Drug & supplement interaction

Schizonepeta + Atazanavir, Cobicistat

Atazanavir, Cobicistat brand name: Evotaz.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Schizonepeta has a moderate interaction with Atazanavir, Cobicistat. Animal research suggests that schizonepetin, a monoterpene constituent of schizonepeta, induces cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4.

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

Schizonepeta and Atazanavir, Cobicistat

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Atazanavir, Cobicistat

Atazanavir, Cobicistat falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Schizonepeta interacts with.

Animal research suggests that schizonepetin, a monoterpene constituent of schizonepeta, induces cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. Theoretically, schizonepeta might decrease the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Some substrates of CYP3A4 include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and numerous others.
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 concern with Evotaz (atazanavir plus cobicistat) and Schizonepeta. Both of these HIV drugs rely on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In fact, cobicistat is in there mainly to block that enzyme so atazanavir stays strong and keeps the virus in check. Lab and animal studies hint that a compound in Schizonepeta may speed up CYP3A4, which could work against that boost and lower your atazanavir levels.

If levels drop too far, the medicine may not fully control HIV, and that can risk resistance over time. The good news is this is only theoretical, based on animal data, not proven in people. Still, since steady drug levels matter so much here, please check with your pharmacist or HIV provider before adding it.

References
  1. Bao B, Geng T, Cao Y, et al. Effects of schizonepetin on activity of mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes in rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2012;13(12):17006-18.

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

Schizonepeta Also Interacts With Other Medications

Schizonepeta has 798 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Atazanavir, Cobicistat 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 Schizonepeta

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Atazanavir, Cobicistat

This page covers Schizonepeta only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Atazanavir, Cobicistat page lists 152 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 · 107 moderate · 42 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Atazanavir, Cobicistat page

“Evotaz (atazanavir with cobicistat) treats HIV, and its effectiveness depends on steady blood levels, so I read this list of 152 supplements and herbs carefully rather than casually. Only three carry a major rating, but those three deserve your attention first: St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Atazanavir, Cobicistat interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 285 real supplement products containing Schizonepeta, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Schizonepeta. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Atazanavir, Cobicistat too, on top of Schizonepeta — 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 Schizonepeta and Atazanavir, Cobicistat 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 Schizonepeta
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Atazanavir, Cobicistat
Top 10%

#189 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 Schizonepeta

What is Schizonepeta?

  • Common cold and early-stage fever
  • Itchy skin rashes and hives
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Measles and other skin eruptions (traditional use)

Schizonepeta is a mint-family herb long used in traditional Chinese medicine, usually as part of combination formulas for colds, fevers, and itchy skin conditions. Modern human evidence is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines.

Read the full Schizonepeta monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Atazanavir and Cobicistat

What Is Atazanavir and Cobicistat Used For?

Brand name: Evotaz

Evotaz is used together with other antiretroviral (HIV) medicines to treat HIV-1 infection. It is for adults and for children who weigh at least 35 kg.

In people who have taken HIV medicines before, the choice to use Evotaz should be guided by how many protease inhibitor resistance changes the virus already has.

See full Atazanavir and Cobicistat drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Schizonepeta

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

0Major
798Moderate
0Minor
2,031No known interaction
Moderate

798 interactions

Showing 60 of 798 moderate interactions — see all 798 on the Schizonepeta page.

No interaction 2,031 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,031 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Schizonepeta 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Schizonepeta and Atazanavir, Cobicistat Together: Common Questions

Can you take Schizonepeta with Atazanavir, Cobicistat?
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 Schizonepeta and Atazanavir, Cobicistat 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.