Drug & supplement interaction

Rosemary + Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine

Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine brand names: Norgesic Forte, Invagesic, Invagesic Forte, Orphengesic, Norgesic, and others.

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

Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine falls into 3 drug categories that Rosemary can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, rosemary may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

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

Rosemary and Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine

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

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Rosemary interacts with whole categories of medication. Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Rosemary in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine

Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Rosemary interacts with.

Theoretically, rosemary may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro and animal research suggests that rosemary 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

The piece of this combo pill that matters here is the aspirin, which already thins the blood a bit by keeping platelets from clumping together. Lab and animal studies hint that rosemary may nudge platelets in the same direction. Stack the two and, in theory, you could see a slightly higher chance of bruising, nosebleeds, or stomach irritation and bleeding (something aspirin can cause on its own).

I want to keep this in perspective, though. This concern comes from test tube and animal research only, not from people, so it's far from proven. Splashing rosemary on your dinner is not a worry. Concentrated rosemary capsules or extracts are where I'd pause. Before adding those, run it by your pharmacist or doctor, especially if you bruise easily or take other blood thinners.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lee JJ, Jin YR, Lee JH, et al. Antiplatelet activity of carnosic acid, a phenolic diterpene from Rosmarinus officinalis. Planta Med 2007;73(2):121-7.
  2. Yamamoto J, Yamada K, Naemura A, et al. Testing various herbs for antithrombotic effect. Nutrition 2005;21(5):580-7. PubMed
  3. Naemura A, Ura M, Yamashita T, et al. Long-term intake of rosemary and common thyme herbs inhibits experimental thrombosis without prolongation of bleeding time. Thromb Res 2008;122(4):517-22. PubMed
  4. Lee JJ, Jin YR, Lim Y, et al. Antiplatelet activity of carnosol is mediated by the inhibition of TXA2 receptor and cytosolic calcium mobilization. Vascul Pharmacol 2006;45:148-53. PubMed
Moderate

ASPIRIN

2 of 3
Theoretically, rosemary might have additive effects with salicylate-containing drugs such as aspirin.
Rosemary is reported to contain salicylates.
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 simple version for your combo product (Norgesic and similar), which contains aspirin along with caffeine and orphenadrine. The piece that matters here is the aspirin. Rosemary naturally contains small amounts of salicylates, which are in the same chemical family as aspirin. In theory, layering them could add up, nudging you toward typical aspirin-type effects like stomach upset, heartburn, or a little easier bruising or bleeding.

Now, the honest part: this concern comes only from lab and animal data, not real patients, so it's quite theoretical. Seasoning your food with rosemary is not the worry. Concentrated rosemary supplements or the essential oil would be the bigger question mark. If you use those regularly, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Swain AR, Dutton SP, Truswell AS. Salicylates in foods. J Am Diet.Assoc 1985;85(8):950-60. DOI
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, rosemary might decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that rosemary induces CYP1A2 enzymes. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the piece that matters in this combo product: the caffeine. Caffeine is broken down by a liver enzyme called CYP1A2. In test-tube studies, rosemary appears to speed that enzyme up a bit, which could in theory clear caffeine a little faster and make the caffeine portion feel slightly less noticeable. Honestly, this is very weak, lab-only evidence and has never actually been shown in people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Using rosemary as a seasoning in food is a non-issue. Even concentrated rosemary supplements are unlikely to cause a real problem here. The aspirin and orphenadrine parts aren't meaningfully affected by this pathway. If you take this regularly, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor to be sure.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Debersac P, Heydel JM, Amiot MJ, et al. Induction of cytochrome P450 and/or detoxication enzymes by various extracts of rosemary: description of specific patterns. Food Chem Toxicol 2001;39(9):907-18. PubMed
  2. Debersac P, Vernevaut MF, Amiot MJ, et al. Effects of a water-soluble extract of rosemary and its purified component rosmarinic acid on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver. Food Chem Toxicol 2001;39(2):109-17. 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

Rosemary Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rosemary has 211 moderate, 160 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 211 Minor 160 No known interaction 2,459 (incl. Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rosemary

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine

This page covers Rosemary only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine page lists 350 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), Danshen (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 14 major · 289 moderate · 47 minor.

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

“Aspirin, caffeine, and orphenadrine (the Norgesic and Orphengesic brands) come with a supplement list that deserves real vigilance, with 14 of its 350 entries rated major. Over 200 of those ingredients can add to aspirin's effect on platelets and raise bleeding risk, another 44 stack stimulant effects on top of the caffeine, and grapef…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,786 real supplement products containing Rosemary, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Rosemary. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine too, on top of Rosemary — 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 Rosemary and Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine 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 Rosemary
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine
Top 5%

#91 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 Rosemary

What is Rosemary?

Rosemary
  • Memory and concentration
  • Digestive upset
  • Hair growth
  • Anxiety and stress (aromatherapy)
  • Muscle and joint discomfort
  • Antioxidant support

Rosemary is a fragrant Mediterranean herb that is safe and flavorful in normal food amounts. Some early research suggests possible benefits for memory, mood, and hair growth, but the evidence is limited and far from conclusive. Concentrated supplements and the essential oil should be used carefully, and the essential oil should never be swallowed.

Read the full Rosemary monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rosemary

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

0Major
211Moderate
160Minor
2,458No known interaction
211 Moderate 160 Minor 2,458 No interaction
Moderate

211 interactions

Showing 60 of 211 moderate interactions — see all 211 on the Rosemary page.

Minor

160 interactions

Showing 60 of 160 minor interactions — see all 160 on the Rosemary page.

No interaction 2,458 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,458 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Rosemary list.

See the full Rosemary interactions page
See every supplement checked against Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine, 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
Rosemary monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine, 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 Rosemary and Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rosemary with Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine?
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 Rosemary and Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine?
Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine belongs to more than one drug category, and Rosemary 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 Rosemary and Aspirin, Caffeine, Orphenadrine 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.