Sulforaphane + Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine
Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine brand names: Gesic C8, Gesic C15, Lenoltec 2, Gesic C30, Lenoltec 3, and others.
Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine falls into 3 drug categories that Sulforaphane can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, sulforaphane might alter the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Read the full interaction reportSulforaphane and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine
These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 3 Interactions?
Sulforaphane interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Sulforaphane in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).
CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES
1 of 3Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine
Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Sulforaphane interacts with.
Animal and in vitro research shows that sulforaphane inhibits CYP1A2 enzyme activity. However, its precursor glucoraphanin also appears to increase the expression of the CYP1A2 enzyme, which could lead to increased metabolism of CYP1A2 substrates. These effects have not been reported in humans.
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.
This combo pill has three pieces, but the one that lines up with sulforaphane is the caffeine. Caffeine is cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP1A2, and in lab and animal studies sulforaphane can slow that enzyme down. If it did the same in people, caffeine might hang around longer, so you could feel a bit more jittery, have trouble sleeping, a racing heart, or an upset stomach.
Here's the honest part: this is only seen in test tubes and animals, not in real people, and to muddy things further, a related broccoli compound may actually speed the enzyme up. So the direction isn't even settled. Food amounts of broccoli are no concern. If you take a concentrated sulforaphane supplement, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor.
- Barcelo S, Mace K, Pfeifer AM, Chipman JK. Production of DNA strand breaks by N-nitrosodimethylamine and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in THLE cells expressing human CYP isoenzymes and inhibition by sulforaphane. Mutat Res 1998;402:111-20. PubMed
- Fimognari C, Lenzi M, Hrelia P. Interaction of the isothiocyanate sulforaphane with drug disposition and metabolism: pharmacological and toxicological implications. Curr Drug Metab. 2008;9(7):668-78. PubMed
- Chinnappan SM, George A, Evans M, Anthony J. Efficacy of Labisia pumila and Eurycoma longifolia standardised extracts on hot flushes, quality of life, hormone and lipid profile of peri-menopausal and menopausal women: a randomised, placebo-controlled stud
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
2 of 3Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.
Animal and in vitro research shows that sulforaphane inhibits CYP3A4 enzyme activity and downregulates its expression. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
This combo pill mixes acetaminophen (Tylenol), caffeine, and codeine. The piece worth watching is codeine. It's a prodrug, meaning your body has to convert it into morphine before it does much for pain. The lab signal here is that sulforaphane may slow down a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, which helps clear codeine.
If codeine sticks around longer, you could feel more of its usual effects, like drowsiness, constipation, nausea, or slowed breathing. Caffeine is also partly cleared this way, so you might feel a bit more jittery. But honestly, this is based only on animal and test-tube studies and hasn't been seen in people. Broccoli on your plate won't matter; concentrated supplements are the question. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding one.
- Fimognari C, Lenzi M, Hrelia P. Interaction of the isothiocyanate sulforaphane with drug disposition and metabolism: pharmacological and toxicological implications. Curr Drug Metab. 2008;9(7):668-78. PubMed
- Mahéo K, Morel F, Langouët S, et al. Inhibition of cytochromes P-450 and induction of glutathione S-transferases by sulforaphane in primary human and rat hepatocytes. Cancer Res. 1997;57(17):3649-52.
- Yoxall V, Kentish P, Coldham N, Kuhnert N, Sauer MJ, Ioannides C. Modulation of hepatic cytochromes P450 and phase II enzymes by dietary doses of sulforaphane in rats: Implications for its chemopreventive activity. Int J Cancer. 2005;117(3):356-62. PubMed
CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES
3 of 3Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) SUBSTRATES.
In vitro evidence shows that sulforaphane inhibits CYP2E1 enzymes. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
Here's the part that matters most in this combo pill: the acetaminophen (Tylenol) component is partly handled by a liver enzyme called CYP2E1. That enzyme can turn a small slice of acetaminophen into a byproduct that's tough on the liver. In test-tube studies, sulforaphane actually slows CYP2E1 down. In theory, that could mean a little less of that harmful byproduct forms, so this isn't a scary interaction. The codeine and caffeine pieces aren't really driven by CYP2E1, so they're not the concern here.
Keep in mind this is lab-only evidence and hasn't been seen in real people, and broccoli on your plate is very different from a concentrated capsule. If you're taking a sulforaphane supplement regularly, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on things.
- Fimognari C, Lenzi M, Hrelia P. Interaction of the isothiocyanate sulforaphane with drug disposition and metabolism: pharmacological and toxicological implications. Curr Drug Metab. 2008;9(7):668-78. PubMed
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Sulforaphane Also Interacts With Other Medications
Sulforaphane has 721 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Sulforaphane
We haven’t checked that one against Sulforaphane yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Sulforaphane. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine
This page covers Sulforaphane only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine page lists 303 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), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Ephedra (major).
By severity: 15 major · 244 moderate · 44 minor.
Taking Sulforaphane as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 167 real supplement products containing Sulforaphane, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sulforaphane. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine too, on top of Sulforaphane — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Sulforaphane and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine 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.
#363 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#83 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Sulforaphane
What is Sulforaphane?
- Antioxidant support
- General cellular health
- Detoxification support
- Inflammation
- Skin and aging concerns
Sulforaphane is a natural compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that has shown promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in lab studies, but strong human evidence for most specific health claims is still limited. It is generally well tolerated as part of a vegetable-rich diet, but if you take a concentrated supplement, talk to your pharmacist or doctor first.
Other Drugs & Sulforaphane
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Sulforaphane — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
721 interactions
- Diltiazem ›
- Theophylline ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Naproxen ›
- Erythromycin ›
- Estradiol ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lidocaine ›
- Norethindrone ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Prednisone ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Dexamethasone ›
- Triazolam ›
- Zopiclone ›
- Colchicine ›
- Fentanyl ›
- Oxybutynin ›
- Prednisolone ›
- Tacrolimus ›
- Temazepam ›
- Budesonide ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Clindamycin ›
- Dextromethorphan ›
- Doxorubicin ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Miconazole ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Buprenorphine ›
- Conjugated Estrogens ›
- Diazepam ›
- Everolimus ›
- Ivabradine ›
- Lofepramine ›
- Medroxyprogesterone ›
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ›
- Nortriptyline ›
- Rifampin ›
- Testosterone Undecanoate ›
- Aripiprazole ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Caffeine (otc Drug) ›
- Ciclesonide ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Cyclobenzaprine ›
- Dapsone ›
- Desipramine ›
- Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate ›
- Erythromycin Stearate ›
- Etoposide ›
- Fluticasone Propionate ›
- Hydroxyzine ›
- Itraconazole ›
- Midazolam ›
- Modafinil ›
Showing 60 of 721 moderate interactions — see all 721 on the Sulforaphane page.
No interaction 2,108 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Sulforaphane against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Levothyroxine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Mannitol ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Valsartan ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Levodopa ›
- Vancomycin ›
- Phenylephrine ›
- Spironolactone ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,108 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sulforaphane list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine Is Linked to Lower Levels of 2 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Sulforaphane — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Sulforaphane and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine Together: Common Questions
Can you take Sulforaphane with Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Sulforaphane and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine?
How serious is the Sulforaphane and Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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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.