Drug & supplement interaction

Thunder God Vine + Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)

Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) brand name: Akynzeo.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) falls into 2 drug categories that Thunder God Vine can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, CYP3A4 inhibitors might increase the levels and adverse effects of thunder god vine constituents.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Thunder God Vine and Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)

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. Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) 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).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)

Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS — the group Thunder God Vine interacts with.

Theoretically, CYP3A4 inhibitors might increase the levels and adverse effects of thunder god vine constituents.
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.
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 key thing to understand: in this pairing, it's the Thunder God Vine that may build up, not your Akynzeo. Netupitant (one of the two ingredients in Akynzeo) blocks the CYP3A4 enzyme, and that same enzyme is what your body uses to break down triptolide, an active compound in Thunder God Vine. When you slow down that cleanup, the herb's levels can climb higher than expected.

Why that matters: Thunder God Vine can already be toxic if dosed wrong, and higher levels could mean more digestive upset, liver strain, or other serious effects. Keep in mind this concern is theoretical, based on lab and pharmacology data rather than real patient reports. Still, since you're going through chemo, please loop in your oncologist or pharmacist before combining these.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, thunder god vine might increase the levels and clinical effects of 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.
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 gist for Akynzeo (netupitant/palonosetron). The netupitant part of this combo is cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Lab studies suggest that triptolide, one of the active compounds in Thunder God Vine, can block that same enzyme. If it slows down how your body breaks netupitant down, the drug could build up a bit and you might notice more of its usual side effects, like headache, constipation, fatigue, or mild stomach upset.

That said, this is purely theoretical. It's based on test-tube research, not on real people, so we honestly don't know if it matters in everyday use. Since Thunder God Vine itself can be toxic and Akynzeo is used during chemo, please loop in your oncology team or pharmacist before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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.

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

Thunder God Vine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Thunder God Vine has 850 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 850 No known interaction 1,980 (incl. Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Thunder God Vine

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)

This page covers Thunder God Vine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) page lists 158 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major), St. John's Wort (major) and 5-htp (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 113 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) page

“Getting Akynzeo (netupitant and palonosetron) to work is the difference between finishing a chemotherapy cycle comfortably and losing days to nausea, so this list warrants genuine care. Most of it involves a liver enzyme, CYP3A4, that clears netupitant.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Thunder God Vine and Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) 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 Thunder God Vine
Steady interest

#1,102 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)
Top 5%

#48 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 Thunder God Vine

What is Thunder God Vine?

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.

Read the full Thunder God Vine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Netupitant and Palonosetron

What Is Netupitant and Palonosetron Used For?

Brand name: Akynzeo

Netupitant and palonosetron helps prevent nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy in adults. It is used together with dexamethasone, a steroid medicine. It covers both the first day (acute phase) and the days after (delayed phase).

Akynzeo capsules are used for initial and repeat courses of chemotherapy, including highly emetogenic (strongly nausea-causing) chemotherapy. Akynzeo for injection and Akynzeo injection are used for highly emetogenic chemotherapy only. They have not been studied with anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

See full Netupitant and Palonosetron drug information
Keep checking

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.

0Major
850Moderate
0Minor
1,979No known interaction
850 Moderate 1,979 No interaction
Moderate

850 interactions

Showing 60 of 850 moderate interactions — see all 850 on the Thunder God Vine page.

No interaction 1,979 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.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,979 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Thunder God Vine list.

See the full Thunder God Vine interactions page
See every supplement checked against Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral), 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
Thunder God Vine monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral), ranked by severity Netupitant and Palonosetron drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Thunder God Vine and Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Thunder God Vine with Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Thunder God Vine and Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral)?
Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) belongs to more than one drug category, and Thunder God Vine interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Thunder God Vine and Netupitant, Palonosetron (Oral) 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.