Drug & supplement interaction

Sea Buckthorn + Raltegravir

Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Raltegravir and Sea Buckthorn in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Sea Buckthorn safety at a glance

Sea Buckthorn overall Use caution Generally well tolerated as a food, but supplement safety has not been fully studied.
Pregnancy Use caution Food amounts are likely fine, but supplement doses are not well studied, so use caution and ask your doctor.
Breastfeeding Use caution Not enough reliable safety data on supplement use while breastfeeding; use caution.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Raltegravir and Sea Buckthorn? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Raltegravir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications — including integrase inhibitors, glucuronidated drugs, oral drugs. Sea Buckthorn has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) and antihypertensive drugs (moderate) — and none of Raltegravir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Sea Buckthorn Does Interact With Other Medications

Sea Buckthorn has 289 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sea Buckthorn

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

What to actually watch for

What Sea Buckthorn Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Raltegravir. It is the side-effect record for Sea Buckthorn on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Sea Buckthorn, this list is the first place to look.

  • Itching / A skin rash Additional detail

    “Orally, high doses of sea buckthorn may cause yellow staining of the skin. One case of generalized yellow skin has been reported for a patient who consumed sea buckthorn 100 grams daily for 6 months. Topically, sea buckthorn oil has been associated with dryness, irritation, redness, and rash. Rash occurred in 4% of patients in one clinical study.”

    Sea Buckthorn · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    4 sources cited
    1. 74072. Grad, S. C., Muresan, I., and Dumitrascu, D. L. Generalized yellow skin caused by high intake of sea buckthorn. Forsch.Komplementmed. 2012;19(3):153-156. PubMed
    2. 74077. Vlasov, V. V. [Hippophae oil in the treatment of superficial skin burns]. Vestn.Dermatol Venerol. 1970;44(6):69-72.
    3. 102845. Larmo P, Järvinen R, Laihia J, et al. Effects of a sea buckthorn oil spray emulsion on dry eye. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2019;42(4):428-433. PubMed
    4. 106089. De Seta F, Caruso S, Di Lorenzo G, Romano F, Mirandola M, Nappi RE. Efficacy and safety of a new vaginal gel for the treatment of symptoms associated with vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Ma PubMed

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Sea Buckthorn — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Raltegravir’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Raltegravir column appears here.

Overlapping uses

What Raltegravir Is Prescribed For, and What Sea Buckthorn Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Raltegravir is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Sea Buckthorn is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Raltegravir is prescribed for: Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own. Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Sea Buckthorn has been studied for:

  • Cancer studied, not established Sea Buckthorn has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Sea Buckthorn for cancer

    Although there is interest in using oral sea buckthorn for reducing morbidity related to cancer and side effects related to chemotherapy, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of sea buckthorn for these uses.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Raltegravir on your own; if you are taking Sea Buckthorn for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Raltegravir

This page covers Sea Buckthorn only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page

“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Raltegravir interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 253 real supplement products containing Sea Buckthorn, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sea Buckthorn. Even though Sea Buckthorn itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir 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 Sea Buckthorn
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Raltegravir
Top half

#1,124 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Sea Buckthorn reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Sea Buckthorn

What is Sea Buckthorn?

Sea Buckthorn
  • Skin health and dryness
  • Dry eye symptoms
  • Digestive complaints
  • Heart and cholesterol support
  • General antioxidant and immune support

Sea buckthorn is a berry-bearing shrub rich in vitamins, carotenoids, and fatty acids that people use for skin, eye, digestive, and heart health. Early research is promising for a few uses like dry skin and dry eye, but most claims are not yet proven. It is generally well tolerated as a food, but talk to your pharmacist before using concentrated supplements.

Hippophae rhamnoides · Elaeagnaceae · Berries (fruit), seeds, seed and fruit oil, and sometimes leaves · Capsules, softgels, oil (seed or fruit), juice, powder, teas, topical creams and ointments

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Sea Buckthorn is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Sea Buckthorn record says about it on its own.

Sea Buckthorn: dosing

There is no official or standardized dose of sea buckthorn. The right amount depends on the product, its form (oil, capsule, juice, or powder), and how it is concentrated.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount.

From our Sea Buckthorn monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Sea Buckthorn monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Raltegravir

What Is Raltegravir Used For?

Brand name: Isentress

Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.

Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Foetal exposure during pregnancy 1,078 reports
Depression 1,017 reports
Anxiety 966 reports
Emotional distress 789 reports
Anhedonia 708 reports
See full Raltegravir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sea Buckthorn

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

0Major
289Moderate
0Minor
2,540No known interaction
Moderate

289 interactions

Showing 60 of 289 moderate interactions — see all 289 on the Sea Buckthorn page.

No interaction 2,540 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Sea Buckthorn References

The 7 references that drive our Sea Buckthorn monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Johansson AK, Korte H, Yang B, et al. Sea buckthorn berry oil inhibits platelet aggregation. J Nutr Biochem 2000;11:491-5.. PubMed
  2. Grad, S. C., Muresan, I., and Dumitrascu, D. L. Generalized yellow skin caused by high intake of sea buckthorn. Forsch.Komplementmed. 2012;19(3):153-156. PubMed
  3. Vlasov, V. V. [Hippophae oil in the treatment of superficial skin burns]. Vestn.Dermatol Venerol. 1970;44(6):69-72.
  4. Chang BB, Wang F Xu TY Zhang QQ He J Zhang XJ Li J. Total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides L. for essential hypertension: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. 2009;9(11):1207-1213. DOI
  5. Olas B, Kontek B, Szczesna M, et al. Inhibition of blood platelet adhesion by phenolics rich fraction of Hippophae rhamnoides L. fruits. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2017;68(2):223-9.
  6. Larmo P, Järvinen R, Laihia J, et al. Effects of a sea buckthorn oil spray emulsion on dry eye. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2019;42(4):428-433. PubMed
  7. De Seta F, Caruso S, Di Lorenzo G, Romano F, Mirandola M, Nappi RE. Efficacy and safety of a new vaginal gel for the treatment of symptoms associated with vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Ma PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Sea Buckthorn with Raltegravir?
We do not list a known interaction between Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Sea Buckthorn in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Raltegravir is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Sea Buckthorn and Raltegravir combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications, and Sea Buckthorn has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Raltegravir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Sea Buckthorn interact with any other medications?
Yes. Sea Buckthorn has 289 documented drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Raltegravir has documented interactions with 33 supplements in our database — Sea Buckthorn is not one of them. The Raltegravir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Raltegravir and Sea Buckthorn?

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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.