Drug & supplement interaction

Syrian Rue + Edrophonium, Atropine

Edrophonium, Atropine brand name: Enlon-Plus.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Edrophonium, Atropine falls into 2 drug categories that Syrian Rue can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, Syrian rue might decrease the effects of anticholinergic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Syrian Rue and Edrophonium, Atropine

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. Edrophonium, Atropine 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

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Edrophonium, Atropine

Edrophonium, Atropine falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group Syrian Rue interacts with.

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 combo product pairs edrophonium (which raises acetylcholine by blocking the enzyme that breaks it down) with atropine (which blocks acetylcholine to protect the heart and dry up secretions). The atropine piece is the anticholinergic part. Here's the theoretical concern: Syrian Rue's harmala alkaloids may also push acetylcholine levels up, so they could work against atropine and partly cancel its protective effect.

If that happened, you might see more of the cholinergic effects atropine is meant to control, like a slow heart rate, watery eyes, drooling, or stomach cramping. Keep in mind this is based on animal data and theory only, and this drug is given in a monitored medical setting. Still, please mention any Syrian Rue use to your care team beforehand.

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
Moderate

CHOLINERGIC DRUGS

2 of 2

Edrophonium, Atropine also falls under CHOLINERGIC DRUGS.

Theoretically, Syrian rue might increase the effects and adverse effects of cholinergic 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

Enlon-Plus is a combo you'd get in a clinical setting, not something you dose at home. The edrophonium part briefly boosts acetylcholine (a nerve-signal chemical), while the atropine is there to tone down the cholinergic side effects. Here's the theoretical concern: Syrian Rue's harmala compounds may also push acetylcholine activity higher. So in theory, stacking them could amplify cholinergic effects, things like a slow heart rate, drooling, watery eyes, belly cramping, or breathing tightness.

I want to be straight with you, though: this is based only on animal research, not solid human studies. It's a flagged possibility, not a proven problem. Since this drug is given by professionals, just make sure your care team knows about any Syrian Rue use beforehand.

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 Edrophonium, Atropine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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 Edrophonium, Atropine

This page covers Syrian Rue only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Edrophonium, Atropine page lists 34 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Angel's Trumpet (moderate), Arenaria Rubra (moderate) and Bacopa (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 29 moderate · 3 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Edrophonium, Atropine page

“Enlon-Plus combines edrophonium, which raises levels of the nerve messenger acetylcholine, with atropine, which tempers its side effects, and the supplements listed below can tip that balance in either direction. I read this list with real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Edrophonium, Atropine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Syrian Rue and Edrophonium, Atropine 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 Edrophonium, Atropine
Top half

#1,407 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
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
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 Syrian Rue and Edrophonium, Atropine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Syrian Rue with Edrophonium, Atropine?
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 Edrophonium, Atropine?
Edrophonium, Atropine 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 Edrophonium, Atropine 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

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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.