Drug & supplement interaction

Sesame + Methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone brand names: Medrol, Medrol Dosepak.

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

Sesame has a minor interaction with Methylprednisolone. Theoretically, sesame might alter the transport of P-glycoprotein substrates.

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

Sesame and Methylprednisolone

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

Minor

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES — the group Sesame interacts with.

Theoretically, sesame might alter the transport of P-glycoprotein substrates.
In vitro research suggests that sesamin, a constituent of sesame, can inhibit the multi-drug transporter protein, P-glycoprotein. However, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Minor 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 short version: this is a very theoretical concern. Sesame contains a compound called sesamin, and in test-tube studies it slowed down a cellular pump called P-glycoprotein, which helps move certain drugs (including methylprednisolone) around your body. If that pump is blocked, a little more of the steroid could stay in your system. In real people, though, this has never actually been seen, and the evidence comes only from lab work.

Even if it nudged levels up slightly, you'd be looking at the usual steroid effects being a touch stronger (things like trouble sleeping, a bigger appetite, mood changes, or fluid retention). Honestly, sesame in food amounts is unlikely to matter at all. If you're using concentrated sesame supplements, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Okura, T., Ibe, M., Umegaki, K., Shinozuka, K., and Yamada, S. Effects of dietary ingredients on function and expression of P-glycoprotein in human intestinal epithelial cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2010;33(2):255-259. PubMed
  2. Nabekura, T., Yamaki, T., Ueno, K., and Kitagawa, S. Inhibition of P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance protein 1 by dietary phytochemicals. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2008;62(5):867-873. 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

Sesame Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sesame has 343 moderate, 184 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Methylprednisolone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 343 Minor 184 No known interaction 2,303 (incl. Methylprednisolone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sesame

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Sesame or Methylprednisolone

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Sesame or Methylprednisolone, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Methylprednisolone

This page covers Sesame only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methylprednisolone page lists 207 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lily-of-the-valley (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 167 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methylprednisolone page

“Methylprednisolone (Medrol) is a steroid used for inflammation, allergic flares, and autoimmune disease, and its supplement interactions deserve real attention, not a quick skim. Of the 207 ingredients on file, four rate major, and those come first: grapefruit and St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methylprednisolone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 434 real supplement products containing Sesame, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sesame. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Methylprednisolone too, on top of Sesame — 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 Sesame and Methylprednisolone 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 Sesame
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Methylprednisolone
Steady interest

#1,511 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 Sesame

What is Sesame?

  • Heart and cholesterol health
  • Blood pressure support
  • Source of healthy fats and minerals
  • Skin and hair care (topical oil)
  • Antioxidant support
  • Cooking and nutrition

Sesame is a nutritious seed and oil widely used in cooking and traditional medicine, and it provides healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidant compounds called lignans. Some early research suggests sesame may modestly help with cholesterol and blood pressure, but the evidence is limited. Sesame is also a common, sometimes serious, food allergen, so people with seed allergies should be careful.

Read the full Sesame monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Methylprednisolone

What Is Methylprednisolone Used For?

Brand names: Medrol, Medrol Dosepak

Methylprednisolone tablets (Medrol, Methylpred DP) are used to treat a broad set of conditions including endocrine disorders, rheumatic and joint conditions, autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, severe allergic states, skin diseases, eye inflammation, breathing disorders like asthma, blood and kidney diseases, and certain cancers.

Methylprednisolone acetate injection (Depo-Medrol and others) is used by intramuscular injection when oral therapy isn't feasible, and can also be given directly into joints, soft tissue, or lesions to treat local inflammation from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and skin disorders. The injection is not approved for intrathecal (spinal) use.

See full Methylprednisolone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sesame

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

0Major
343Moderate
184Minor
2,302No known interaction
343 Moderate 184 Minor 2,302 No interaction
Moderate

343 interactions

Showing 60 of 343 moderate interactions — see all 343 on the Sesame page.

Minor

184 interactions

Showing 60 of 184 minor interactions — see all 184 on the Sesame page.

No interaction 2,302 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,302 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sesame list.

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

Can you take Sesame with Methylprednisolone?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Sesame and Methylprednisolone interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Methylprednisolone and Sesame?

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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.