Drug & supplement interaction

Sulforaphane + Mexiletine

Mexiletine brand name: Mexitil.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Sulforaphane has a moderate interaction with Mexiletine. Theoretically, sulforaphane might alter the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.

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

Sulforaphane and Mexiletine

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Mexiletine

Mexiletine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Sulforaphane interacts with.

Theoretically, sulforaphane might alter the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
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.
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 situation with mexiletine and sulforaphane. Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP1A2 to break down mexiletine and clear it out of your system. In lab and animal studies, sulforaphane (the active compound in broccoli) can slow that enzyme down. In theory, that could let mexiletine build up a bit higher than usual, which might mean more side effects like nausea, dizziness, tremor, or a lightheaded feeling.

To be fair, this is mostly test-tube and animal data, and the broccoli precursor can actually push the enzyme the other way, so the real-world effect in people isn't clear. Food amounts of broccoli almost certainly won't matter. Since mexiletine is a heart rhythm drug with a narrow safety window, just check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting a concentrated sulforaphane supplement.

References
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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

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

Sulforaphane Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sulforaphane has 721 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Mexiletine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sulforaphane

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Mexiletine

This page covers Sulforaphane only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Mexiletine page lists 152 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate), Acacia Rigidula (moderate), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 107 moderate · 44 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Mexiletine page

“Mexiletine (Mexitil) steadies the heart's rhythm, and its benefit depends on holding a fairly precise blood level, so the 152 supplements on this list deserve real attention rather than a shrug. Only one entry, activated charcoal, is rated major, because it can soak up the drug in the gut and cut how much actually reaches your bloodstr…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Mexiletine interaction page

One more smart check

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 Mexiletine 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:

How much people look this up

Where Sulforaphane and Mexiletine 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 Sulforaphane
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Mexiletine
Top half

#803 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 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.

Read the full Sulforaphane monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Mexiletine

What Is Mexiletine Used For?

Brand name: Mexitil

Mexiletine Hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the treatment of documented, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias — for example, sustained ventricular tachycardia (a dangerously fast heart rhythm originating in the lower chambers). Because mexiletine itself can trigger arrhythmias, it is not recommended for minor or symptom-free irregular heartbeats.

Treatment is started in a hospital setting so heart rhythm can be monitored closely. Antiarrhythmic drugs, including mexiletine, have not been shown to improve overall survival in patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

See full Mexiletine drug information
Keep checking

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.

0Major
721Moderate
0Minor
2,108No known interaction
Moderate

721 interactions

Showing 60 of 721 moderate interactions — see all 721 on the Sulforaphane page.

No interaction 2,108 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Sulforaphane and Mexiletine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sulforaphane with Mexiletine?
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 Sulforaphane and Mexiletine 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 Mexiletine and Sulforaphane?

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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.