Drug & supplement interaction

Sida Cordifolia + Safinamide Mesylate

Safinamide Mesylate brand name: Xadago.

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

Sida Cordifolia has a moderate interaction with Safinamide Mesylate. Theoretically, Sida cordifolia might increase the risk of hypertension when taken with MAOIs.

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

Sida Cordifolia and Safinamide Mesylate

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

Moderate

MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs)

Why this applies to Safinamide Mesylate

Safinamide Mesylate falls under MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs) — the group Sida Cordifolia interacts with.

Theoretically, Sida cordifolia might increase the risk of hypertension when taken with MAOIs.
Sida cordifolia contains ephedrine. Clinical research shows that ephedrine can increase blood pressure.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the concern with pairing these two. Safinamide (Xadago) is an MAO-B inhibitor, meaning it slows down one of the body's natural systems for clearing certain stimulating chemicals. Sida cordifolia naturally contains ephedrine, a stimulant that already nudges up blood pressure and heart rate on its own. Put them together and the worry is that the ephedrine effect could be amplified, leading to a dangerous spike in blood pressure (sometimes called a hypertensive reaction).

While the evidence here is more theoretical and based on what we know about ephedrine, it's not something I'd brush off. Watch for warning signs like a pounding headache, racing heart, chest tightness, or feeling flushed. Please don't start Sida cordifolia without first checking with your pharmacist or doctor. There are safer ways to support your energy.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. White LM, Gardner SF, Gurley BJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics and Cardiovascular Effects of Ma-Huang (Ephedra sinica) in Normotensive Adults. J Clin Pharmacol 1997;37:116-22.

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

Sida Cordifolia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sida Cordifolia has 337 major, 107 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Safinamide Mesylate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 337 Moderate 107 No known interaction 2,386 (incl. Safinamide Mesylate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sida Cordifolia

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Safinamide Mesylate

This page covers Sida Cordifolia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Safinamide Mesylate page lists 81 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Bitter Orange (major), Brewer's Yeast (major) and Cowhage (major).

By severity: 14 major · 56 moderate · 11 minor.

Open the Safinamide Mesylate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 48 real supplement products containing Sida Cordifolia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sida Cordifolia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Safinamide Mesylate too, on top of Sida Cordifolia — 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 Sida Cordifolia and Safinamide Mesylate 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 Sida Cordifolia
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Safinamide Mesylate
Top 25%

#549 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 Sida Cordifolia

What is Sida Cordifolia?

Sida Cordifolia
  • Weight loss and energy
  • Asthma and breathing problems
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Fever and cough
  • General fatigue or 'tonic'

Sida cordifolia (bala or country mallow) is a traditional Ayurvedic plant that naturally contains ephedrine, a powerful stimulant. Because of this, many supplements containing it have been banned or restricted, and it carries real risks to the heart and blood pressure. There is little reliable human evidence that it works, so most people should avoid it and talk with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Sida Cordifolia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Safinamide

What Is Safinamide Used For?

Brand name: Xadago

Safinamide (brand name Xadago) is used as an add-on treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in people with Parkinson’s disease who have “off” episodes. “Off” episodes are times when Parkinson’s symptoms return or get worse between doses of your usual medicine.

Xadago has been shown to work only when taken together with levodopa/carbidopa.

See full Safinamide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sida Cordifolia

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

337Major
107Moderate
0Minor
2,385No known interaction
337 Major 107 Moderate 2,385 No interaction
Major

337 interactions

Showing 60 of 337 major interactions — see all 337 on the Sida Cordifolia page.

Moderate

107 interactions

Showing 60 of 107 moderate interactions — see all 107 on the Sida Cordifolia page.

No interaction 2,385 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,385 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sida Cordifolia list.

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

Can you take Sida Cordifolia with Safinamide Mesylate?
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 Sida Cordifolia and Safinamide Mesylate 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

Still Have a Question About Safinamide Mesylate and Sida Cordifolia?

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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.