Drug & supplement interaction

Siberian Cocklebur + Bexarotene

Bexarotene brand name: Targretin.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Bexarotene states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene

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 Bexarotene and Siberian Cocklebur 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.

Siberian Cocklebur safety at a glance

Siberian Cocklebur overall Use caution The fruit contains toxic compounds and has caused serious poisoning, so it requires careful processing and professional oversight.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When the seeds and seedlings of Siberian cocklebur are used orally. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When the seeds and seedlings of Siberian cocklebur are used orally. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Bexarotene and Siberian Cocklebur? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Bexarotene

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Bexarotene is filed under 3 classifications — retinoids, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates, oral drugs. Siberian Cocklebur has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being antidiabetes drugs (major), hepatotoxic drugs (major) and nephrotoxic drugs (major) — and none of Bexarotene’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

Siberian Cocklebur Does Interact With Other Medications

Siberian Cocklebur has 662 major, known drug interactions in our database — Bexarotene isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 662 No known interaction 2,168 (incl. Bexarotene)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Siberian Cocklebur

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 8 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Low blood sugar Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Siberian cocklebur is generally regarded as unsafe for use. Any benefits of therapy might not outweigh the risk of toxicity. Orally, Siberian cocklebur seeds and seedlings can cause various adverse effects. Initial effects include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia, elevated liver function tests, increased risk of bleeding, drowsiness, dizziness, dyspnea, sweating, fever, and palpitations.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    4 sources cited
    1. 27827. Gurley ES, Rahman M, Hossain MJ, et al. Fatal outbreak from consuming Xanthium strumarium seedlings during time of food scarcity in northeastern Bangladesh. PLoS One 2010 Mar 18;5(3):e9756. PubMed
    2. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
    3. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.
    4. 27815. Wu, M. L., Wang, C. P., and Deng, J. F. Fatal hepatic failure due to fructus xanthii in a child. Abstracts of the 2005 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting. Clin Toxicol 2005;43:639. DOI

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seedlings and seeds can cause hypoglycemia. This occurs soon after consumption. Later, metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia, and/or worsening hypoglycemia might occur. In some individuals, these changes can cause seizures.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

    2 sources cited
    1. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
    2. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Pancreatitis Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seedlings and seeds can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Gastrointestinal symptoms occur within a few hours after consumption. In one case, pancreatitis occurred approximately 2 days after intake of the seeds in a 15-year-old girl.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    1 source cited
    1. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • High blood sugar Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    Recorded for Siberian Cocklebur in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low blood sugar above.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Confusion Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seedlings and seeds can cause altered mental status, malaise, dizziness, sweating, fever, seizures, convulsions, unconsciousness, and coma. Malaise, dizziness, and sweating onset are rapid. Fever onset is usually after the onset of vomiting. Unconsciousness can follow vomiting within minutes or hours, with coma occurring later in some individuals.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

    3 sources cited
    1. 27827. Gurley ES, Rahman M, Hossain MJ, et al. Fatal outbreak from consuming Xanthium strumarium seedlings during time of food scarcity in northeastern Bangladesh. PLoS One 2010 Mar 18;5(3):e9756. PubMed
    2. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
    3. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seedlings and seeds have resulted in cases of renal injury with increased levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. This can result in decreased urine output. In some individuals, renal symptoms return to normal. However, renal failure can occur and renal proximal tubular necrosis has been reported in autopsy findings for patients who died after consuming Siberian cocklebur.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in kidney failure.

    2 sources cited
    1. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
    2. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    Recorded for Siberian Cocklebur in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low blood sugar above.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seedlings and seeds can cause liver damage, including increased bilirubin levels and increases in liver enzyme levels by as much as 6 times the normal value. These symptoms can progress to include jaundice, hepatomegaly, and edema, resulting in liver failure and death in some patients.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in liver transplant.

    4 sources cited
    1. 27827. Gurley ES, Rahman M, Hossain MJ, et al. Fatal outbreak from consuming Xanthium strumarium seedlings during time of food scarcity in northeastern Bangladesh. PLoS One 2010 Mar 18;5(3):e9756. PubMed
    2. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
    3. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.
    4. 27815. Wu, M. L., Wang, C. P., and Deng, J. F. Fatal hepatic failure due to fructus xanthii in a child. Abstracts of the 2005 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting. Clin Toxicol 2005;43:639. DOI

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seedlings and seeds can increase the risk of bleeding, mainly due to hepatotoxic effects.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bleeding.

    1 source cited
    1. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    “Orally, Siberian cocklebur seed can cause both tachycardia and bradycardia. Palpitations can occur in as little as 3 hours after ingestion, with arrhythmia occurring a few hours later. Elevated heart enzymes can also occur soon after intake. White blood cell infiltration in the myocardium has been reported in autopsy findings from patients who died after consuming Siberian cocklebur.”

    Siberian Cocklebur · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    2 sources cited
    1. 27828. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
    2. 99948. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Fever Additional detail

    Siberian Cocklebur

    Recorded for Siberian Cocklebur in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Low blood sugar above.

    Bexarotene

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Bexarotene. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 16 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Siberian Cocklebur but not commonly for Bexarotene: yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe muscle breakdown, seizures and a slow heartbeat.

Effects for Bexarotene come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Siberian Cocklebur come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Siberian Cocklebur in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When the seeds and seedlings of Siberian cocklebur are used orally.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Bexarotene Products Have a Food Rule — Siberian Cocklebur Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Bexarotene says to take it with food. If you take Siberian Cocklebur on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Bexarotene with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Bexarotene products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

TARGRETIN should be taken as a single oral daily dose with a meal.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Bexarotene — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Bexarotene

This page covers Siberian Cocklebur only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Bexarotene page lists 139 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Vitamin A (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 94 moderate · 41 minor.

Open the Bexarotene interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 84 real supplement products containing Siberian Cocklebur, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Siberian Cocklebur. Even though Siberian Cocklebur itself has no known interaction with Bexarotene, 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 Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene 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 Siberian Cocklebur
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Bexarotene
Steady interest

#2,293 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 Siberian Cocklebur reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene 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 Siberian Cocklebur

What is Siberian Cocklebur?

  • Nasal congestion and sinus problems
  • Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
  • Headache
  • Skin conditions and itching
  • Joint and muscle discomfort

Siberian cocklebur is a fruit used in traditional Chinese and other Asian herbal medicine, mainly for nasal congestion, sinus issues, and allergies. Human evidence is very limited, and the plant contains naturally toxic compounds that can cause serious poisoning, so it should only be used under expert guidance, if at all.

Xanthium sibiricum · Asteraceae · Fruit (burr), sometimes leaves and aerial parts · Dried fruit, decoctions (teas), powders, capsules, traditional herbal formulas

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

Siberian Cocklebur: dosing

There is no well-established standardized dose for Siberian cocklebur, and dosing in traditional medicine depends on the specific preparation and formula used. Because of the toxicity risk, the difference between a traditional dose and a harmful one can be small.Do not self-dose with this herb. If you are considering it, only use products from a reputable source and follow the directions of a qualified practitioner.

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

Read the full Siberian Cocklebur monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Bexarotene

What Is Bexarotene Used For?

Brand name: Targretin

Bexarotene capsules (brands: Bexarotene, Targretin) are used to treat the skin symptoms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in patients whose disease has not responded to at least one prior systemic treatment.

Bexarotene gel 1% (brands: Bexarotene, Targretin) is used to treat the skin lesions of early-stage CTCL (Stage IA and IB) when other therapies have not worked or could not be tolerated. The gel is a topical therapy and is not intended for systemic use.

See full Bexarotene drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Siberian Cocklebur

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

662Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,167No known interaction
662 Major 2,167 No interaction
Major

662 interactions

Showing 60 of 662 major interactions — see all 662 on the Siberian Cocklebur page.

No interaction 2,167 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,167 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Siberian Cocklebur list.

See the full Siberian Cocklebur interactions page
See every supplement checked against Bexarotene, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Siberian Cocklebur References

The 4 references that drive our Siberian Cocklebur 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. Wu, M. L., Wang, C. P., and Deng, J. F. Fatal hepatic failure due to fructus xanthii in a child. Abstracts of the 2005 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting. Clin Toxicol 2005;43:639. DOI
  2. Gurley ES, Rahman M, Hossain MJ, et al. Fatal outbreak from consuming Xanthium strumarium seedlings during time of food scarcity in northeastern Bangladesh. PLoS One 2010 Mar 18;5(3):e9756. PubMed
  3. Turgut M, Alhan CC, Gurgoze M, et al. Carboxyatractyloside poisoning in humans. Ann Trop Paediatr 2005;25(2):125-34. PubMed
  4. Karabiber H, Almis H, Selimoglu MA, Yakinci C, Yilmaz S. Xanthium strumarium poisoning requiring liver transplantation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(1):e6-9.

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 Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Siberian Cocklebur with Bexarotene?
We do not list a known interaction between Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene. 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.
Do Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Bexarotene says to take it with food. If you take Siberian Cocklebur on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Bexarotene with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Bexarotene products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Siberian Cocklebur and Bexarotene combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Bexarotene is filed under 3 classifications, and Siberian Cocklebur has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Bexarotene'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 Siberian Cocklebur interact with any other medications?
Yes. Siberian Cocklebur has 662 documented drug interactions in our database — Bexarotene 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 Bexarotene interact with any supplements?
Yes. Bexarotene has documented interactions with 139 supplements in our database — Siberian Cocklebur is not one of them. The Bexarotene interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Siberian Cocklebur monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Bexarotene drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Bexarotene supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Bexarotene, 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 References The 4 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Bexarotene and Siberian Cocklebur?

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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.