Drug & supplement interaction

Smooth Alder + Raltegravir

Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Smooth Alder and Raltegravir 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.

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Interaction report

Smooth Alder and Raltegravir

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 Raltegravir and Smooth Alder 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Smooth Alder at all — not against Raltegravir, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Smooth Alder safety at a glance

Smooth Alder overall Not established There is very little research on its safety in humans, so caution is warranted.
Pregnancy Avoid Safety has not been studied, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid No safety data exists for nursing, so avoid use while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Raltegravir and Smooth Alder? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Raltegravir’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Smooth Alder. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Raltegravir’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. 3 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Low mood Worth acting on mentioned in 10.5% of FDA reports for Raltegravir
  • Severe muscle breakdown Worth acting on
  • Muscle weakness Worth acting on
  • Vivid dreams or nightmares
  • Bloating or gas
  • Reduced appetite
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Stomach pain
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness

Showing the 10 most notable of 14 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed › Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 16,361 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Raltegravir that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Smooth Alder’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Smooth Alder side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Smooth Alder has no side effects.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Raltegravir

This page covers Smooth Alder only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page

“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Raltegravir interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Smooth Alder, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Smooth Alder. Even though Smooth Alder itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, 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 Smooth Alder and Raltegravir 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 Smooth Alder
Steady interest

#1,230 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Raltegravir
Steady interest

#2,208 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. Smooth Alder is not yet covered by that licensed database, so its write-up cites publicly available medical sources directly (see the references below).
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Smooth Alder reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Smooth Alder and Raltegravir records this page draws on were last updated June 22, 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 Smooth Alder

What is Smooth Alder?

  • Skin irritation and wounds
  • Sore throat and mouth rinse
  • Digestive complaints
  • Astringent for inflammation
  • Traditional fever remedy

Smooth Alder is a North American shrub used in traditional and folk medicine, mainly as an astringent for skin and mouth complaints. Modern scientific evidence supporting any health benefit is very limited, so it should be used cautiously and never as a substitute for proven treatments.

Alnus serrulata · Betulaceae · Bark, leaves, and sometimes cones · Tea, decoction, tincture, topical wash

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

Smooth Alder: dosing

There is no established standardized dose for Smooth Alder. It has been used traditionally as a tea or topical wash made from the bark or leaves, but reliable, tested dosing guidelines do not exist.If you choose to use a product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them.

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

Read the full Smooth Alder monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Raltegravir

What Is Raltegravir Used For?

Brand name: Isentress

Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.

Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Foetal exposure during pregnancy 1,078 reports
Depression 1,017 reports
Anxiety 966 reports
Emotional distress 789 reports
Anhedonia 708 reports
See full Raltegravir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Smooth Alder

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Smooth Alder References

The 2 sources that drive our Smooth Alder monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing. Smooth Alder is not covered by the licensed Natural Medicines interaction database, so its page cites these public sources directly.

  1. Herbs at a Glance — NIH NCCIH Source
  2. Herbs and Supplements — MedlinePlus Source

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 Smooth Alder and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Smooth Alder with Raltegravir?
We do not list a known interaction between Smooth Alder and Raltegravir. 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.
Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Raltegravir has documented interactions with 33 supplements in our database — Smooth Alder is not one of them. The Raltegravir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Raltegravir and Smooth Alder?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.