Thunder God Vine + Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate
Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate brand name: Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate.
Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate falls into 2 drug categories that Thunder God Vine can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, thunder god vine might increase the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Read the full interaction reportThunder God Vine and Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate
These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 2 Interactions?
Thunder God Vine interacts with whole categories of medication. Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Thunder God Vine in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).
CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES
1 of 2Why this applies to Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate
Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Thunder God Vine interacts with.
In vitro research shows that triptolide, a constituent of thunder god vine, inhibits CYP1A2 enzymes in human microsomes. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
Here's the simple version: your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP1A2 to clear caffeine out of your system. Lab studies suggest one of the active compounds in Thunder God Vine (triptolide) may slow that enzyme down. If caffeine breaks down more slowly, it can hang around longer, so the usual caffeine effects could feel stronger and last longer. Think jitteriness, a racing or pounding heart, trouble sleeping, and feeling wired or anxious.
I want to be honest about how strong this evidence is though. This is theoretical, based only on test-tube research, and it has never actually been reported in real people. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it (pun intended). Still, since Thunder God Vine itself can be toxic, please loop in your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two.
- Song W, Liu M, Wu J, Zhai H, Chen Y, Peng Z. Preclinical Pharmacokinetics of Triptolide: A Potential Antitumor Drug. Curr Drug Metab. 2019;20(2):147-154. PubMed
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
2 of 2Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.
In vitro research shows that triptolide, a constituent of thunder god vine, inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes in human microsomes. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
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.
Here's the gist for this combo. Your body relies on liver enzymes to clear caffeine, and one of those is CYP3A4. Lab studies suggest a compound in Thunder God Vine (triptolide) can slow that enzyme down. In theory, that could let caffeine linger a bit longer in your system, nudging up the usual caffeine effects: a racing or pounding heart, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, an upset stomach, or feeling anxious and wired.
I want to be honest about how soft this evidence is. This is a test-tube finding only, and it has never actually been reported in real people. So it's more of a heads-up than a red flag. Since Thunder God Vine itself can be toxic if dosed wrong, please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining the two.
- Song W, Liu M, Wu J, Zhai H, Chen Y, Peng Z. Preclinical Pharmacokinetics of Triptolide: A Potential Antitumor Drug. Curr Drug Metab. 2019;20(2):147-154. PubMed
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Thunder God Vine Also Interacts With Other Medications
Thunder God Vine has 848 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Thunder God Vine
We haven’t checked that one against Thunder God Vine yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Thunder God Vine. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate
This page covers Thunder God Vine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate page lists 208 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).
By severity: 7 major · 155 moderate · 46 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate page
“Caffeine and sodium benzoate is itself a stimulant medication, so the supplements most likely to cause trouble are the ones doing the same job. Seven of the 208 ingredients on file rate major, several of them stimulant herbs such as ephedra that can pile extra blood pressure and heart strain onto a drug already revving the nervous system.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Where Thunder God Vine and Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate 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.
#1,058 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#463 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Thunder God Vine
What is Thunder God Vine?
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus and autoimmune conditions
- Inflammation
- Skin conditions like psoriasis
- Immune-related disorders
Thunder God Vine is a Chinese herb studied mainly for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, with some promising but limited evidence. It can be toxic if prepared or dosed improperly, and may cause serious side effects, so it should only be used under medical supervision. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Other Drugs & Thunder God Vine
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Thunder God Vine — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
848 interactions
- Diltiazem ›
- Theophylline ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Metronidazole ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Naproxen ›
- Erythromycin ›
- Estradiol ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lidocaine ›
- Norethindrone ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Prednisone ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Dexamethasone ›
- Triazolam ›
- Zopiclone ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Colchicine ›
- Fentanyl ›
- Oxybutynin ›
- Prednisolone ›
- Tacrolimus ›
- Temazepam ›
- Triamcinolone ›
- Budesonide ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Clindamycin ›
- Dextromethorphan ›
- Doxorubicin ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Miconazole ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Buprenorphine ›
- Conjugated Estrogens ›
- Diazepam ›
- Everolimus ›
- Ivabradine ›
- Lofepramine ›
- Medroxyprogesterone ›
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ›
- Nortriptyline ›
- Rifampin ›
- Testosterone Undecanoate ›
- Aripiprazole ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Betamethasone ›
- Caffeine (otc Drug) ›
- Ciclesonide ›
- Cimetidine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Cyclobenzaprine ›
- Dapsone ›
- Desipramine ›
- Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate ›
- Erythromycin Stearate ›
- Etoposide ›
Showing 60 of 848 moderate interactions — see all 848 on the Thunder God Vine page.
No interaction 1,981 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Thunder God Vine against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Levothyroxine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Bupropion ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Mannitol ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Valsartan ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Spironolactone ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Phentermine, Topiramate ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Levodopa ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Venlafaxine ›
- Phenylephrine ›
- Vancomycin ›
- Codeine Sulfate ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,981 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Thunder God Vine list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate Is Linked to Lower Levels of One Nutrient
Natural Medicines records Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Thunder God Vine — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Thunder God Vine and Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate Together: Common Questions
Can you take Thunder God Vine with Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate?
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Thunder God Vine and Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate?
How serious is the Thunder God Vine and Caffeine , Sodium Benzoate interaction?
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.