrex); amitriptyline (Elavil); warfarin (Coumadin); glipizide (Glucotrol); losartan (Cozaar); and others.
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 gist with Vimpat (lacosamide) and this herb. Lab studies suggest oridonin, a compound in Rabdosia rubescens, may speed up an enzyme called CYP2C9. Since lacosamide is partly cleared by that enzyme, the theory is that the herb could lower your lacosamide levels a bit. If that happened, your seizure medicine might not work quite as well, which is the real concern for anyone relying on it for seizure control.

I'll be straight with you though: this is based only on test-tube research and has never been shown in actual people, so the risk is mostly theoretical. Lacosamide also leans on more than one enzyme to break down, which softens the impact. Still, because missing seizure coverage matters, check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding this herb.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Zhang YW, Zheng XW, Liu YJ, et al. Effect of oridonin on cytochrome P450 expression and activities in HepaRG Cell. Pharmacology. 2018;101(5-6):246-254. 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

Rabdosia Rubescens Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rabdosia Rubescens has 713 moderate, 69 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Lacosamide 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. Lacosamide)
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 Lacosamide

This page covers Rabdosia Rubescens only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lacosamide page lists 151 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 107 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lacosamide page

“If you take lacosamide (Vimpat, Motpoly XR) for seizures, start with the three major entries here: grapefruit, St. John's wort, and activated charcoal.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lacosamide interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Rabdosia Rubescens and Lacosamide 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lacosamide
Steady interest

#1,480 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 Lacosamide

What Is Lacosamide Used For?

Brand names: Vimpat, Motpoly XR

Lacosamide is used to treat partial-onset seizures (seizures that start in one part of the brain) in adults and children. The age at which it is approved depends on the specific product: Vimpat tablets, oral solution, and injection are approved for partial-onset seizures in patients as young as 1 month old; most other formulations are approved from age 4 and up; and Motpoly XR is approved for patients weighing at least 50 kg.

Lacosamide is also used as adjunctive (add-on) therapy for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures involving the whole brain) in adults and children 4 years of age and older, including Motpoly XR for patients weighing at least 50 kg.

See full Lacosamide 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 Lacosamide, 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 Lacosamide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Lacosamide, ranked by severity Lacosamide 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 Lacosamide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rabdosia Rubescens with Lacosamide?
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 Lacosamide?
Lacosamide 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 Lacosamide 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 Lacosamide and Rabdosia Rubescens?

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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.