Thunder God Vine + nilotinib
nilotinib brand name: Tasigna.
nilotinib falls into 3 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 reportThunder God Vine and nilotinib
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. nilotinib 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 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS
1 of 3Why this applies to nilotinib
nilotinib falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS — the group Thunder God Vine interacts with.
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 angle that matters with this pairing: nilotinib doesn't just get broken down by the CYP3A4 enzyme, it also blocks it. Thunder God Vine's active compounds (mainly triptolide) lean heavily on that same enzyme to be cleared from your body. So if nilotinib slows CYP3A4 down, the herb's compounds could pile up higher than expected.
That matters because Thunder God Vine can be genuinely toxic when levels run high, affecting the gut, liver, and other organs. To be fair, this concern comes from lab studies and pharmacology theory, not real patient reports, so it's a theoretical caution. Still, with a serious cancer drug like nilotinib in the mix, please don't combine these on your own. Check with your oncologist or pharmacist first.
- 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
2 of 3nilotinib 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: your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to clear nilotinib (Tasigna) from your system. Thunder God Vine contains a compound, triptolide, that may slow this same enzyme down. If that happens, nilotinib could build up to higher levels than intended, and that's the concern here.
Why does that matter? Nilotinib is a drug where blood levels really count. Too much can raise the risk of a serious heart rhythm change (called QT prolongation), as well as more nausea, fatigue, low blood counts, or liver issues. The honest part: this interaction is only theoretical, seen in lab dishes and never confirmed in real people. Still, with a cancer medicine this sensitive, please don't pair them without checking with your oncologist or pharmacist first.
- 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
IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS
3 of 3nilotinib also falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS.
Large doses of thunder god vine may suppress immune function.
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 if you take nilotinib (Tasigna) for CML. While nilotinib is really a targeted cancer drug rather than a classic immune suppressant, it can lower your blood counts and weaken your immune defenses as part of how it works. Thunder God Vine, in larger supplement doses, may quiet the immune system too. So the worry is an additive one: stacking the two could leave you more open to infections or push your blood counts lower than expected.
I'll be honest, this concern is theoretical, based on how these compounds behave rather than on real patient reports, so don't panic. But Thunder God Vine can be genuinely toxic if dosed wrong, and nilotinib is a serious medication. Please loop in your oncologist or pharmacist before combining them.
- Zhen QS, Ye X, Wei ZJ. Recent progress in research on Tripterygium: a male antifertility plant. Contraception 1995;51:121-9.. PubMed
- Chen Y, Lu M, Feng Y, Gao Q. The effect and safety of low-dose Tripterygium wilfordii in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022;101(52):e32504. 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 nilotinib 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 nilotinib
This page covers Thunder God Vine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the nilotinib page lists 221 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Beer (major) and Cesium (major).
By severity: 11 major · 176 moderate · 34 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the nilotinib page
“Nilotinib (Tasigna) is a targeted therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia, cleared by the liver enzyme CYP3A4 and known to affect heart rhythm, so its supplement list calls for genuine care. Eleven of the 221 ingredients here carry a major rating, and those belong at the top of your reading.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Where Thunder God Vine and nilotinib 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.
#1,116 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,584 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.
About Nilotinib
What Is Nilotinib Used For?
Brand name: Tasigna
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Nilotinib is used to treat certain types of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) who have recently found to have this condition in adults and children 1 year of age and older. It is also used to treat certain types of CML in adults whose disease could not be treated successfully with imatinib (Gleevec) or adults who cannot take imatinib because of side effects. Nilotinib is also used to treat certain types of CML in children 1 year of age or older whose disease could not be treated successfully with other tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies or who cannot take these medications because of side effects. Nilotinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps to stop or slow the spread of cancer cells.
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 ›
- Aspirin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Docusate ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Mannitol ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Acetylsalicylic Acid ›
- Spironolactone ›
- Phentermine, Topiramate ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Pizotifen ›
- Valsartan ›
- Venlafaxine ›
- Levodopa ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Hexobarbitone ›
- Lenvatinib ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Canagliflozin, Metformin ›
- Magnesium Hydroxide (otc Drug) ›
- Flutemetamol F-18 ›
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
Taking Thunder God Vine and nilotinib Together: Common Questions
Can you take Thunder God Vine with nilotinib?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Thunder God Vine and nilotinib?
How serious is the Thunder God Vine and nilotinib 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.