Drug & supplement interaction

Sceletium + Alfentanil

Alfentanil brand name: Alfenta.

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

Sceletium has a moderate interaction with Alfentanil. Theoretically, concomitant use of sceletium and CNS depressants might result in additive sedative effects.

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

Sceletium and Alfentanil

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Alfentanil

Alfentanil falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Sceletium interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of sceletium and CNS depressants might result in additive sedative effects.
Some evidence suggests that sceletium has sedative properties.
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. Alfentanil is a fast, powerful opioid painkiller, usually given during procedures or surgery in a monitored setting. It already slows down your breathing and makes you very drowsy. Sceletium (kanna) seems to have its own mild calming, sedative quality. Put them together and those effects could stack up, meaning more sleepiness, slower breathing, or feeling overly sedated.

I want to be honest about how solid this is: it's a theoretical concern based on how each one acts, not on real studies of the two combined. Still, with a strong opioid like alfentanil, it's worth taking seriously. Since alfentanil is given by your medical team, just make sure they and your pharmacist know about any sceletium you take.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Smith MT, Crouch NR, Gericke N, Hirst M. Psychoactive constituents of the genus Sceletium N.E.Br. and other Mesembryanthemaceae: a review. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;50:119-30. 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

Sceletium Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sceletium has 247 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Alfentanil one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 247 No known interaction 2,583 (incl. Alfentanil)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sceletium

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Alfentanil

This page covers Sceletium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Alfentanil page lists 202 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), Fever Bark (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 10 major · 153 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Alfentanil page

“Alfentanil (Alfenta) is a potent, fast-acting opioid, usually given during surgery, and that potency is why this page deserves genuine care rather than a passing glance. Ten of the 202 ingredients listed are rated major, and they cluster into two problems: extra sedation stacked on a drug that already suppresses breathing, and changes…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Alfentanil interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 132 real supplement products containing Sceletium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sceletium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Alfentanil too, on top of Sceletium — 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 Sceletium and Alfentanil 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 Sceletium
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Alfentanil
Top half

#885 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 Sceletium

What is Sceletium?

  • Anxiety and stress
  • Low mood
  • Mental focus and cognition
  • Relaxation
  • Traditional use as a mood lifter

Sceletium (often sold as 'kanna') is a South African plant traditionally used to ease stress and lift mood. Early human studies are small and short, so its benefits are not well proven. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before trying it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Sceletium monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sceletium

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

0Major
247Moderate
0Minor
2,582No known interaction
247 Moderate 2,582 No interaction
Moderate

247 interactions

Showing 60 of 247 moderate interactions — see all 247 on the Sceletium page.

No interaction 2,582 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,582 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sceletium list.

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

Can you take Sceletium with Alfentanil?
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.
How serious is the Sceletium and Alfentanil 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

Still Have a Question About Alfentanil and Sceletium?

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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.