Drug & supplement interaction

Rauwolscine + Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate

Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate brand name: Anacin w/ Codeine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate falls into 4 drug categories that Rauwolscine can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, taking rauwolscine with seizure threshold lowering drugs might increase the risk of adverse convulsant effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions4
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Rauwolscine and Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate

These two interact in 4 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 4 Interactions?

Rauwolscine interacts with whole categories of medication. Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate falls into 4 of those categories, so it can interact with Rauwolscine in 4 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

SEIZURE THRESHOLD LOWERING DRUGS

1 of 4

Why this applies to Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate

Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate falls under SEIZURE THRESHOLD LOWERING DRUGS — the group Rauwolscine interacts with.

Theoretically, taking rauwolscine with seizure threshold lowering drugs might increase the risk of adverse convulsant effects.
In animal research, intraperitoneal rauwolscine lowered the seizure threshold level of the drug metrazol.
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 quick version: this combo product pairs aspirin, caffeine, and codeine for pain. The concern with rauwolscine isn't really about how any of these are broken down. Instead, rauwolscine may slightly lower the brain's seizure threshold, meaning it could make a seizure a touch easier to trigger. The caffeine in this product is also a mild stimulant, so stacking it with a stimulant like rauwolscine could add up, especially if you take higher pre-workout or fat-burner doses.

I'll be honest with you, though: this warning comes from animal research, not people, so it's mostly theoretical. Still, if you have a seizure history, heart issues, or anxiety, please run this past your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Aziz TA, Hussain SA, Mahwi TO, Ahmed ZA, Rahman HS, Rasedee A. The efficacy and safety of Ginkgo biloba extract as an adjuvant in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients ineffectively managed with metformin: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

2 of 4

Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, rauwolscine might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Rauwolscine is structurally related to yohimbine. In vitro research shows that yohimbine inhibits CYP2D6 enzyme activity.
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 wrinkle with this combo product: the codeine part is a prodrug, meaning your body has to switch it on. The enzyme that does that conversion is CYP2D6, which turns codeine into morphine so it can actually relieve pain and quiet a cough. Rauwolscine is a cousin of yohimbine, and lab studies hint that yohimbine can slow CYP2D6 down. So in theory, rauwolscine could reduce how much codeine gets activated, leaving you with weaker pain relief.

Honestly, this is theoretical and based on test-tube data, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. The bigger practical concern is the combined stimulant load: rauwolscine plus the caffeine here can stack up jitteriness, a racing heart, and higher blood pressure. If you take both, run it by your pharmacist first.

References
  1. VandenBrink, B. M., Foti, R. S., Rock, D. A., Wienkers, L. C., and Wahlstrom, J. L. Prediction of CYP2D6 drug interactions from in vitro data: evidence for substrate-dependent inhibition. Drug Metab Dispos. 2012;40(1):47-53. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

3 of 4

Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Theoretically, rauwolscine may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Rauwolscine is structurally related to yohimbine. In vitro research shows that yohimbine inhibits platelet aggregation.
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

This combination pill contains aspirin, which is already a blood thinner that works by keeping your platelets from sticking together. The concern here is that rauwolscine may have its own mild platelet-blocking effect, on top of what the aspirin is doing. Stacked together, in theory, that could nudge up your risk of bleeding or bruising, things like nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bruises that show up more easily.

I want to be honest about how soft this evidence is. It is theoretical and comes from lab studies of yohimbine (a close cousin of rauwolscine), not from real people taking these together. There is no clear human proof of a problem. Still, since rauwolscine can also raise heart rate and blood pressure, it is worth running past your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Mustonen, P., Savola, J., and Lassila, R. Atipamezole, an imidazoline-type alpha(2)-adrenoceptor inhibitor, binds to human platelets and inhibits their adrenaline-induced aggregation more effectively than yohimbine. Thromb.Res 8-1-2000;99(3):231-237.
  2. Berlin, I., Crespo-Laumonnier, B., Cournot, A., Landault, C., Aubin, F., Legrand, J. C., and Puech, A. J. The alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine inhibits epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in healthy subjects. Clin Pharmacol.Ther. 199
  3. Braddock, L., Cowen, P. J., Elliott, J. M., Fraser, S., and Stump, K. Binding of yohimbine and imipramine to platelets in depressive illness. Psychol.Med 1986;16(4):765-773. PubMed
  4. Boon, N. A., Elliott, J. M., Grahame-Smith, D. G., John-Green, T., and Stump, K. A comparison of alpha 2-adrenoreceptor binding characteristics of intact human platelets identified by [3H]-yohimbine and [3H]- dihydroergocryptine. J Auton.Pharmacol 1983;3
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

4 of 4

Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate also falls under STIMULANT DRUGS.

Theoretically, taking rauwolscine with stimulant drugs might increase the risk of adverse stimulant effects.
Rauwolscine has demonstrated stimulant effects in animal research.
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

The piece of this combination product that matters here is the caffeine. Rauwolscine is itself a stimulant, and pairing two stimulants can stack their effects. So taking rauwolscine alongside the caffeine in Anacin with Codeine could leave you feeling more wired than usual, with a faster heartbeat, jitteriness, a bump in blood pressure, trouble sleeping, or anxiety.

Keep in mind this concern is theoretical and comes mainly from animal studies, so it is not a guaranteed problem for everyone. The aspirin and codeine parts are not really involved in this particular interaction. If you have any heart issues, high blood pressure, or anxiety, please run this by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them rather than changing anything on your own.

References
  1. Aziz TA, Hussain SA, Mahwi TO, Ahmed ZA, Rahman HS, Rasedee A. The efficacy and safety of Ginkgo biloba extract as an adjuvant in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients ineffectively managed with metformin: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

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

Rauwolscine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rauwolscine has 676 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rauwolscine

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate

This page covers Rauwolscine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate page lists 398 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Danshen (major).

By severity: 17 major · 334 moderate · 47 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate page

“Anacin with Codeine combines aspirin, caffeine, and codeine, and each of the three picks up its own supplement problems, so this is a list worth real caution. Just over half of the 398 ingredients here, 202 of them, can add to aspirin's blood-thinning action and raise bleeding risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Rauwolscine as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 196 real supplement products containing Rauwolscine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Rauwolscine. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate too, on top of Rauwolscine — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Rauwolscine and Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate 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 Rauwolscine
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate
Top half

#1,398 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 Rauwolscine

What is Rauwolscine?

  • Fat loss and weight management
  • Bodybuilding and physique support
  • Energy and stimulant effects
  • Athletic performance
  • Libido support

Rauwolscine (alpha-yohimbine) is a stimulant alkaloid closely related to yohimbine that is marketed mainly in fat-burning and pre-workout supplements. Human evidence for its benefits is very limited, and it can raise heart rate and blood pressure and cause anxiety, so it should be used with caution and is not recommended for people with heart conditions, anxiety, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Read the full Rauwolscine monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rauwolscine

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

0Major
676Moderate
0Minor
2,153No known interaction
Moderate

676 interactions

Showing 60 of 676 moderate interactions — see all 676 on the Rauwolscine page.

No interaction 2,153 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Rauwolscine and Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rauwolscine with Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate?
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 4 interactions listed for Rauwolscine and Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate?
Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate belongs to more than one drug category, and Rauwolscine 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 Rauwolscine and Aspirin, Caffeine, Codeine Phosphate 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.