Drug & supplement interaction

Tragacanth + Auranofin

Auranofin brand name: Ridaura.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Tragacanth has a moderate interaction with Auranofin. Theoretically, tragacanth might alter absorption of oral drugs.

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

Tragacanth and Auranofin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ORAL DRUGS

Why this applies to Auranofin

Auranofin falls under ORAL DRUGS — the group Tragacanth interacts with.

Theoretically, tragacanth might alter absorption of oral drugs.
Tragacanth contains hydrocolloidal fiber which can decrease, increase, or not affect oral drug absorption. To avoid changes in absorption, take tragacanth 30-60 minutes after oral medications.
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 simple version. Tragacanth is a plant gum that swells into a thick gel when it meets water in your stomach. That gel can act like a sponge or a barrier and may grab onto a pill that's sitting in your gut, so a little less (or sometimes more) of your Auranofin (Ridaura) could get absorbed. Auranofin is a gold-based arthritis medicine, not a prodrug, so the worry is mostly about getting the right amount into your system.

Honestly, this is theoretical, based on how the gum behaves rather than real cases. If absorption dipped, your joint pain and stiffness might not improve as well. To stay safe, simply separate them: take your Auranofin first, then the tragacanth 30 to 60 minutes later. Check with your pharmacist if you're unsure.

References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

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

Tragacanth Also Interacts With Other Medications

Tragacanth has 2,021 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Auranofin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Tragacanth

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Auranofin

This page covers Tragacanth only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Auranofin page lists 37 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Alfalfa (moderate), Angelica Archangelica (moderate), Arrach (moderate) and Bergamot (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 26 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Auranofin page

“Auranofin (Ridaura) is a gold compound taken by mouth for rheumatoid arthritis, and its interaction list deserves real respect rather than a quick skim. Two patterns run through nearly everything on it.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Auranofin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 34 real supplement products containing Tragacanth, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Tragacanth. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Auranofin too, on top of Tragacanth — 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 Tragacanth and Auranofin 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 Tragacanth
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Auranofin
Steady interest

#1,709 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 Tragacanth

What is Tragacanth?

Tragacanth
  • Soothing sore throat and cough
  • Digestive upset and constipation
  • Thickening or binding agent in products
  • Skin soothing in creams and pastes

Tragacanth is a plant gum used mainly as a thickener and emulsifier in foods, cosmetics, and medicines, and traditionally to soothe the throat and gut. There is very little solid human research showing it treats any specific condition. It is generally considered safe in food amounts, but anyone with allergies or who is pregnant or breastfeeding should check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Tragacanth monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Auranofin

What Is Auranofin Used For?

Brand name: Ridaura

Auranofin capsules — sold as both Ridaura and Auranofin — are used to manage active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Specifically, they're for people whose arthritis hasn't improved enough with full doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, or who couldn't tolerate those medicines.

It works best alongside a full treatment program — not as a stand-alone fix. It's important to know that it doesn't work quickly: you may not notice improvement for three to six months, and it cannot reverse joint or bone damage that has already occurred.

See full Auranofin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Tragacanth

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

0Major
2,021Moderate
0Minor
808No known interaction
Moderate

2,021 interactions

Showing 60 of 2,021 moderate interactions — see all 2,021 on the Tragacanth page.

No interaction 808 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Tragacanth and Auranofin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Tragacanth with Auranofin?
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.
How serious is the Tragacanth and Auranofin 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 Auranofin and Tragacanth?

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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.