Drug & supplement interaction

Rhubarb + Misoprostol

Misoprostol brand name: Cytotec.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Rhubarb and Misoprostol in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Misoprostol states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Rhubarb and Misoprostol

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Misoprostol and Rhubarb in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Rhubarb safety at a glance

Rhubarb overall Use caution The stalks are a safe food, but the root used as a laxative can cause cramping and should not be used long-term.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used in medicinal amounts, rhubarb root is a stimulant laxative; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used in medicinal amounts, rhubarb root is a stimulant laxative; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Misoprostol and Rhubarb? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Misoprostol

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Misoprostol is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Rhubarb has documented interactions with 8 drug classes — the most serious being corticosteroids (moderate), cyclosporine (neoral, sandimmune) (moderate) and digoxin (lanoxin) (moderate) — and none of Misoprostol’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Rhubarb Does Interact With Other Medications

Rhubarb has 658 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Misoprostol isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 658 No known interaction 2,172 (incl. Misoprostol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rhubarb

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Rhubarb and Misoprostol May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 2 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Dehydration Worth acting on Additional detail

    Rhubarb

    “Orally, chronic use or abuse of rhubarb can cause electrolyte loss (especially potassium), albuminuria, hematuria, dehydration, and nephropathies (12). There is one case report of renal failure in a patient who took a product containing rhubarb for six weeks. The patient presented with renal failure two days after starting diclofenac, which is known to have nephrotoxic effects.”

    Rhubarb · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in albuminuria.

    2 sources cited
    1. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
    2. 15257. Kwan TH, Tong MK, Leung KT, et al. Acute renal failure associated with prolonged intake of slimming pills containing anthraquinones. Hong Kong Med J 2006;12:394-7.

    Misoprostol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Misoprostol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Rhubarb

    “Orally, rhubarb root and stalk are well tolerated when used in food amounts and seem to be well tolerated when used in medicinal amounts. Rhubarb leaf contains oxalic acid and can be toxic. Topically, rhubarb seems to be well tolerated.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally: Cramps, diarrhea, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting.

    Topically: Rash.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Anaphylaxis.”

    Rhubarb · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    Misoprostol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Misoprostol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Bloating or gas Additional detail

    Rhubarb

    “Orally, rhubarb can cause cramp-like or spasmodic gastrointestinal discomfort, watery diarrhea, and uterine contractions (18). Rhubarb, alone or in combination with other ingredients, has also been reported to cause bloating, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset or pain in clinical studies. Diarrhea is more common with a starting dose of at least 3 grams of extract.”

    Rhubarb · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cancer.

    6 sources cited
    1. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    2. 71315. Fan, J. G. Evaluating the efficacy and safety of Danning Pian in the short-term treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a multicenter clinical trial. Hepatobiliary.Pancreat.Dis.Int 2004;3(3):375-380.
    3. 71329. Zhang, J. H., Li, L. S., and Zhang, M. Clinical effects of rheum and captopril on preventing progression of chronic renal failure. Chin Med J (Engl.) 1990;103(10):788-793.
    4. 71339. Mitsuma, T., Yokozawa, T., Oura, H., and Terasawa, K. [Rhubarb therapy in patients with chronic renal failure (Part 2)]. Nippon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 1987;29(2):195-207.
    5. 71340. Wu, C. X. [A preliminary study on the effect of a single Rheum officinale in heavy doses in the treatment of acute icteric hepatitis]. Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi.(Chinese Journal of Modern Developments in Traditional Medicine) 1984;4(2):88-89.
    6. 71341. Jiao, D. H. [Clinical research on the hemostatic effect of rhubarb on peptic ulcer with acute bleeding]. Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi.(Chinese Journal of Modern Developments in Traditional Medicine) 1984;4(10):597-600, 579.

    Misoprostol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Misoprostol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach upset / Nausea / Diarrhea / Vomiting reported in 6.3% of FDA reports for Misoprostol Additional detail

    Rhubarb

    Recorded for Rhubarb in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A severe allergic reaction above.

    Misoprostol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Misoprostol, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Swelling Additional detail

    Rhubarb

    “Orally, chronic use or abuse of rhubarb can cause electrolyte loss (especially potassium), hyperaldosteronism, albuminuria, and edema (12).”

    Rhubarb · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in albuminuria.

    1 source cited
    1. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

    Misoprostol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Misoprostol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Rhubarb

    Recorded for Rhubarb in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A severe allergic reaction above.

    Misoprostol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Misoprostol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Rhubarb but not commonly for Misoprostol: kidney problems.

Effects for Misoprostol come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Rhubarb come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 16,478 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Misoprostol that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Rhubarb in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used in medicinal amounts, rhubarb root is a stimulant laxative; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Misoprostol Products Have a Food Rule — Rhubarb Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Misoprostol says to take it with food. If you take Rhubarb on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Misoprostol with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Misoprostol products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended adult oral dose of Cytotec for reducing the risk of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers is 200 mcg four times daily with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Misoprostol — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

From our Q&A

Questions About Rhubarb or Misoprostol

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

This page covers Rhubarb only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Misoprostol page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Misoprostol page

“Misoprostol (Cytotec) is taken by mouth to protect the stomach lining from ulcers caused by NSAID pain relievers, and all 17 of its recorded supplement interactions come down to the same problem, something in the gut keeping the pill from being absorbed properly. That deserves genuine wariness, because misoprostol that never reaches th…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Misoprostol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 133 real supplement products containing Rhubarb, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Rhubarb. Even though Rhubarb itself has no known interaction with Misoprostol, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Rhubarb and Misoprostol 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 Rhubarb
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Misoprostol
Steady interest

#2,534 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Rhubarb reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Rhubarb and Misoprostol records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Rhubarb

What is Rhubarb?

Rhubarb
  • Constipation
  • Digestive upset
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Kidney and liver conditions (traditional)
  • Pancreatitis (hospital/traditional use)

Rhubarb root has a long history of use as a laxative and in traditional Chinese medicine, and its edible stalks are a common food. Most medicinal claims are backed by limited or low-quality evidence, and the root can cause cramping and diarrhea. The leaves are toxic and should never be eaten, and rhubarb supplements are best avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Rheum officinale · Polygonaceae · Root, rhizome, and edible stalk (leaves are toxic and not used) · Dried root powder, capsules, tablets, tinctures, teas, and culinary stalks

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Rhubarb is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Rhubarb record says about it on its own.

Rhubarb: dosing

There is no single standardized dose for rhubarb supplements, and the right amount depends on the product and the form. Strengths of capsules, powders, and tinctures vary widely.If you use a commercial product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount or use it longer than directed.

From our Rhubarb monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Rhubarb monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Misoprostol

What Is Misoprostol Used For?

Brand name: Cytotec

Cytotec (misoprostol) tablets and misoprostol tablets are approved to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers (stomach ulcers) in patients who take NSAIDs — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or diclofenac — and who are at high risk of ulcer complications. High-risk patients include older adults, people with serious ongoing illnesses, and those with a history of stomach ulcers.

It is important to note that misoprostol has not been shown to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcers (ulcers in the first part of the small intestine) in people taking NSAIDs. It also does not relieve the stomach pain or discomfort that NSAIDs can cause.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Misoprostol

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,478 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Hemorrhage 1,322 reports
Abortion incomplete 1,159 reports
Nausea 1,031 reports
Arthralgia 977 reports
Rheumatoid arthritis 805 reports
See full Misoprostol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rhubarb

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

0Major
658Moderate
0Minor
2,171No known interaction
658 Moderate 2,171 No interaction
Moderate

658 interactions

Showing 60 of 658 moderate interactions — see all 658 on the Rhubarb page.

No interaction 2,171 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,171 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Rhubarb list.

See the full Rhubarb interactions page
See every supplement checked against Misoprostol, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Rhubarb References

The 20 references that drive our Rhubarb monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  4. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  5. Nusko G, Schneider B, Schneider I, et al. Anthranoid laxative use is not a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia: results of a prospective case control study. Gut 2000;46:651-5. PubMed
  6. Kwan TH, Tong MK, Leung KT, et al. Acute renal failure associated with prolonged intake of slimming pills containing anthraquinones. Hong Kong Med J 2006;12:394-7.
  7. Fairbairn JW. The anthraquinone laxatives. Biological assay and its relation to chemical structure. Pharmacology 1976;14:48-61. PubMed
  8. Siegers, C. P., Hertzberg-Lottin, E., Otte, M., and Schneider, B. Anthranoid laxative abuse--a risk for colorectal cancer? Gut 1993;34(8):1099-1101. PubMed
  9. Fan, J. G. Evaluating the efficacy and safety of Danning Pian in the short-term treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a multicenter clinical trial. Hepatobiliary.Pancreat.Dis.Int 2004;3(3):375-380.
  10. Yan, M., Zhang, L. Y., Sun, L. X., Jiang, Z. Z., and Xiao, X. H. Nephrotoxicity study of total rhubarb anthraquinones on Sprague Dawley rats using DNA microarrays. J Ethnopharmacol. 4-15-2006; PubMed
  11. Zhang, J. H., Li, L. S., and Zhang, M. Clinical effects of rheum and captopril on preventing progression of chronic renal failure. Chin Med J (Engl.) 1990;103(10):788-793.
  12. Mitsuma, T., Yokozawa, T., Oura, H., and Terasawa, K. [Rhubarb therapy in patients with chronic renal failure (Part 2)]. Nippon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 1987;29(2):195-207.
  13. Wu, C. X. [A preliminary study on the effect of a single Rheum officinale in heavy doses in the treatment of acute icteric hepatitis]. Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi.(Chinese Journal of Modern Developments in Traditional Medicine) 1984;4(2):88-89.
  14. Jiao, D. H. [Clinical research on the hemostatic effect of rhubarb on peptic ulcer with acute bleeding]. Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi.(Chinese Journal of Modern Developments in Traditional Medicine) 1984;4(10):597-600, 579.
  15. Jiao, D. H., Ma, Y. H., Chen, S. J., Liu, C. T., Shu, H. N., and Chu, C. M. Resume of 400 cases of acute upper digestive tract bleeding treated by rhubarb alone. Pharmacology 1980;20 Suppl 1:128-130.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Rhubarb and Misoprostol Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Rhubarb with Misoprostol?
We do not list a known interaction between Rhubarb and Misoprostol. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Rhubarb and Misoprostol have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 9 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Rhubarb and Misoprostol at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Misoprostol says to take it with food. If you take Rhubarb on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Misoprostol with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Misoprostol products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Rhubarb and Misoprostol combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Misoprostol is filed under 1 classification, and Rhubarb has documented interactions with 8 drug classes — none of Misoprostol's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Rhubarb interact with any other medications?
Yes. Rhubarb has 658 documented drug interactions in our database — Misoprostol is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Misoprostol interact with any supplements?
Yes. Misoprostol has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Rhubarb is not one of them. The Misoprostol interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Rhubarb monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Misoprostol drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Misoprostol supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Misoprostol, 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 References The 20 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Misoprostol and Rhubarb?

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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.