Drug & supplement interaction

Scotch Broom + Safinamide Mesylate

Safinamide Mesylate brand name: Xadago.

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

Scotch Broom has a major interaction with Safinamide Mesylate. Scotch broom flower contains tyramine. Combined use with MAOIs might cause a hypertensive crisis.

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

Scotch Broom and Safinamide Mesylate

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

Major

MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs)

Why this applies to Safinamide Mesylate

Safinamide Mesylate falls under MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs) — the group Scotch Broom interacts with.

Scotch broom flower contains tyramine. Combined use with MAOIs might cause a hypertensive crisis.
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 pairing Scotch Broom and Xadago (safinamide). Safinamide is an MAO-B inhibitor, and its job is to block one of the enzymes your body uses to break down certain brain chemicals. Scotch broom flower naturally contains tyramine, a compound that normally gets cleared by those same enzymes. When that breakdown is slowed, tyramine can pile up and cause a sudden, dangerous spike in blood pressure called a hypertensive crisis. Warning signs include a pounding headache, a racing or skipping heartbeat, flushing, chest tightness, or sudden vision changes.

I'll be honest that this is a theoretical risk based on how these substances work, not from documented cases, but because the outcome could be serious, I'd play it safe. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them rather than experimenting on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.

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

Major 10 Moderate 1 No known interaction 2,819 (incl. Safinamide Mesylate)
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 Safinamide Mesylate

This page covers Scotch Broom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Safinamide Mesylate page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Bitter Orange (major), Brewer's Yeast (major) and Cowhage (major).

By severity: 14 major · 56 moderate · 11 minor.

Open the Safinamide Mesylate 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 Safinamide Mesylate 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 Safinamide Mesylate 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
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Safinamide Mesylate
Top half

#723 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 Safinamide

What Is Safinamide Used For?

Brand name: Xadago

Xadago (safinamide) is used as an add-on treatment for adults with Parkinson's disease who are already taking levodopa/carbidopa and experiencing 'off' episodes — times when the medication wears off and Parkinson's symptoms return before the next dose is due.

Xadago is not used alone; it works only in combination with levodopa/carbidopa.

See full Safinamide 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
10 Major 1 Moderate 2,818 No interaction
Major

10 interactions

Moderate

1 interaction

No interaction 2,818 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,818 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Scotch Broom list.

See the full Scotch Broom interactions page
See every supplement checked against Safinamide Mesylate, 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
Scotch Broom monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Safinamide Mesylate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Safinamide Mesylate, ranked by severity Safinamide 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 Scotch Broom and Safinamide Mesylate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Scotch Broom with Safinamide Mesylate?
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 Safinamide Mesylate 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 Safinamide Mesylate and Scotch Broom?

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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.