Drug & supplement interaction

Scotch Broom + Haloperidol

Haloperidol brand name: Haldol.

Major Interaction
The bottom line Major

Scotch Broom has a major interaction with Haloperidol. Haloperidol (Haldol) inhibits sparteine metabolism, increasing the risk of adverse effects including circulatory collapse.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Scotch Broom and Haloperidol

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

Major

HALOPERIDOL (Haldol)

Haloperidol (Haldol) inhibits sparteine metabolism, increasing the risk of adverse effects including circulatory collapse.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the concern with combining Scotch Broom and haloperidol (Haldol). Scotch Broom contains an alkaloid called sparteine, and your body clears sparteine using an enzyme (CYP2D6) that haloperidol can block. When haloperidol slows that breakdown, sparteine can build up in your system. Since sparteine affects the heart, higher levels raise the risk of serious problems like an irregular heartbeat, a big drop in blood pressure, or even circulatory collapse.

I'll be honest, this is rated as a theoretical interaction based on how these substances behave, not on lots of patient reports. But because the worst-case outcome is so serious, and Scotch Broom has no proven benefit anyway, this is a pairing I'd steer clear of. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

References
  1. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.

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

Scotch Broom Also Interacts With Other Medications

Scotch Broom has 10 major, 1 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Haloperidol 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 Scotch Broom

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Haloperidol

This page covers Scotch Broom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Haloperidol page lists 211 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 · 157 moderate · 43 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Haloperidol page

“Haloperidol (Haldol) is a potent antipsychotic prescribed for schizophrenia and severe agitation, and the 211 supplements on this list warrant genuine care, starting with the 11 rated major. Most of the trouble runs through the liver enzymes that clear haloperidol from the body.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Haloperidol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 6 real supplement products containing Scotch Broom, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Scotch Broom. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Haloperidol too, on top of Scotch Broom — 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 Scotch Broom and Haloperidol 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 Scotch Broom
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Haloperidol
Top half

#1,343 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 Scotch Broom

What is Scotch Broom?

  • Heart rhythm and circulation complaints
  • Diuretic (increasing urine)
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Mild swelling
  • Traditional folk remedy

Scotch Broom is a flowering shrub that has been used in folk medicine for heart and circulation complaints, but it contains potentially toxic alkaloids and there is no solid scientific evidence that it works for any condition. Because it can affect heart rate and blood pressure and may be dangerous in higher amounts, most people should avoid it, and it should never be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Always talk with a pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Read the full Scotch Broom monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Haloperidol

What Is Haloperidol Used For?

Brand name: Haldol

Haloperidol is used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders and to control the tics and vocal outbursts of Tourette's disorder in both children and adults.

In children, it is also used for severe combative or explosive behavior problems, and for hyperactivity with conduct disorders — but only when other treatments like therapy or non-antipsychotic medications have not worked.

See full Haloperidol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Scotch Broom

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

10Major
1Moderate
0Minor
2,818No known interaction
Major

10 interactions

Moderate

1 interaction

No interaction 2,818 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Scotch Broom and Haloperidol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Scotch Broom with Haloperidol?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Scotch Broom and Haloperidol interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Haloperidol and Scotch Broom?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.