Drug & supplement interaction

Schizonepeta + Imipramine

Imipramine brand names: Tofranil, Tofranil PM.

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

Imipramine falls into 3 drug categories that Schizonepeta can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Animal research suggests that schizonepetin, a monoterpene constituent of schizonepeta, inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6.

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

Schizonepeta and Imipramine

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Schizonepeta interacts with whole categories of medication. Imipramine falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Schizonepeta in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Imipramine

Imipramine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group Schizonepeta interacts with.

Animal research suggests that schizonepetin, a monoterpene constituent of schizonepeta, inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6. Theoretically, schizonepeta might increase the effects and side effects of CYP2D6 substrates.
Some substrates of CYP2D6 include amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), flecainide (Tambocor), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), paroxetine (Paxil), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), venlafaxine (Effexor), and 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 gist: your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP2D6 to help break down imipramine. Lab and animal research hints that a compound in Schizonepeta may slow that enzyme down. If that happens in people, imipramine could clear more slowly and build up in your system, which can mean stronger effects and more side effects.

With a tricyclic like imipramine, that might look like extra drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness when standing, or a faster heartbeat. I want to be honest though, this is only theoretical right now and comes from animal and test-tube studies, not real patients, so we can't say how big the effect would actually be. Still, since imipramine needs careful dosing, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Imipramine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

Animal research suggests that schizonepetin, a monoterpene constituent of schizonepeta, inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2. Theoretically, schizonepeta might increase the effects and side effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Some substrates of CYP1A2 include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and 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 gist with imipramine and Schizonepeta. Your body uses an enzyme called CYP1A2 to help break imipramine down and clear it out. Lab and animal studies hint that a compound in Schizonepeta may slow that enzyme. If it does, imipramine could build up a bit more than usual, which can mean stronger effects and more side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness on standing, or a faster heartbeat.

I want to be honest that this is theoretical and based only on early lab/animal work, not real-world human cases, so it may not amount to much. Still, since imipramine needs careful dosing, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding this herb.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Imipramine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

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 gist for your imipramine (Tofranil). Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to help break this antidepressant down. Lab and animal studies hint that a compound in Schizonepeta may rev up that enzyme, which could clear imipramine out of your body a little faster. If that happens, the medicine might not work as well, so you could notice your mood slipping or, in a child using it for bedwetting, the symptoms creeping back.

I want to be honest about the evidence here. This is based only on test-tube and animal research, not real people, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. Still, since imipramine matters for how you feel day to day, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding this herb.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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 796 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Imipramine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 796 No known interaction 2,034 (incl. Imipramine)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Schizonepeta or Imipramine

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

This page covers Schizonepeta only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Imipramine page lists 254 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 11 major · 190 moderate · 53 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Imipramine page

“Imipramine (Tofranil) is an older tricyclic antidepressant, and the supplements on this page deserve real scrutiny before you add one. Most of the list acts on the liver enzymes that process the drug, so an ingredient can quietly raise or lower imipramine levels: grapefruit pushes them up, while St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Imipramine 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 Imipramine 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 Imipramine 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Imipramine
Steady interest

#2,258 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 Imipramine

What Is Imipramine Used For?

Brand names: Tofranil, Tofranil PM

Imipramine is used to relieve symptoms of depression. Both Imipramine Hydrochloride tablets and Imipramine Pamoate capsules are approved for this use. Endogenous depression — the kind that seems to arise from within rather than a clear outside cause — tends to respond especially well. It may take one to three weeks before you notice the full benefit.

Imipramine Hydrochloride tablets are also approved as a short-term, add-on treatment to help reduce nighttime bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) in children aged 6 and older, after a doctor has ruled out physical causes.

See full Imipramine 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
796Moderate
0Minor
2,033No known interaction
796 Moderate 2,033 No interaction
Moderate

796 interactions

Showing 60 of 796 moderate interactions — see all 796 on the Schizonepeta page.

No interaction 2,033 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 2,033 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Schizonepeta list.

See the full Schizonepeta interactions page
See every supplement checked against Imipramine, 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
Schizonepeta monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Imipramine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Imipramine, ranked by severity Imipramine drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Schizonepeta and Imipramine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Schizonepeta with Imipramine?
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 Schizonepeta and Imipramine?
Imipramine belongs to more than one drug category, and Schizonepeta 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 Schizonepeta and Imipramine 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 Imipramine and Schizonepeta?

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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.