Drug & supplement interaction

Scarlet Pimpernel + Valproic Acid

Valproic Acid brand names: Depakene, Depacon, Valproate.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid states a food rule worth keeping to.

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Interaction report

Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid

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 Valproic Acid and Scarlet Pimpernel 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Scarlet Pimpernel at all — not against Valproic Acid, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Scarlet Pimpernel safety at a glance

Scarlet Pimpernel overall Use caution It contains potentially toxic compounds and is not well studied, so internal use is generally discouraged.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally or topically long-term. Scarlet pimpernel shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally or topically long-term; 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 Valproic Acid and Scarlet Pimpernel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Valproic Acid’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Scarlet Pimpernel. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Valproic Acid’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. 10 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Mania or an unusually elevated mood Worth acting on
  • Hearing loss Worth acting on
  • Bone thinning Worth acting on
  • Pain or burning when passing urine Worth acting on
  • Memory problems Worth acting on
  • Low sodium Worth acting on
  • Unsteadiness Worth acting on
  • A slow heartbeat Worth acting on
  • Seizures Worth acting on mentioned in 6.1% of FDA reports for Valproic Acid
  • Hallucinations Worth acting on

Showing the 10 most notable of 72 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid. Read the label on DailyMed › Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 30,892 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Valproic Acid that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Scarlet Pimpernel’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Scarlet Pimpernel side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Scarlet Pimpernel has no side effects.

Special populations

Scarlet Pimpernel in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally or topically long-term. Scarlet pimpernel shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity.

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally or topically long-term; 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 Valproic Acid Products Have a Food Rule — Scarlet Pimpernel Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Valproic Acid says to take it with food. If you take Scarlet Pimpernel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid 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.

irritation may benefit from administration of the drug with food or by slowly building up the dose from an initial low level.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Valproic Acid — 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 Scarlet Pimpernel or Valproic Acid

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

This page covers Scarlet Pimpernel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Valproic Acid page lists 173 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Valproic Acid page

“Anyone taking valproic acid (Depakene, Depacon) for seizures or bipolar disorder should treat this list with genuine care. Of the 173 supplements and herbs on file, nine are rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Valproic Acid interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid 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 Scarlet Pimpernel
Steady interest

#1,268 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Valproic Acid
Top 25%

#497 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 Scarlet Pimpernel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Scarlet Pimpernel

What is Scarlet Pimpernel?

  • Skin conditions and wounds
  • Liver and gallbladder complaints
  • Respiratory ailments
  • Mild mood or 'melancholy' (folk use)
  • Urinary complaints

Scarlet Pimpernel is a small wild flowering plant with a long history in folk medicine, but there is very little modern scientific evidence to support any of its uses. It contains compounds called saponins that can be irritating and potentially toxic, so it is generally not recommended for internal use. If you are considering it, talk with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Lysimachia arvensis · Primulaceae · Aerial parts (leaves, flowers, and stems) · Dried herb, tinctures, infusions, and topical preparations

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

Scarlet Pimpernel: dosing

There is no established, standardized safe dose for Scarlet Pimpernel. Because of its potential toxicity and the lack of quality research, no specific milligram amount can be recommended.If you find a commercial product, follow the label directions exactly and do not exceed them.

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

Read the full Scarlet Pimpernel monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Valproic Acid

What Is Valproic Acid Used For?

Brand names: Depakene, Depacon, Valproate

Valproic acid capsules (brands Valproic and Valproic Acid) and valproic acid oral solution (brand Valproic Acid) are both used to treat epilepsy. Specifically, they are approved for complex partial seizures (either alone or with other seizure types) as monotherapy or add-on therapy, and for simple and complex absence seizures as sole therapy or add-on therapy.

Both forms are intended for adults and pediatric patients. Always follow your prescriber's guidance on which product and regimen is right for you.

See full Valproic Acid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Scarlet Pimpernel

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Scarlet Pimpernel References

The 1 references that drive our Scarlet Pimpernel 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. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

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 Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Scarlet Pimpernel with Valproic Acid?
We do not list a known interaction between Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid. 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.
Should I take Scarlet Pimpernel and Valproic Acid at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Valproic Acid says to take it with food. If you take Scarlet Pimpernel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Valproic Acid with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Valproic Acid products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Valproic Acid interact with any supplements?
Yes. Valproic Acid has documented interactions with 173 supplements in our database — Scarlet Pimpernel is not one of them. The Valproic Acid interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Valproic Acid and Scarlet Pimpernel?

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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.