Drug & supplement interaction

Thuja + Risankizumab-Rzaa

Risankizumab-Rzaa brand name: Skyrizi.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Thuja has a moderate interaction with Risankizumab-Rzaa. Thuja might stimulate immune function. Theoretically, taking thuja might decrease the effects of immunosuppressive therapy.

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

Thuja and Risankizumab-Rzaa

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

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Risankizumab-Rzaa

Risankizumab-Rzaa falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Thuja interacts with.

Thuja might stimulate immune function. Theoretically, taking thuja might decrease the effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressant drugs include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), and other corticosteroids (glucocorticoids).
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 idea behind this pairing. Skyrizi (risankizumab) works by calming down a specific part of your immune system to ease plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or Crohn's. Thuja, on the other hand, is thought to do the opposite and nudge the immune system to be more active. So in theory, thuja could push against what Skyrizi is trying to accomplish, possibly leaving your skin patches, joint pain, or gut symptoms less controlled than they should be.

I want to be honest with you though: this is a theoretical concern based on how each one is believed to work, not on real patient studies. We don't have solid proof it actually happens. Still, since thuja can also be toxic and Skyrizi is an important medication, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Gohla SH, Haubeck HD, Neth RD. Mitogenic activity of high molecular polysaccharide fractions isolated from the Cupressaceae Thuja occidentale L. I. Macrophage-dependent induction of CD-4-positive T-helper (Th+) lymphocytes. Leukemia 1988;2:528-33.

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

Thuja Also Interacts With Other Medications

Thuja has 575 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Risankizumab-Rzaa 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 Thuja

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Risankizumab-Rzaa

This page covers Thuja only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Risankizumab-Rzaa page lists 53 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate), Alfalfa (moderate), American Ginseng (moderate), Andrographis (moderate) and Ashwagandha (moderate).

By severity: 52 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Risankizumab-Rzaa page

“Echinacea captures the concern on this page better than any other entry. Risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi) treats plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease by quieting one arm of the immune system, and echinacea, like nearly all 53 ingredients listed here, is taken specifically to stir the immune system up.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Risankizumab-Rzaa interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 84 real supplement products containing Thuja, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Thuja. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Risankizumab-Rzaa too, on top of Thuja — 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 Thuja and Risankizumab-Rzaa 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 Thuja
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Risankizumab-Rzaa
Steady interest

#1,963 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 Thuja

What is Thuja?

  • Warts and skin growths
  • Respiratory and immune support
  • Cold and upper respiratory symptoms
  • Topical skin conditions
  • Traditional use as a diuretic or to bring on menstruation

Thuja, also called northern white cedar or arborvitae, is a tree whose leaf and oil have a long history in folk and homeopathic medicine, especially for warts and immune support. Solid human evidence for these uses is very limited, and the undiluted oil contains thujone, which can be toxic. Talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Thuja monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Risankizumab-rzaa Injection

What Is Risankizumab-rzaa Injection Used For?

Brand name: Skyrizi

Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) injection is approved to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis in adults and children 6 years of age and older. It is also approved for moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults.

For plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Skyrizi is given as a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection. For Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Skyrizi treatment begins with intravenous (IV) infusions given in a clinical setting, followed by subcutaneous maintenance injections.

See full Risankizumab-rzaa Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Thuja

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

0Major
575Moderate
0Minor
2,254No known interaction
Moderate

575 interactions

Showing 60 of 575 moderate interactions — see all 575 on the Thuja page.

No interaction 2,254 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 Thuja and Risankizumab-Rzaa Together: Common Questions

Can you take Thuja with Risankizumab-Rzaa?
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 Thuja and Risankizumab-Rzaa 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.