Thunder God Vine + Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone
Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone brand name: Yaz.
Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone falls into 3 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone
These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 3 Interactions?
Thunder God Vine interacts with whole categories of medication. Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Thunder God Vine in 3 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 3Why this applies to Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone
Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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 situation with Yaz (ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone) and Thunder God Vine. In test tube studies, a compound in this herb called triptolide appears to slow down a liver enzyme (CYP1A2) that helps clear some medications. Since ethinyl estradiol is partly handled by that enzyme, the theory is that the herb could let estrogen levels creep up a bit. That might mean more of the usual estrogen-related complaints, like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, or bloating.
I want to be honest though: this is purely theoretical from lab work and has not actually been seen in people. The bigger concern, frankly, is that Thunder God Vine itself can be toxic and isn't recommended in pregnancy. Please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining these.
- 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) INHIBITORS
2 of 3Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS.
Inhibitors of CYP3A4 can increase the concentration of triptolide, a thunder god vine constituent, and its derivative (5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide. In vitro research shows that triptolide and (5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide are about 94% and 64% metabolized by CYP3A4, respectively.
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 thing to keep in mind with your Yaz (ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone) and Thunder God Vine. The birth control pill mildly blocks an enzyme in your liver called CYP3A4. That same enzyme is what your body uses to break down triptolide, one of the main active compounds in Thunder God Vine. So in theory, taking the two together could let more of the herb build up than expected, which may raise your chances of its side effects, things like stomach upset, diarrhea, or in serious cases liver and other organ harm.
I'll be honest, this is a theoretical concern based on lab studies, not real-world reports, so I don't want to alarm you. Still, Thunder God Vine can be genuinely toxic if dosed wrong, so please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
- Xu Y, Zhang YF, Chen XY, Zhong DF. CYP3A4 inducer and inhibitor strongly affect the pharmacokinetics of triptolide and its derivative in rats. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2018;39(8):1386-1392. PubMed
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES
3 of 3Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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.
Your birth control pill (Yaz) contains two hormones, ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone, and your body partly clears them using a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. In lab dish studies, a compound in Thunder God Vine called triptolide appears to slow down that same enzyme. In theory, if the herb blocks CYP3A4, more of the hormone could linger in your system, which might bump up estrogen-related side effects like nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, or mood changes.
The honest truth: this concern comes only from test-tube research and has never actually been seen in people, so it stays theoretical. Still, Thunder God Vine is a potent herb that already needs medical supervision. Please loop in your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two so they can keep an eye on you.
- 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone
This page covers Thunder God Vine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone page lists 245 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).
By severity: 6 major · 200 moderate · 39 minor.
Where Thunder God Vine and Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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.
#1,208 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#536 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 ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Docusate ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bupropion ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Mannitol ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Phentermine, Topiramate ›
- Spironolactone ›
- Valsartan ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Factor 7a ›
- Levodopa ›
- Hethylphenidate Hcl ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Venlafaxine ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Acetylsalicylic Acid ›
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
Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone Is Linked to Lower Levels of 7 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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 Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone Together: Common Questions
Can you take Thunder God Vine with Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Thunder God Vine and Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone?
How serious is the Thunder God Vine and Ethinyl Estradiol, Drospirenone 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.