Thunder God Vine + tipranavir
tipranavir brand name: Aptivus.
tipranavir 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 tipranavir
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. tipranavir 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 tipranavir
tipranavir 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 gist with tipranavir (Aptivus) and Thunder God Vine. This herb contains a compound called triptolide that, in test-tube studies, slowed down a liver enzyme called CYP1A2. Tipranavir is partly handled by that same enzyme, and it is an active drug (not a prodrug), so if the herb blocks that pathway, tipranavir levels could theoretically creep up. Higher levels might mean more side effects, like stomach upset, diarrhea, rash, or stress on the liver.
That said, this is only a theoretical, lab-based concern and has never been reported in real people. Thunder God Vine also carries its own toxicity risks. Since your HIV regimen is too important to gamble with, please run any herbal supplement past your doctor 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
CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INHIBITORS
2 of 3tipranavir 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 key thing with this pairing: tipranavir (Aptivus), boosted with ritonavir, strongly blocks an enzyme in your body called CYP3A4. That same enzyme is what breaks down the active compounds in Thunder God Vine, especially triptolide. So when you slow that enzyme down, those herb compounds can pile up instead of clearing out.
In plain terms, the herb's toxicity could be amplified. Thunder God Vine can already cause stomach upset, diarrhea, liver problems, and other serious effects, and higher levels make those more likely. I'll be honest: this is a theoretical concern based on lab work, not real patient reports, so the strength is limited. Still, since both your HIV therapy and this herb carry real risks, please check with your pharmacist or doctor 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 3tipranavir 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 tipranavir (Aptivus): your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to help break it down. Lab studies suggest that triptolide, one of the active compounds in Thunder God Vine, may slow that same enzyme down. If that happens, tipranavir could build up more than expected, which might bump up side effects like nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset, or rising liver enzymes (tipranavir already carries liver warnings).
I want to be honest about how shaky this is, though. This concern comes only from test-tube research and has never actually been reported in people, so it's theoretical. Given that Thunder God Vine can be toxic on its own and tipranavir is a serious HIV medication, please loop in your doctor or pharmacist before combining them rather than guessing.
- 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 tipranavir 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 tipranavir
This page covers Thunder God Vine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the tipranavir page lists 212 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).
By severity: 3 major · 165 moderate · 44 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the tipranavir page
“Keeping tipranavir (Aptivus) at a steady blood level is what keeps HIV suppressed, so this is a supplement list that deserves genuine care, and the three major-rated entries come first. St.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Where Thunder God Vine and tipranavir 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.
#959 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,448 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 Tipranavir
What Is Tipranavir Used For?
Brand name: Aptivus
Aptivus (tipranavir) is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and in pediatric patients weighing 36 kg or more who have already tried other HIV medications and whose virus has become resistant to more than one protease inhibitor. It must always be taken together with ritonavir to work properly.
Aptivus is not recommended for people who have never been treated for HIV before. It works best when combined with other active HIV medications, and a resistance test is usually done first to confirm the virus will respond to it.
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 ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Docusate ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Metformin ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Acetylsalicylic Acid ›
- Thyroid Hormone ›
- Mannitol ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Phentermine, Topiramate ›
- Spironolactone ›
- Levodopa ›
- Levothyroxine Sodium ›
- Dexmethylphenidate ›
- Valsartan ›
- Pizotifen ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Venlafaxine ›
- Aspirin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Codeine Phosphate, Magnesium Hydroxide ›
- Canagliflozin, Metformin ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Atenolol ›
- Cefaclor ›
- Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide ›
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 tipranavir Together: Common Questions
Can you take Thunder God Vine with tipranavir?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Thunder God Vine and tipranavir?
How serious is the Thunder God Vine and tipranavir 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.