Sage + Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide
Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide brand names: Rhinogesic JR, Rhinogesic.
Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide falls into 3 drug categories that Sage can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, sage might increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Read the full interaction reportSage and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide
These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 3 Interactions?
Sage interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Sage in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
1 of 3Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide
Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Sage interacts with.
In vitro evidence suggests that aqueous extracts of sage can inhibit CYP3A4. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
This cold and pain combo includes acetaminophen (Tylenol), the antihistamine chlorpheniramine, the decongestant phenylephrine, and the pain reliever salicylamide. The concern on file is that compounds in sage may slow down a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, which helps clear some of these ingredients. In theory, if that enzyme works slower, a little more drug could linger in your body, which might mean stronger drowsiness or dry mouth from the antihistamine, or a jittery, raised blood pressure feeling from phenylephrine.
Here's the reassuring part: this is based only on lab (test tube) findings, not real people, and it has never actually been reported in humans. A pinch of sage in cooking is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated sage extracts or capsules are where I'd be more cautious. If you take those regularly, just run it by your pharmacist.
- Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Hana J, et al. In vitro inhibition of human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of marker substrates by natural products. Phytomedicine 2003;10:334-42.. PubMed
- Hellum, B. H. and Nilsen, O. G. In vitro inhibition of CYP3A4 metabolism and P-glycoprotein-mediated transport by trade herbal products. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008;102(5):466-475.
ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS
2 of 3Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide also falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS.
In vitro evidence suggests that common sage (Salvia officinalis) and Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia) can inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels.
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.
This combo product (Rhinogesic) includes chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine that works partly by blocking acetylcholine, the body's 'rest and digest' signal. Sage may push in the opposite direction. In lab studies, sage compounds slow down the enzyme that breaks acetylcholine down, which would raise acetylcholine levels. In plain terms, sage could slightly blunt the antihistamine part of this product, so it may work a bit less well for things like a runny nose or sneezing.
Honestly, this is very theoretical and based only on test-tube research, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Normal cooking amounts of sage are not a concern at all. If you're taking concentrated sage extracts or the essential oil daily, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist, but don't change anything on your own.
- Orhan, I., Kartal, M., Kan, Y., and Sener, B. Activity of essential oils and individual components against acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase. Z.Naturforsch.C. 2008;63(7-8):547-553.
- Perry, N. S., Houghton, P. J., Theobald, A., Jenner, P., and Perry, E. K. In-vitro inhibition of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase by salvia lavandulaefolia essential oil and constituent terpenes. J Pharm Pharmacol 2000;52(7):895-902.
- Savelev, S. U., Okello, E. J., and Perry, E. K. Butyryl- and acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitory activities in essential oils of Salvia species and their constituents. Phytother Res 2004;18(4):315-324.
- Kennedy, D. O., Pace, S., Haskell, C., Okello, E. J., Milne, A., and Scholey, A. B. Effects of cholinesterase inhibiting sage (Salvia officinalis) on mood, anxiety and performance on a psychological stressor battery. Neuropsychopharmacology 2006;31(4):84 PubMed
CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES
3 of 3Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES.
Animal research suggests that drinking common sage (Salvia officinalis) tea increases the expression of CYP2E1. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
This combo product (Rhinogesic) is mostly about cold and pain relief, and the piece that matters here is the acetaminophen (Tylenol). One of the side paths your body uses to break down acetaminophen is an enzyme called CYP2E1. In animal studies, sage tea seemed to speed that enzyme up a bit. In theory, a faster enzyme could nudge more acetaminophen down a route that creates a liver-stressing byproduct.
Here's the honest part: this has only been seen in lab and animal research, never reported in real people, so it's a theoretical concern. A little sage as a kitchen herb or an occasional cup of tea is very unlikely to matter. Where I'd be more cautious is with strong sage extracts or essential oil taken daily alongside regular acetaminophen. If that's you, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.
- Lima, C. F., Fernandes-Ferreira, M., and Pereira-Wilson, C. Drinking of Salvia officinalis tea increases CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2007;45(3):456-464.
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Sage Also Interacts With Other Medications
Sage has 1,295 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Sage
We haven’t checked that one against Sage yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Sage. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide
This page covers Sage only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide page lists 292 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), Ephedra (major) and Grapefruit (major).
By severity: 14 major · 232 moderate · 46 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide page
“I would slow down before pairing supplements with Rhinogesic (acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, phenylephrine, salicylamide). Each part of this cold remedy opens a different door to trouble, so supplements can collide with it from several directions at once.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Open the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide interaction page
Taking Sage as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 718 real supplement products containing Sage, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sage. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide too, on top of Sage — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Sage and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide 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.
#247 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#220 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Sage
What is Sage?
- Sore throat and mouth irritation
- Digestive upset
- Excessive sweating
- Memory and thinking
- Menopause symptoms (hot flashes)
- General antioxidant support
Sage is a common kitchen herb that is generally safe in food amounts and is traditionally used for sore throats, digestion, sweating, and memory. Some early research is encouraging for sore throat and menopausal hot flashes, but most uses are not well proven. Concentrated extracts and the essential oil should be used carefully because high doses contain a compound called thujone, which can be harmful.
Other Drugs & Sage
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Sage — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
1,295 interactions
- Diclofenac Sodium ›
- Diltiazem ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Diphenhydramine ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Insulin (rdna) ›
- Naproxen ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Erythromycin ›
- Estradiol ›
- Minocycline ›
- Propranolol ›
- Tetracycline ›
- Lidocaine ›
- Ranitidine ›
- Hydrochlorothiazide ›
- Norethindrone ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Prednisone ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Dexamethasone ›
- Flurazepam ›
- Glyburide ›
- Glycopyrrolate ›
- Insulin (pork) ›
- Triazolam ›
- Zopiclone ›
- Colchicine ›
- Fentanyl ›
- Flurbiprofen ›
- Oxybutynin ›
- Oxycodone ›
- Phenytoin ›
- Prednisolone ›
- Tacrolimus ›
- Temazepam ›
- Triamcinolone ›
- Apomorphine ›
- Budesonide ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Clindamycin ›
- Dextromethorphan ›
- Diclofenac Potassium ›
- Doxorubicin ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Formoterol ›
- Hydralazine ›
- Indomethacin ›
- Insulin (human) ›
- Ipratropium ›
- Miconazole ›
- Morphine Sulfate ›
- Nitrazepam ›
- Procainamide ›
- Trimipramine ›
- Acetaminophen ›
Showing 60 of 1,295 moderate interactions — see all 1,295 on the Sage page.
No interaction 1,534 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Sage against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Levothyroxine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Aspirin ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Docusate ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Bupropion ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Levodopa ›
- Acetylsalicylic Acid ›
- Hethylphenidate Hcl ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Azelaic Acid ›
- Lenvatinib ›
- Phenylephrine ›
- Hydroxychloroquine ›
- Pizotifen ›
- Tenecteplase ›
- Vancomycin ›
- Bentoquatam ›
- Triptorelin ›
- Ribavirin Aerosol ›
- Dirithromycin ›
- Alglucosidase Alpha ›
- Salbutamol Sulfate ›
- Flutemetamol F-18 ›
- Dextrothyroxine ›
- Rocuronium ›
- Ropinirole ›
- Tocainide ›
- Mitomycin C ›
- Lomustine ›
- Chenodiol ›
- Ferric Derisomaltose ›
- Droxidopa ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,534 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sage list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide Is Linked to Lower Levels of One Nutrient
Natural Medicines records Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Sage — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Sage and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide Together: Common Questions
Can you take Sage with Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Sage and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide?
How serious is the Sage and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Salicylamide interaction?
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.