Drug & supplement interaction

Rabdosia Rubescens + Tetracycline

Tetracycline brand names: Sumycin, Sumycin 250, Tetrex BID, Achromycin V, Robitet, and others.

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

Rabdosia Rubescens has a moderate interaction with Tetracycline. Rabdosia rubescens might increase levels of p-glycoprotein substrates.

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

Rabdosia Rubescens and Tetracycline

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Tetracycline

Tetracycline 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 gist for tetracycline: this herb has been shown, but only in test-tube studies, to block a transporter pump called p-glycoprotein. That pump helps move certain drugs out of your cells and gut. If it slows down, those drugs can build up a bit higher than usual. The theory is that Rabdosia rubescens could nudge tetracycline levels upward, which might mean more of its usual side effects, like upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea.

Honestly, though, this is very weak evidence, animal and lab data only, not real people. I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Tetracycline is not a prodrug, so it doesn't flip the direction. Still, since this herb's safety isn't well studied, run it by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

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.

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 Tetracycline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 713 Minor 69 No known interaction 2,048 (incl. Tetracycline)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Rabdosia Rubescens or Tetracycline

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

This page covers Rabdosia Rubescens only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tetracycline page lists 164 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Oleander (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 136 moderate · 21 minor.

Open the Tetracycline interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Rabdosia Rubescens and Tetracycline 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

#1,013 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Tetracycline
Steady interest

#1,674 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 Tetracycline

What Is Tetracycline Used For?

Brand names: Sumycin, Sumycin 250, Tetrex BID, Achromycin V, Robitet, Sumycin 500, Tetra, Nor-Tet, Tetracyn, Tetrex, Achromycin, Terramycin IM

Oral tetracycline (tablets and capsules) treats infections caused by susceptible bacteria, including upper and lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and sexually transmitted infections such as those caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is also used for tick- and flea-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus, as well as cholera, brucellosis, tularemia, plague, and several other serious bacterial infections.

Topical tetracycline products — including ointments, sprays, and solutions sold under brand names such as Tetracyte, Vitastem, Viabecline, Honestly Battleborn, and ViaDerma Care — are over-the-counter first-aid products used to help prevent skin infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. These topical products are not used for systemic (whole-body) infections.

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

Can you take Rabdosia Rubescens with Tetracycline?
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.
How serious is the Rabdosia Rubescens and Tetracycline 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 Tetracycline 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.