Drug & supplement interaction

Tansy + Lovastatin

Lovastatin brand names: Mevacor, Altocor.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Tansy and Lovastatin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Lovastatin states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Tansy and Lovastatin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Lovastatin and Tansy in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Tansy safety at a glance

Tansy overall Avoid Tansy contains thujone, which can be poisonous, so internal use is generally discouraged.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally or topically due to potential abortifacient, menstrual flow, and uterine stimulant effects. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally due to thujone content. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Lovastatin and Tansy? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Lovastatin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Lovastatin is filed under 8 classifications — including hmg-coa reductase inhibitors ("statins"), organic anion-transporting polypeptide substrates (oatp), cytochrome p450 2c9 (cyp2c9) inhibitors. Tansy has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being alcohol (ethanol) (major) — and none of Lovastatin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Tansy Does Interact With Other Medications

Tansy has 1 major, known drug interaction in our database — Lovastatin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 No known interaction 2,829 (incl. Lovastatin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Tansy

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Tansy and Lovastatin May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 2 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Tansy

    “There is limited reliable information available about the adverse effects of tansy. Orally, varieties of tansy that contain the toxic constituent thujone have been reported to cause thujone toxicity. Symptoms of thujone toxicity include rapid pulse, irregular heartbeat, tachypnea, severe gastroenteritis, vomiting, dilated pupils, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and death (4,6,77012,77014,77015).”

    Tansy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    6 sources cited
    1. 4. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
    2. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    3. 77012. McGuffin M and et al. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 1997.
    4. 77014. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. 1999.
    5. 77015. Blumenthal, M and et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. 1998;
    6. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    Tansy

    “Orally, large doses of tansy have been reported to induce abortion and uterine bleeding.”

    Tansy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in abortion.

    1 source cited
    1. 77015. Blumenthal, M and et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. 1998;

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Sun sensitivity / A skin rash Additional detail

    Tansy

    “Topically, atopic dermatitis has been reported from members of the Compositae family, of which tansy is a member. Photosensitivity, typically presenting as eczema, has also been reported from contact with members of the Compositae family.”

    Tansy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    4 sources cited
    1. 46978. Guin, J. D. and Skidmore, G. Compositae dermatitis in childhood. Arch Dermatol. 1987;123(4):500-502. DOI
    2. 77007. Jovanovic, M., Poljacki, M., Duran, V., Vujanovic, L., Sente, R., and Stojanovic, S. Contact allergy to Compositae plants in patients with atopic dermatitis. Med Pregl. 2004;57(5-6):209-218. PubMed
    3. 77011. Mark, K. A., Brancaccio, R. R., Soter, N. A., and Cohen, D. E. Allergic contact and photoallergic contact dermatitis to plant and pesticide allergens. Arch Dermatol. 1999;135(1):67-70. PubMed
    4. 42856. Jovanovic, M. and Poljacki, M. [Compositae dermatitis]. Med Pregl. 2003;56(1-2):43-49. PubMed

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dizziness reported in 4.5% of FDA reports for Lovastatin Additional detail

    Tansy

    “Orally, varieties of tansy that contain the toxic constituent thujone have been reported to cause thujone toxicity. Neurologic symptoms include loss of consciousness, tremors, seizures, and vertigo (2,18,77012).”

    Tansy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

    3 sources cited
    1. 2. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
    2. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    3. 77012. McGuffin M and et al. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 1997.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach pain Additional detail

    Tansy

    “Orally, varieties of tansy that contain the toxic constituent thujone have been reported to cause thujone toxicity. Gastrointestinal symptoms include severe gastroenteritis, vomiting, and abdominal pain.”

    Tansy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    1 source cited
    1. 77012. McGuffin M and et al. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 1997.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Vomiting Additional detail

    Tansy

    Recorded for Tansy in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Liver problems above.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Tansy but not commonly for Lovastatin: fainting, an irregular heartbeat, kidney problems and a fast or pounding heartbeat.

Effects for Lovastatin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Tansy come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 25,528 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Lovastatin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Tansy in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally or topically due to potential abortifacient, menstrual flow, and uterine stimulant effects.

Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally due to thujone content.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Lovastatin Products Have a Food Rule — Tansy Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Lovastatin says to take it with food. If you take Tansy on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Lovastatin with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Lovastatin products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Lovastatin tablets USP should be given with meals.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Lovastatin — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

From our Q&A

Questions About Tansy or Lovastatin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Tansy or Lovastatin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lovastatin

This page covers Tansy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lovastatin page lists 184 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 8 major · 140 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lovastatin page

“Lovastatin (Mevacor) lowers cholesterol, and the liver clears it through an enzyme called CYP3A4, which is where most of these 184 supplements collide with it. This list deserves careful attention.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lovastatin 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. Even though Tansy itself has no known interaction with Lovastatin, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Tansy and Lovastatin 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lovastatin
Steady interest

#1,559 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Tansy reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Tansy and Lovastatin records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
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.

Tanacetum vulgare · Asteraceae · Flowers, leaves, and essential oil · Tea, dried herb, tincture, essential oil

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Tansy is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Tansy record says about it on its own.

Tansy: dosing

There is no established safe or standardized dose of tansy. Never use the concentrated essential oil internally, and follow all product labels carefully. In most cases, a safer alternative is the better choice.

From our Tansy monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Tansy monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lovastatin

What Is Lovastatin Used For?

Brand names: Mevacor, Altocor

Lovastatin is used to lower high LDL ("bad") cholesterol and total cholesterol in people whose levels have not improved enough with diet alone. It is also used to slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries (coronary atherosclerosis) in people who already have coronary heart disease.

In adults without existing heart disease but with high cholesterol and low HDL ("good") cholesterol, lovastatin tablets are approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. Lovastatin tablets are also approved for adolescents aged 10–17 with a specific inherited condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH), when diet changes alone haven't been enough.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Lovastatin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (25,528 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 1,535 reports
Nausea 1,401 reports
Diarrhea 1,275 reports
Dyspnea 1,226 reports
Dizziness 1,159 reports
See full Lovastatin drug information
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.

1Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,828No known interaction
1 Major 2,828 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

No interaction 2,828 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 2,828 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Tansy list.

See the full Tansy interactions page
See every supplement checked against Lovastatin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Tansy References

The 14 references that drive our Tansy monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  3. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  4. 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.
  5. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  6. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  7. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  8. Jovanovic, M. and Poljacki, M. [Compositae dermatitis]. Med Pregl. 2003;56(1-2):43-49. PubMed
  9. Guin, J. D. and Skidmore, G. Compositae dermatitis in childhood. Arch Dermatol. 1987;123(4):500-502. DOI
  10. Jovanovic, M., Poljacki, M., Duran, V., Vujanovic, L., Sente, R., and Stojanovic, S. Contact allergy to Compositae plants in patients with atopic dermatitis. Med Pregl. 2004;57(5-6):209-218. PubMed
  11. Mark, K. A., Brancaccio, R. R., Soter, N. A., and Cohen, D. E. Allergic contact and photoallergic contact dermatitis to plant and pesticide allergens. Arch Dermatol. 1999;135(1):67-70. PubMed
  12. McGuffin M and et al. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 1997.
  13. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. 1999.
  14. Blumenthal, M and et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. 1998;

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Tansy and Lovastatin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Tansy with Lovastatin?
We do not list a known interaction between Tansy and Lovastatin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Tansy and Lovastatin have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 7 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Tansy and Lovastatin at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Lovastatin says to take it with food. If you take Tansy on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Lovastatin with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Lovastatin products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Tansy and Lovastatin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Lovastatin is filed under 8 classifications, and Tansy has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Lovastatin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Tansy interact with any other medications?
Yes. Tansy has 1 documented drug interaction in our database — Lovastatin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Lovastatin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Lovastatin has documented interactions with 184 supplements in our database — Tansy is not one of them. The Lovastatin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Tansy monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Lovastatin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Lovastatin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Lovastatin, 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 References The 14 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Lovastatin 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.