Drug & supplement interaction

Securinega Suffruticosa + Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl

Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl brand name: Vicks Formula 44D Cough & Head Congestion Relief.

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

Securinega Suffruticosa has a moderate interaction with Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl. Theoretically, taking Securinega suffruticosa with stimulant drugs might increase the risk of serious adverse effects.

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

Securinega Suffruticosa and Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl

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

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl

Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl falls under STIMULANT DRUGS — the group Securinega Suffruticosa interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Securinega suffruticosa with stimulant drugs might increase the risk of serious adverse effects.
Securinega suffruticosa contains the alkaloid securinine. Animal research shows that securinine has CNS stimulating effects.
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 simple version. Your Vicks Formula 44D has two active pieces: dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and phenylephrine (a decongestant that mildly revs up the body). Securinega suffruticosa carries an alkaloid called securinine that stimulates the nervous system. So you'd basically be stacking one stimulating effect on top of another. The concern here is theoretical and based mostly on animal studies, not strong human data, but the worry makes sense.

If both nudge the nervous system the same direction, you could see more jitteriness, a racing or pounding heart, higher blood pressure, trouble sleeping, or restlessness. Honestly, securinine itself isn't a safe self-treatment supplement, so I'd skip it and check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining anything like this.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Holmes M, Crater AK, Dhudshia B, Thadani AN, Ananvoranich S. Toxoplasma gondii: inhibitory activity and encystation effect of securinine and pyrrolidine derivatives on Toxoplasma growth. Exp Parasitol. 2011;127(2):370-5. PubMed
  2. Raj D, Luczkiewicz M. Securinega suffruticosa. Fitoterapia. 2008;79(6):419-27. PubMed

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

Securinega Suffruticosa Also Interacts With Other Medications

Securinega Suffruticosa has 171 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 171 No known interaction 2,659 (incl. Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Securinega Suffruticosa

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl

This page covers Securinega Suffruticosa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl page lists 197 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major) and Peyote (major).

By severity: 8 major · 148 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl page

“The supplement interactions with Dextromethorphan HBr and Phenylephrine HCl (Vicks Formula 44D) deserve real respect, and the small cluster of major-rated ones should be understood before you reach for the bottle. Phenylephrine is a stimulant-type decongestant, so anything with caffeine (coffee, tea, cola nut) or ephedrine-like herbs s…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Securinega Suffruticosa and Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl 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 Securinega Suffruticosa
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl
Steady interest

#2,150 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 Securinega Suffruticosa

What is Securinega Suffruticosa?

  • Nerve and muscle weakness
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Nerve-related conditions in traditional medicine
  • Childhood paralysis (historical traditional use)
  • General tonic

Securinega suffruticosa is a shrub used in traditional East Asian medicine, best known for an alkaloid called securinine that strongly stimulates the nervous system. Because securinine is powerful and can cause seizures and serious toxicity, this plant is not a safe or well-studied dietary supplement, and it should not be used for self-treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before considering anything containing this plant.

Read the full Securinega Suffruticosa monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Securinega Suffruticosa

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

0Major
171Moderate
0Minor
2,658No known interaction
171 Moderate 2,658 No interaction
Moderate

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 moderate interactions — see all 171 on the Securinega Suffruticosa page.

No interaction 2,658 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,658 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Securinega Suffruticosa list.

See the full Securinega Suffruticosa interactions page
See every supplement checked against Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl, 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
Securinega Suffruticosa monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl, ranked by severity 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 Securinega Suffruticosa and Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl Together: Common Questions

Can you take Securinega Suffruticosa with Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl?
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 Securinega Suffruticosa and Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl 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.