Drug & supplement interaction

Securinega Suffruticosa + Modafinil

Modafinil brand names: Provigil, Sparlon, Alertec.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Securinega Suffruticosa has a moderate interaction with Modafinil. 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 Modafinil

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

Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

Why this applies to Modafinil

Modafinil 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 thing to keep in mind: both of these are stimulating in their own way. Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting medicine, and Securinega suffruticosa contains an alkaloid called securinine that revs up the nervous system. This isn't about one changing how the other is broken down. It's simpler than that, stacking two stimulants on top of each other can push the same effects too far.

If you combined them, you might notice more jitteriness, a racing or pounding heart, higher blood pressure, trouble sleeping, anxiety, or headaches. At the worst end, securinine has been linked to seizures, so I'd treat this seriously. I'll be honest though, this warning is theoretical, based mostly on how things work and animal data, not solid human studies. Honestly, this plant isn't a safe supplement to begin with. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing anything with your modafinil.

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 Modafinil 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 Modafinil

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

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

By severity: 8 major · 150 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Modafinil page

“Of the 197 supplements and herbs flagged for modafinil (Provigil, Alertec), eight carry a major rating, and those deserve real caution. Most of the rest fall into two themes.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Modafinil interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Securinega Suffruticosa and Modafinil 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

#1,092 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Modafinil
Top half

#1,120 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
Medication

About Modafinil

What Is Modafinil Used For?

Brand names: Provigil, Sparlon, Alertec

Modafinil (also sold as Provigil) is used to improve wakefulness in adults who experience excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or shift work disorder (SWD).

In OSA, modafinil treats the sleepiness — not the underlying airway obstruction itself. It is used alongside standard treatments such as CPAP (a breathing device worn during sleep), not as a replacement for them. If CPAP is appropriate for you, your doctor will want you to use it consistently even while taking modafinil.

See full Modafinil drug information
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 Modafinil Together: Common Questions

Can you take Securinega Suffruticosa with Modafinil?
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 Modafinil 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.