Drug & supplement interaction

Tinospora Cordifolia + Formoterol

Formoterol brand names: Foradil Aerolizer, Atimos Modulite, Oxis Turbohaler, Perforomist, Foradil Certihaler.

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

Formoterol falls into 3 drug categories that Tinospora Cordifolia can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, Tinospora cordifolia might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Tinospora Cordifolia and Formoterol

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Tinospora Cordifolia interacts with whole categories of medication. Formoterol falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Tinospora Cordifolia in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Formoterol

Formoterol falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) SUBSTRATES — the group Tinospora Cordifolia interacts with.

Theoretically, Tinospora cordifolia might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
In vitro research shows that Tinospora cordifolia extract inhibits CYP2D6 at high concentrations. However, 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 short version on combining Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) with your Formoterol inhaler. Your body uses an enzyme called CYP2D6 to help clear formoterol. In lab tests (not in real people), this herb appears to slow that enzyme down when used at high concentrations. If that happened in the body, formoterol could build up a bit and you might notice more of its usual effects, like a fast or pounding heartbeat, shakiness or tremor, nervousness, or a headache.

That said, this is only a theoretical concern based on test-tube research, and it has never actually been reported in people. So I wouldn't panic. Still, because there have also been reports of liver injury with this herb, I'd check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it rather than deciding on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sahu R, Ahmed T, Sangana R, Punde R, Subudhi BB. Effect of Tinospora cordifolia aqua-alcoholic extract on pharmacokinetic of glibenclamide in rat: an herb-drug interaction study. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018;151:310-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.01.010. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Formoterol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, Tinospora cordifolia might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19.
In vitro research shows that Tinospora cordifolia extract inhibits CYP2C19 at high concentrations. However, 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: Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) has been shown in lab dish studies only to slow down a liver enzyme called CYP2C19. The thinking is that blocking this enzyme could let certain medicines build up in the body. Since formoterol falls into that broad CYP2C19 group, the concern is that its levels might rise a little.

Honestly, though, I'd keep this in perspective. Formoterol is mainly cleared through other pathways, this was never seen in real people, and it only happened at very high concentrations in a test tube. If levels did climb, you might notice more of formoterol's usual effects like a fast or pounding heartbeat, shakiness, or jitteriness. Mention the Giloy to your pharmacist or doctor, especially because of its possible liver concerns, but don't change your inhaler on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sahu R, Ahmed T, Sangana R, Punde R, Subudhi BB. Effect of Tinospora cordifolia aqua-alcoholic extract on pharmacokinetic of glibenclamide in rat: an herb-drug interaction study. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018;151:310-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.01.010. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Formoterol also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, Tinospora cordifolia might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
In vitro research shows that Tinospora cordifolia extract inhibits CYP2C9. Animal research shows that Tinospora cordifolia extract 400 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days reduces the clearance and increases plasma levels of glyburide, a CYP2C9 substrate. However, 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 basic idea: Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) may slow down a liver enzyme called CYP2C9, which helps clear certain medicines from your body. Formoterol is on the list of drugs that enzyme handles, so in theory the supplement could let a little more formoterol linger in your system. If levels crept up, you might notice more of its usual side effects, things like a fast or pounding heartbeat, shakiness or tremor in your hands, jitteriness, headache, or muscle cramps.

That said, I want to keep this in perspective. This warning comes only from lab and animal studies, not from people, so it's theoretical at this point. Still, since liver concerns have been linked to Giloy, it's worth running it past your pharmacist or doctor before combining the two.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sahu R, Ahmed T, Sangana R, Punde R, Subudhi BB. Effect of Tinospora cordifolia aqua-alcoholic extract on pharmacokinetic of glibenclamide in rat: an herb-drug interaction study. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018;151:310-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.01.010. 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

Tinospora Cordifolia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Tinospora Cordifolia has 611 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Formoterol one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 611 No known interaction 2,219 (incl. Formoterol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Tinospora Cordifolia

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Tinospora Cordifolia. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Formoterol

This page covers Tinospora Cordifolia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Formoterol page lists 103 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,3-dmaa (moderate), Acacia Rigidula (moderate), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 84 moderate · 19 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Formoterol page

“Formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist) is the long-acting half of many asthma and COPD inhalers, keeping airways open for hours, and its supplement list is calmer than its length suggests. None of the 103 ingredients on file is rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Formoterol interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Tinospora Cordifolia as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 393 real supplement products containing Tinospora Cordifolia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Tinospora Cordifolia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Formoterol too, on top of Tinospora Cordifolia — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Tinospora Cordifolia and Formoterol 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 Tinospora Cordifolia
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Formoterol
Steady interest

#1,620 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 Tinospora Cordifolia

What is Tinospora Cordifolia?

  • Immune support
  • Fever
  • Blood sugar support
  • General wellness and 'rejuvenation'
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Inflammation

Tinospora cordifolia, known as Guduchi or Giloy in Ayurvedic medicine, is a climbing plant traditionally used to support immunity and treat fevers. Early laboratory and small human studies suggest possible immune and blood sugar effects, but high-quality evidence is limited, and there have been reports of liver injury. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Tinospora Cordifolia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Formoterol Oral Inhalation

What Is Formoterol Oral Inhalation Used For?

Brand names: Foradil Aerolizer, Atimos Modulite, Oxis Turbohaler, Perforomist, Foradil Certihaler

Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is used for the long-term maintenance treatment of airway narrowing (bronchoconstriction) in adults with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is taken twice daily — morning and evening — as a regular, ongoing treatment.

Important limits: This medication is not for relieving sudden COPD flare-ups or breathlessness in the moment, and it is not approved to treat asthma. A separate short-acting inhaler should always be on hand for sudden symptoms.

See full Formoterol Oral Inhalation drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Tinospora Cordifolia

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Tinospora Cordifolia — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
611Moderate
0Minor
2,218No known interaction
611 Moderate 2,218 No interaction
Moderate

611 interactions

Showing 60 of 611 moderate interactions — see all 611 on the Tinospora Cordifolia page.

No interaction 2,218 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Tinospora Cordifolia against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,218 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Tinospora Cordifolia list.

See the full Tinospora Cordifolia interactions page
See every supplement checked against Formoterol, 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
Tinospora Cordifolia monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Formoterol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Formoterol, ranked by severity Formoterol Oral Inhalation 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 Tinospora Cordifolia and Formoterol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Tinospora Cordifolia with Formoterol?
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 3 interactions listed for Tinospora Cordifolia and Formoterol?
Formoterol belongs to more than one drug category, and Tinospora Cordifolia 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 Tinospora Cordifolia and Formoterol 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

Still Have a Question About Formoterol and Tinospora Cordifolia?

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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.