Drug & supplement interaction

Tansy + Ethanol

Ethanol brand name: Ethanol.

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

Tansy has a major interaction with Ethanol. Thujone, a constituent of tansy, can increase and alter the effects of alcohol.

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

Tansy and Ethanol

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

Major

ALCOHOL (Ethanol)

Thujone, a constituent of tansy, can increase and alter the effects of alcohol.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

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

Here's the gist: tansy contains a compound called thujone, which acts on the nervous system. Alcohol (ethanol) also slows the brain down. Putting the two together is thought to make alcohol's effects feel stronger and harder to predict. That could mean more drowsiness, dizziness, slowed reactions, poor coordination, or fuzzy thinking than you'd expect from the drink alone.

I'll be honest with you: this concern is theoretical, based on how these substances behave rather than solid human studies. Still, tansy carries real safety worries on its own (thujone can be toxic in larger amounts), so I wouldn't pair it with drinking. If you're using tansy or thinking about it, please check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.

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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethanol

This page covers Tansy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethanol page lists 65 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), Coca (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Bilberry (moderate).

By severity: 5 major · 38 moderate · 22 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethanol page

“Ethanol used as a medication is still alcohol, and its supplement list calls for real vigilance, starting with the five entries rated major. GHB is the starkest of these, since combining it with alcohol can cause serious sedation, suppressed breathing, and low blood pressure, a risk confirmed in human studies.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethanol interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Tansy as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 45 real supplement products containing Tansy, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Tansy. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ethanol too, on top of Tansy — 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 Tansy and Ethanol 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 Tansy
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ethanol
Top 5%

#136 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 Tansy

What is Tansy?

  • Intestinal worms and parasites
  • Digestive upset
  • Menstrual problems
  • Insect repellent
  • Skin and wound care (traditional)

Tansy is a traditional bitter herb that contains thujone, a compound that can be toxic in higher amounts. Because of real safety concerns and very limited modern evidence, most people should avoid taking tansy internally, and it should never be used during pregnancy.

Read the full Tansy monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Tansy

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Tansy list.

See the full Tansy interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ethanol, 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
Tansy monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ethanol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethanol, 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 Tansy and Ethanol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Tansy with Ethanol?
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.
How serious is the Tansy and Ethanol 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 Ethanol and Tansy?

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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.