Drug & supplement interaction

Sodium + Sodium Phenylbutyrate

Sodium Phenylbutyrate brand names: Buphenyl, Pheburane, Olpruva.

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

Sodium has a moderate interaction with Sodium Phenylbutyrate. Concomitant use of sodium-containing drugs with additional sodium from dietary or supplemental sources may increase the risk of hypernatremia and long-term sodium-related complications.

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

Sodium and Sodium Phenylbutyrate

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

Moderate

SODIUM-CONTAINING DRUGS

Why this applies to Sodium Phenylbutyrate

Sodium Phenylbutyrate falls under SODIUM-CONTAINING DRUGS — the group Sodium interacts with.

Concomitant use of sodium-containing drugs with additional sodium from dietary or supplemental sources may increase the risk of hypernatremia and long-term sodium-related complications.
The Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) intake level of 2.3 grams of sodium daily indicates the intake at which it is believed that chronic disease risk increases for the apparently healthy population. Some medications contain high quantities of sodium. When used in conjunction with sodium supplements or high-sodium diets, the CDRR may be exceeded. Additionally, concomitant use may increase the risk for hypernatremia; this risk is highest in the elderly and people with other risk factors for electrolyte disturbances.
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 about sodium phenylbutyrate: the medicine itself already carries a hefty load of sodium right in the molecule. People usually take it for urea cycle disorders, and the daily doses can add up to a surprising amount of sodium on their own. So if you stack extra sodium on top, whether from a supplement or a very salty diet, you can push your total intake higher than is healthy.

This is a theoretical concern based on the chemistry, not a dramatic reaction, but it's a real one. Too much sodium can mean fluid buildup, swelling, higher blood pressure, and in some cases a rise in blood sodium (hypernatremia), especially in older folks or anyone with heart or kidney issues. Please don't change anything on your own. Just ask your doctor or pharmacist before adding any sodium supplement.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Stallings VA, Harrison M, Oria M; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium, Food and Nutrition Board, Health and Medicine Division, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington (DC): National Acad

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

Sodium Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sodium has 204 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Sodium Phenylbutyrate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 204 No known interaction 2,626 (incl. Sodium Phenylbutyrate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sodium

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Sodium or Sodium Phenylbutyrate

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Sodium or Sodium Phenylbutyrate, 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 Sodium Phenylbutyrate

This page covers Sodium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sodium Phenylbutyrate page lists 19 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 9 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sodium Phenylbutyrate page

“Sodium phenylbutyrate (Buphenyl, Pheburane, Olpruva) keeps ammonia in check in people with urea cycle disorders, so a supplement that blunts its absorption is not a small problem, it is the difference between a controlled ammonia level and a dangerous one. Seventeen of the 19 ingredients on this page, mostly fibers, gums, and mucilages…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sodium Phenylbutyrate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 26,145 real supplement products containing Sodium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sodium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Sodium Phenylbutyrate too, on top of Sodium — 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 Sodium and Sodium Phenylbutyrate 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 Sodium
Top 10

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

29 days ago today
Medication Sodium Phenylbutyrate
Steady interest

#2,720 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 Sodium

What is Sodium?

  • Replacing fluids and electrolytes
  • Preventing dehydration during exercise or illness
  • Treating low blood sodium (under medical care)
  • Seasoning and food preservation
  • Antacid (as sodium bicarbonate)

Sodium is an essential mineral and electrolyte your body needs to balance fluids, support nerves, and help muscles work. Most people in modern diets get more than enough—often too much—from food, so supplements are rarely needed except for specific medical reasons like dehydration or low blood sodium. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before deliberately adding sodium, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart, or kidney problems.

Read the full Sodium monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sodium

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

0Major
204Moderate
0Minor
2,625No known interaction
204 Moderate 2,625 No interaction
Moderate

204 interactions

Showing 60 of 204 moderate interactions — see all 204 on the Sodium page.

No interaction 2,625 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,625 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sodium list.

See the full Sodium interactions page
See every supplement checked against Sodium Phenylbutyrate, 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
Sodium monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Sodium Phenylbutyrate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Sodium Phenylbutyrate, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Sodium and Sodium Phenylbutyrate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sodium with Sodium Phenylbutyrate?
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 Sodium and Sodium Phenylbutyrate 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 Sodium Phenylbutyrate and Sodium?

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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.