Drug & supplement interaction

Sceletium + Metoclopramide

Metoclopramide brand names: Reglan, Metoclopramide Injection, Octamide.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Sceletium has a moderate interaction with Metoclopramide. 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 Metoclopramide

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Metoclopramide

Metoclopramide 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: both Sceletium (kanna) and metoclopramide can make you feel sleepy or slowed down, so taking them together may stack that effect. Metoclopramide already tends to cause drowsiness, tiredness, and sometimes a foggy or restless feeling, and adding a supplement that may have its own sedating action could leave you feeling more groggy than you expect.

I want to be honest about how strong this concern is, though. It's theoretical, meaning it comes from how these things work on paper, not from solid studies in people. So don't panic if you've taken both. Just go easy, avoid driving until you know how you feel, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them, especially since metoclopramide can affect the nervous system on its own.

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 Metoclopramide one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Sceletium or Metoclopramide

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

This page covers Sceletium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metoclopramide page lists 111 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: 8 major · 88 moderate · 15 minor.

Open the Metoclopramide 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 Metoclopramide 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 Metoclopramide 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Metoclopramide
Steady interest

#1,517 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
Medication

About Metoclopramide

What Is Metoclopramide Used For?

Brand names: Reglan, Metoclopramide Injection, Octamide

Metoclopramide is used in adults for two main digestive problems. The first is symptomatic, documented gastroesophageal reflux that hasn't improved with conventional therapy (oral tablets, orally disintegrating tablets and oral solution). The second is acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis, where the stomach empties too slowly.

Gimoti nasal spray is approved only for diabetic gastroparesis in adults. Metoclopramide injection is used for diabetic gastroparesis, preventing vomiting from emetogenic (vomiting-causing) cancer chemotherapy, and preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. It is also used to help place a tube into the small bowel and to speed barium movement for X-ray exams.

See full Metoclopramide drug information
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
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
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 Sceletium and Metoclopramide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sceletium with Metoclopramide?
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 Metoclopramide 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 Metoclopramide 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.