Drug & supplement interaction

Sage + Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated brand name: Premique.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated falls into 3 drug categories that Sage can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, sage might increase levels of drugs transported by P-glycoprotein.

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

Sage and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated

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. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated 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).

Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES — the group Sage interacts with.

Theoretically, sage might increase levels of drugs transported by P-glycoprotein.
In vitro research suggests that common sage (Salvia officinalis) can inhibit the multi-drug transporter protein, P-glycoprotein. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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

If you take Premique (conjugated estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone) for menopause symptoms, here's the gist. Sage may block a little transporter pump called P-glycoprotein that helps move certain drugs around your body. In a lab dish, sage slowed that pump down. In theory, that could let a bit more of your hormone medication stay in your system, which might mean slightly stronger effects or side effects like breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headaches, or spotting.

Now the honest part: this has only been seen in test tubes, not in real people, so it may not happen at all. Everyday cooking amounts of sage are very unlikely to matter. Concentrated sage extracts or the essential oil are the bigger question mark. Before adding a sage supplement, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. 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.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, sage might increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
In vitro evidence suggests that aqueous extracts of sage can inhibit CYP3A4. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
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

Premique combines conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone, and your body relies partly on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to clear these hormones. In lab dishes, sage extract has been shown to slow that enzyme down a bit. The thinking is that if CYP3A4 works slower, these hormones could linger longer and build up, which might nudge up estrogen-type side effects like breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headaches, or spotting.

Here's the honest part: this has only been seen in test tubes, never confirmed in real people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. A little sage in your cooking is no concern at all. Concentrated sage capsules or essential oil are where I'd be more thoughtful. If you plan to use those regularly, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. 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
  2. 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.
Moderate

ESTROGENS

3 of 3

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated also falls under ESTROGENS.

Theoretically, sage might interfere with hormone therapy.
In vitro evidence suggests that geraniol, a constituent of Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia), exerts estrogenic activity. The clinical significance of this effect is unclear.
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

Premique combines conjugated estrogens with a progestin (medroxyprogesterone) and is often used for menopause symptoms like hot flashes. The concern here is mostly on paper. In lab dishes, a compound found in Spanish sage called geraniol showed mild estrogen-like activity. In theory, that could add a little to the estrogen signal your hormone therapy already provides.

Honestly, this is weak evidence from test-tube studies only, and we don't know if it actually means anything in real people. Everyday cooking with sage is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated sage extracts or essential oil are a different story and worth mentioning to your doctor. If you want to use sage regularly while on Premique, just run it by your pharmacist or prescriber first.

References
  1. Perry, N. S., Houghton, P. J., Sampson, J., Theobald, A. E., Hart, S., Lis-Balchin, M., Hoult, J. R., Evans, P., Jenner, P., Milligan, S., and Perry, E. K. In-vitro activity of S. lavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) relevant to treatment of Alzheimer's diseas

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

Sage Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sage has 1,295 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated 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 Sage

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated

This page covers Sage only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated page lists 187 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 152 moderate · 32 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated page

“Menopause and herbal remedies tend to travel together, so anyone taking Premique (medroxyprogesterone acetate with conjugated estrogens) should read this page with real care. Three of its 187 ingredients rate major, and those three matter most.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated interaction page

One more smart check

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 Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated 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:

How much people look this up

Where Sage and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated 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 Sage
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated
Steady interest

#2,475 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 Sage

What is Sage?

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.

Read the full Sage monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

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.

0Major
1,295Moderate
0Minor
1,534No known interaction
Moderate

1,295 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,295 moderate interactions — see all 1,295 on the Sage page.

No interaction 1,534 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 Sage and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sage with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated?
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 Sage and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated?
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated belongs to more than one drug category, and Sage 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 Sage and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, Oestrogens, Conjugated 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.