Drug & supplement interaction

Securinega Suffruticosa + Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine

Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine brand name: Sudafed Cold/Flu.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Securinega Suffruticosa has a moderate interaction with Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine. 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, Pseudoephedrine

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

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine

Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine 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 concern with this combo. Securinega suffruticosa contains securinine, a plant compound that revs up your nervous system by blocking the brain's natural calming signals. The pseudoephedrine in your Sudafed Cold/Flu is already a stimulant that can speed your heart, raise your blood pressure, and leave you jittery or unable to sleep. Stack a second stimulant on top, and those effects could pile up, leading to a racing heart, anxiety, tremor, or spikes in blood pressure.

I want to be honest: this is a theoretical worry based on animal studies, not strong human data. But honestly, this plant isn't a safe self-treatment in the first place since securinine can trigger seizures. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.

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, Pseudoephedrine 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 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, Pseudoephedrine

This page covers Securinega Suffruticosa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine page lists 198 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 · 149 moderate · 41 minor.

Open the Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Securinega Suffruticosa and Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine 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

#1,060 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine
Steady interest

#2,398 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
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
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Securinega Suffruticosa and Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Securinega Suffruticosa with Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine?
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, Pseudoephedrine 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.