Drug & supplement interaction

St. John's Wort + Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital

Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital brand name: Bellergal-S.

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

Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital falls into 3 drug categories that St. John's Wort can interact with; the most serious is rated major. St. John's wort increases the metabolism and reduces the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions3
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

St. John's Wort and Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

St. John's Wort interacts with whole categories of medication. Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with St. John's Wort in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Major).

Major

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital

Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group St. John's Wort interacts with.

St. John's wort increases the metabolism and reduces the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.
St. John's wort induces CYP3A4 enzymes and increases metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates. Clinically significant interactions have been reported with St. John's wort products containing hyperforin 1 mg or more.
Severity Major 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

Bellergal-S is an older combination product that blends belladonna (for cramping), ergotamine (for migraine-type headaches), and phenobarbital (a calming barbiturate). The ergotamine piece is the part most affected here. Your liver clears ergotamine using an enzyme called CYP3A4, and St. John's wort speeds that enzyme up. That means the ergotamine could get cleared faster and may not work as well, so a headache it normally helps might not ease the way you expect.

This isn't usually about more side effects, it's more about a possibly weaker effect. Because the doses and your needs vary, please don't change anything on your own. Check in with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing these two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Henderson L, Yue QY, Bergquist C, et al. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): drug interactions and clinical outcomes. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2002;54:349-56..
  2. Markowitz JS, Donovan JL, DeVane CL, et al. Effect of St. John's wort on drug metabolism by induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme. JAMA 2003;290:1500-4.. PubMed
  3. Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA, et al. Cytochrome P450 phenotypic ratios for predicting herb-drug interactions in humans. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002;72:276-87.. PubMed
  4. Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Hana J, et al. In vitro inhibition of human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of marker substrates by natural products. Phytomedicine 2003;10:334-42.. PubMed
  5. Komoroski BJ, Zhang S, Cai H, et al. Induction and inhibition of cytochromes P450 by the St. John's wort constituent hyperforin in human hepatocyte cultures. Drug Metab Dispos 2004;32:512-8. PubMed
  6. Smith M, Lin KM, and Zheng YP. PIII-89 an open trial of nifedipine-herb interactions: Nifedipine with St. John's wort, ginseng or ginkgo biloba. Clin Pharm Ther 2001;69:P86.
  7. Kawaguchi, A., Ohmori, M., Tsuruoka, S., Nishiki, K., Harada, K., Miyamori, I., Yano, R., Nakamura, T., Masada, M., and Fujimura, A. Drug interaction between St John's Wort and quazepam. Br.J.Clin Pharmacol. 2004;58(4):403-410. PubMed
  8. Dresser, G. K., Schwarz, U. I., Wilkinson, G. R., and Kim, R. B. Coordinate induction of both cytochrome P4503A and MDR1 by St John's wort in healthy subjects. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2003;73(1):41-50. PubMed
  9. Patel, J., Buddha, B., Dey, S., Pal, D., and Mitra, A. K. In vitro interaction of the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir with herbal constituents: changes in P-gp and CYP3A4 activity. Am.J.Ther. 2004;11(4):262-277. PubMed
  10. Izzo, A. A. and Ernst, E. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. Drugs 2009;69(13):1777-1798. PubMed
  11. Chrubasik-Hausmann S, Vlachojannis J, McLachlan AJ. Understanding drug interactions with St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): impact of hyperforin content. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2018.
  12. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed
  13. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. PubMed
  14. Gümüs KS, Teegelbekkers A, Sauter M, et al. Effect of Tacrolimus Formulation (Prolonged-Release vs Immediate-Release) on Its Susceptibility to Drug-Drug Interactions with St. John's Wort. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2024. PubMed
Major

PHENOBARBITAL (Luminal)

2 of 3
St. John's wort decreases the levels and clinical effects of phenobarbital.
St. John's wort may increase the metabolism of phenobarbital. Plasma concentrations of phenobarbital should be monitored carefully. The dose of phenobarbital may need to be increased when St. John's wort is started and decreased when it is stopped.
Severity Major Likelihood Likely Evidence B

Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.

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

Here's the thing to know about combining St. John's wort with Bellergal-S, which contains phenobarbital (along with belladonna and ergotamine). St. John's wort revs up the liver enzymes that break down phenobarbital, so your body clears it faster. That means the phenobarbital level in your blood can drop, and it may not control symptoms as well as it should.

Because phenobarbital is a barbiturate with a fairly narrow safety window, this matters. If it stops working well, you could see a return of whatever it was prescribed for. And if you ever stopped the St. John's wort, the phenobarbital could climb back up and cause too much drowsiness or grogginess. Please don't start or stop either one on your own. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor so they can monitor things safely.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Henderson L, Yue QY, Bergquist C, et al. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): drug interactions and clinical outcomes. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2002;54:349-56..
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) SUBSTRATES.

St. John's wort may increase the metabolism and reduce the levels of CYP2B6 substrates.
Clinical research shows that taking St. John's wort 325 mg three times daily for 14 days along with bupropion, a CYP2B6 substrate, reduces the area under the concentration-time curve by approximately 14% and increases the clearance of bupropion by approximately 20%.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 gist for Bellergal-S, which combines belladonna, ergotamine, and phenobarbital. St. John's wort tends to act like a 'speed-up' switch for certain liver enzymes (including CYP2B6) that break down the phenobarbital piece of this combo. In plain terms, the herb may help your body clear phenobarbital a little faster, which could mean less of the calming, anxiety-easing effect this product is meant to provide.

The evidence here is modest (a study with bupropion showed only about a 14 to 20 percent change), so this isn't a dramatic effect. Still, since phenobarbital is a sensitive drug where small shifts can matter, I'd encourage you not to start St. John's wort with Bellergal-S on your own. Check with your pharmacist or doctor first so they can keep an eye on how you feel.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lei HP, Yu XY, Xie HT, et al. Effect of St. John's wort supplementation on the pharmacokinetics of bupropion in healthy male Chinese volunteers. Xenobiotica 2010;40(4):275-81. 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

St. John's Wort Also Interacts With Other Medications

St. John's Wort has 755 major, 387 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 755 Moderate 387 No known interaction 1,688 (incl. Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against St. John's Wort

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against St. John's Wort. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About St. John's Wort or Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers St. John's Wort or Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital, 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 Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital

This page covers St. John's Wort only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital page lists 250 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 11 major · 200 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital page

“Bellergal-S packs three drugs into one tablet, and its supplement list earns real respect before you mix in anything else. Phenobarbital is a sedating barbiturate, belladonna adds drying anticholinergic effects, and ergotamine constricts blood vessels, so this combination collects interactions from several directions at once.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital interaction page

One more smart check

Taking St. John's Wort as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,159 real supplement products containing St. John's Wort, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides St. John's Wort. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital too, on top of St. John's Wort — 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 St. John's Wort and Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital 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 St. John's Wort
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital
Top 10%

#189 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 St. John's Wort

What is St. John's Wort?

St. John's Wort
  • Mild to moderate depression
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Sleep problems
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Wound healing (topical)

St. John's wort is a well-studied herb most often used for mild to moderate depression, and some research suggests it may help with this. However, it has many serious interactions with prescription medicines and is not safe for everyone, so always talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking it.

Read the full St. John's Wort monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & St. John's Wort

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

755Major
387Moderate
0Minor
1,687No known interaction
755 Major 387 Moderate 1,687 No interaction
Major

755 interactions

Showing 60 of 755 major interactions — see all 755 on the St. John's Wort page.

Moderate

387 interactions

Showing 60 of 387 moderate interactions — see all 387 on the St. John's Wort page.

No interaction 1,687 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked St. John's Wort against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,687 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full St. John's Wort list.

See the full St. John's Wort interactions page
See every supplement checked against Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital, 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
St. John's Wort monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital, 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 St. John's Wort and Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital Together: Common Questions

Can you take St. John's Wort with Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for St. John's Wort and Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital?
Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital belongs to more than one drug category, and St. John's Wort interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the St. John's Wort and Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Belladonna, Ergotamine, Phenobarbital and St. John's Wort?

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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.