Drug & supplement interaction

Syrian Rue + Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine

Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine brand name: Ex Strength Tylenol Sinus Nighttime.

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

Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine falls into 2 drug categories that Syrian Rue can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, high doses of Syrian rue might increase the risk of liver damage when taken with hepatotoxic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Syrian Rue and Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Syrian Rue interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Syrian Rue in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine

Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Syrian Rue interacts with.

Theoretically, high doses of Syrian rue might increase the risk of liver damage when taken with hepatotoxic drugs.
Cases of hepatotoxicity and hepatic failure have been reported in patients who ingested a large quantity (up to 100 grams) of Syrian rue seeds.
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 piece to pay attention to with this combo product: the acetaminophen (the Tylenol part) is processed by your liver, and in high amounts it can stress that organ. Syrian Rue, especially in large or concentrated seed doses, has its own reports of liver injury. So the worry isn't a chemical that speeds up or slows down acetaminophen. It's simply two things that each lean on the liver being taken together, which could add up.

To be fair, this is a theoretical concern based on how the body works, and the scary liver cases came from people eating huge amounts of seeds (up to 100 grams). Still, please don't pile Syrian Rue on top of acetaminophen, and watch for warning signs like yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, belly pain, or nausea. There's also a separate caution: Syrian Rue acts like an MAO inhibitor, and the pseudoephedrine here can push blood pressure up. Check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Yuruktumen, A., Karaduman, S., Bengi, F., and Fowler, J. Syrian rue tea: a recipe for disaster. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2008;46(8):749-752. PubMed
  2. Berdai MA, Labib S, Harandou M. Peganum harmala L. Intoxication in a Pregnant Woman. Case Rep Emerg Med 2014;2014:783236.
  3. Ghizlane EA, Manal M, Ines HA, et al. Fatal poisoning of pregnant women by peganum harmala L.: a case reports. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2021;68:102649. PubMed
  4. Durmaz Çelik N, Ger Akarsu F, Ozkan S, Özdemir AÖ, Aykac Ö, Memmedova F. Herbal teas can be harmful: a case of Peganum harmala induced coma in a patient with Parkinson's disease. Neurocase 2021;27(2):117-119.
Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

2 of 2

Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine also falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS.

Theoretically, Syrian rue might decrease the effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Syrian rue contains harmine. Animal research suggests that intravenous administration of harmine potentiates the effects of acetylcholine or increases acetylcholine levels.
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

This combination product has a few moving parts, but the piece that matters here is the doxylamine, an antihistamine that works partly by blocking acetylcholine (it has anticholinergic effects). Syrian Rue contains harmine, and in animal studies it seemed to raise acetylcholine levels. In theory, that could push back against doxylamine and slightly soften its drying and sleep-inducing action. I want to be clear that this is only a lab-and-animal idea, not something proven in people, so the practical risk is likely small.

Honestly, my bigger concern is the pseudoephedrine. Syrian Rue acts like an MAO inhibitor, and mixing MAOIs with decongestants can spike blood pressure. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining these.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Slotkin, T. A. and DiStefano, V. Cardiovascular and respiratory effects of harmine. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1970;133(2):662-664. PubMed
  2. Javoy, F., Euvrard, C., Herbet, A., Bockaert, J., Enjalbert, A., Agid, Y., and Glowinski, J. Lack of involvement of dopaminergic and GABA neurones in the inhbitory effect of harmaline on the activity of striatal cholinergic neurones in the rat. Naunyn Sch

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

Syrian Rue Also Interacts With Other Medications

Syrian Rue has 1,121 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,121 No known interaction 1,709 (incl. Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Syrian Rue

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine

This page covers Syrian Rue only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine page lists 225 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Ephedra (major) and Henbane (major).

By severity: 11 major · 173 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine page

“You're taking three medicines with Extra Strength Tylenol Sinus Nighttime (acetaminophen, doxylamine, and pseudoephedrine), so its supplement list runs long, 225 ingredients, and I'd want you genuinely careful here. Eleven carry a major rating; start there.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Syrian Rue and Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine 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 Syrian Rue
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine
Steady interest

#1,557 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 Syrian Rue

What is Syrian Rue?

  • Traditional remedy for digestive complaints
  • Used as a sedative or for mood
  • Antimicrobial and antiparasitic folk use
  • Used as a dye and incense
  • Recreational psychoactive use

Syrian Rue (Peganum harmala) is a traditional plant whose seeds contain potent compounds called harmala alkaloids, including MAO-inhibiting harmine and harmaline. There is little reliable human evidence that it safely treats any condition, and it carries real risks of toxicity, so it is not recommended for self-treatment. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before considering it.

Read the full Syrian Rue monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Syrian Rue

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

0Major
1,121Moderate
0Minor
1,708No known interaction
1,121 Moderate 1,708 No interaction
Moderate

1,121 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,121 moderate interactions — see all 1,121 on the Syrian Rue page.

No interaction 1,708 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,708 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Syrian Rue list.

See the full Syrian Rue interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine, 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
Syrian Rue monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine, 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 Syrian Rue and Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Syrian Rue with Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Syrian Rue and Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine?
Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine belongs to more than one drug category, and Syrian Rue 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 Syrian Rue and Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine 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 Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Pseudoephedrine and Syrian Rue?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.