Drug & supplement interaction

Rhodiola + Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol

Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol brand names: Yasmin, Gianvi, Angeliq.

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

Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol falls into 3 drug categories that Rhodiola can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, rhodiola might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Rhodiola and Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Rhodiola interacts with whole categories of medication. Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Rhodiola in 3 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 3

Why this applies to Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol

Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES — the group Rhodiola interacts with.

Theoretically, rhodiola might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
In vitro research shows that rhodiola inhibits P-glycoprotein. Theoretically, using rhodiola with P-glycoprotein substrates might increase drug levels and potentially increase the risk of adverse effects.
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 with your birth control pill (Yasmin, Gianvi, or Angeliq) and Rhodiola. Rhodiola has been shown in lab dish studies to block a transporter called P-glycoprotein, which helps move certain drugs in and out of cells. In theory, blocking it could let a bit more of your pill's hormones build up in your body. If that happened, you might notice more of the usual estrogen-type side effects like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, or bloating.

The big thing to keep in mind: this is only a theoretical concern based on test-tube research, not on people, so we really don't know if it matters in real life. It's an active pill you take daily and your health depends on it working right, so before adding Rhodiola, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hellum BH, Tosse A, Hoybakk K, et al. Potent in vitro inhibition of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein by Rhodiola rosea. Planta Med 2010;76:331-8.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, rhodiola might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
In vitro research shows that rhodiola inhibits CYP1A2. This effect is highly variable and appears to be dependent on the rhodiola product studied. However, a clinical study in healthy young males found that taking rhodiola extract 290 mg daily for 14 days does not inhibit the metabolism of caffeine, a CYP1A2 substrate.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 your birth control pill (drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol) and Rhodiola. In a test tube, Rhodiola can slow down an enzyme called CYP1A2, which helps your body process the estrogen part of this pill. In theory, blocking it could let estrogen levels drift a little higher, which might mean more of the usual estrogen-type side effects like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, or bloating.

That said, this is mostly a theoretical concern. When researchers actually tested Rhodiola in people, it didn't meaningfully change how the body handled another CYP1A2 drug, and the effect seems to vary a lot by product. So for most people this is minor. Still, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding Rhodiola.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Thu OK, Nilsen OG, Hellum B. In vitro inhibition of cytochrome P-450 activities and quantification of constituents in a selection of commercial Rhodiola rosea products. Pharm Bio. 2016 Dec;54(12):3249-3256.
  2. Thu OK, Spigset O, Nilsen OG, Hellum B. Effect of commercial Rhodiola rosea on CYP enzyme activity in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2016 Mar;72(3):295-300. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, rhodiola might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
In vitro research shows that rhodiola inhibits CYP3A4. This effect is highly variable and appears to be dependent on the rhodiola product studied. However, a clinical study in healthy young males found that taking rhodiola extract 290 mg daily for 14 days does not inhibit the metabolism of midazolam, a CYP3A4 substrate.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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

Your birth control pill (Yasmin, Gianvi, and similar) is partly broken down by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In the test tube, Rhodiola can slow that enzyme a little, which in theory could let the hormones (especially the estrogen part) build up slightly. If that happened, you might notice more of the usual pill side effects, like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, or spotting.

Here's the reassuring part: this is mostly a lab finding, and it's inconsistent between products. A real-world study in healthy people found Rhodiola did not meaningfully change how a similar CYP3A4 drug was processed. So the actual risk looks low. Still, since this is your contraception, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding Rhodiola.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hellum BH, Tosse A, Hoybakk K, et al. Potent in vitro inhibition of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein by Rhodiola rosea. Planta Med 2010;76:331-8.
  2. Thu OK, Nilsen OG, Hellum B. In vitro inhibition of cytochrome P-450 activities and quantification of constituents in a selection of commercial Rhodiola rosea products. Pharm Bio. 2016 Dec;54(12):3249-3256.
  3. Thu OK, Spigset O, Nilsen OG, Hellum B. Effect of commercial Rhodiola rosea on CYP enzyme activity in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2016 Mar;72(3):295-300. 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

Rhodiola Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rhodiola has 623 moderate, 647 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 623 Minor 647 No known interaction 1,560 (incl. Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rhodiola

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Rhodiola or Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Rhodiola or Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol, 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 Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol

This page covers Rhodiola only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol page lists 245 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 6 major · 200 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol page

“Yasmin and similar drospirenone plus ethinyl estradiol pills only prevent pregnancy while hormone levels stay where they should, so read this list with real care, starting with the six entries rated major out of 245 on file. St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2,713 real supplement products containing Rhodiola, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Rhodiola. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol too, on top of Rhodiola — 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 Rhodiola and Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol 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 Rhodiola
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol
Top 25%

#416 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 Rhodiola

What is Rhodiola?

Rhodiola
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Stress and coping (adaptogen)
  • Mental performance and focus
  • Mild depression
  • Physical and exercise performance

Rhodiola is an herb traditionally used to fight fatigue and help the body cope with stress. Some small studies suggest it may modestly reduce fatigue and improve mood, but the evidence is limited and not strong. It is generally well tolerated for short-term use, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before trying it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Rhodiola monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rhodiola

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

0Major
623Moderate
647Minor
1,559No known interaction
623 Moderate 647 Minor 1,559 No interaction
Moderate

623 interactions

Showing 60 of 623 moderate interactions — see all 623 on the Rhodiola page.

Minor

647 interactions

Showing 60 of 647 minor interactions — see all 647 on the Rhodiola page.

No interaction 1,559 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,559 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Rhodiola list.

See the full Rhodiola interactions page
See every supplement checked against Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol, 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
Rhodiola monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol, 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 Rhodiola and Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rhodiola with Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol?
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 3 interactions listed for Rhodiola and Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol?
Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol belongs to more than one drug category, and Rhodiola 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 Rhodiola and Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol 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.