Drug & supplement interaction

Transfer Factor + Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

Glycerol Phenylbutyrate brand name: Ravicti.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Glycerol Phenylbutyrate and Transfer Factor in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Transfer Factor at all — not against Glycerol Phenylbutyrate, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Transfer Factor safety at a glance

Transfer Factor overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in studies, but long-term safety and product quality are not well established.
Pregnancy Avoid Safety has not been established, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information exists, so avoid while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Glycerol Phenylbutyrate and Transfer Factor? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Fever Additional detail

    Transfer Factor

    “Orally or parenterally, transfer factor seems to be well tolerated. Adverse effects may include fever. Parenterally, transfer factor can cause nausea, fatigue, and tenderness, pain, and swelling at the injection site.”

    Transfer Factor · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in acne.

    6 sources cited
    1. 350. Jones JF, Minnich LL, Jeter WS, et al. Treatment of childhood combined Epstein-Barr virus/cytomegalovirus infection with oral bovine transfer factor. Lancet 1981;2:122-4. PubMed
    2. 1445. Louie E, Borkowsky W, Klesius PH, et al. Treatment of cryptosporidiosis with oral bovine transfer factor. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1987;44:329-34. PubMed
    3. 1507. Fudenberg HH. Transfer factor: past, present and future. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 1989;29:475-516. PubMed
    4. 3062. Miller LL, Spitler LE, Allen RE, Minor DR. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of transfer factor as adjuvant therapy for malignant melanoma. Cancer 1988;61:1543-9. PubMed
    5. 3063. Bukowski RM, Deodhar S, Hewlett JS, Greenstreet R. Randomized controlled trial of transfer factor in Stage II malignant melanoma. Cancer 1983;51:269-72. PubMed
    6. 7562. Lloyd AR, Hickie I, Brockman A, et al. Immunologic and psychologic therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Med 1993;94:197-203. PubMed

    “Orally or parenterally, transfer factor may cause fever.

    There is some concern that bovine-derived transfer factor that is produced from cows in countries where bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) has been reported might be contaminated with diseased tissue. Countries where BSE has been reported include Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Oman, and Belgium.”

    Transfer Factor · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in encephalitis.

    4 sources cited
    1. 1507. Fudenberg HH. Transfer factor: past, present and future. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 1989;29:475-516. PubMed
    2. 78789. Thestrup-Pedersen, K., Grunnet, E., and Zachariae, H. Transfer factor therapy in mycosis fungoides: a double-blind study. Acta Derm.Venereol. 1982;62(1):47-53. DOI
    3. 78809. Fernandez, O., Diaz, N., Morales, E., Toledo, J., Hernandez, E., Rojas, S., Madriz, X., and Lopez, Saura P. Effect of transfer factor on myelosuppression and related morbidity induced by chemotherapy in acute leukaemias. Br.J.Haematol. 1993;84(3):423-427 PubMed
    4. 1825. Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.

    Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Tiredness Additional detail

    Transfer Factor

    “Parenterally, fatigue has been reported for up to 4 hours in a patient using transfer factor.”

    Transfer Factor · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fatigue.

    1 source cited
    1. 78789. Thestrup-Pedersen, K., Grunnet, E., and Zachariae, H. Transfer factor therapy in mycosis fungoides: a double-blind study. Acta Derm.Venereol. 1982;62(1):47-53. DOI

    Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea reported in 5.4% of FDA reports for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Additional detail

    Transfer Factor

    “Parenterally, nausea has been reported in a patient following treatment with transfer factor”

    Transfer Factor · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    1 source cited
    1. 78809. Fernandez, O., Diaz, N., Morales, E., Toledo, J., Hernandez, E., Rojas, S., Madriz, X., and Lopez, Saura P. Effect of transfer factor on myelosuppression and related morbidity induced by chemotherapy in acute leukaemias. Br.J.Haematol. 1993;84(3):423-427 PubMed

    Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Transfer Factor but not commonly for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate: swelling and acne.

Effects for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Transfer Factor come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 1,358 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

How to take them

Some Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Products Have a Food Rule — Transfer Factor Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Glycerol Phenylbutyrate says to take it with food. If you take Transfer Factor on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Glycerol Phenylbutyrate with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Glycerol Phenylbutyrate products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Instruct patients to take glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid with food or formula and to administer directly into the mouth via oral syringe.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

This page covers Transfer Factor only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glycerol Phenylbutyrate page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Glycerol Phenylbutyrate page

“Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate) pulls ammonia out of the blood in people with urea cycle disorders, so a dose that never gets absorbed is not a small problem, it can let ammonia climb toward dangerous levels. That is why this list deserves real attention even though it is short.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Glycerol Phenylbutyrate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate 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 Transfer Factor
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glycerol Phenylbutyrate
Top 10%

#197 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Transfer Factor reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Transfer Factor

What is Transfer Factor?

  • Immune support
  • Preventing colds and infections
  • Allergies
  • General wellness
  • Chronic viral conditions

Transfer factors are small immune molecules taken from cow colostrum or egg yolk and sold as supplements meant to boost or 'train' the immune system. Solid human evidence for the supplement products is limited, and quality varies widely between brands. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using one, especially if you have an immune condition.

Small immune molecules (peptides) extracted from sources such as cow colostrum or hen egg yolk · Capsules, tablets, powders

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Transfer Factor is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Transfer Factor record says about it on its own.

Transfer Factor: dosing

There is no official or standardized dose for transfer factor supplements. Because products differ in how they are made and how concentrated they are, the right amount is hard to define.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount. They can help you decide if a product is appropriate and reasonable.

From our Transfer Factor monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Transfer Factor monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

What Is Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Used For?

Brand name: Ravicti

Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid — available as the brand Ravicti and as a generic — is used for the long-term (chronic) management of urea cycle disorders (UCDs). UCDs are rare inherited conditions where the body cannot properly convert ammonia into urea, causing toxic ammonia levels to build up in the blood and brain.

It is used in patients whose ammonia cannot be controlled by a low-protein diet and/or amino acid supplements alone. It must always be used alongside dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, additional dietary supplements such as essential amino acids, arginine, or citrulline. It is not for treating a sudden, severe spike in ammonia (acute hyperammonemia), and its safety and effectiveness for N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency have not been established.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (1,358 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Ammonia increased 197 reports
Vomiting 165 reports
Hyperammonaemia 158 reports
Decreased appetite 104 reports
Nausea 74 reports
See full Glycerol Phenylbutyrate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Transfer Factor

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Transfer Factor References

The 49 references that drive our Transfer Factor monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Jones JF, Minnich LL, Jeter WS, et al. Treatment of childhood combined Epstein-Barr virus/cytomegalovirus infection with oral bovine transfer factor. Lancet 1981;2:122-4. PubMed
  2. Steele RW, Myers MG, Vincent MM. Transfer factor for the prevention of varicella-zoster infection in childhood leukemia. N Engl J Med 1980;303:355-9. PubMed
  3. Louie E, Borkowsky W, Klesius PH, et al. Treatment of cryptosporidiosis with oral bovine transfer factor. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1987;44:329-34. PubMed
  4. McMeeking A, Borkowsky W, Klesius PH, et al. A controlled trial of bovine dialyzable leukocyte extract for cryptosporidiosis in patients with AIDS. J Infect Dis 1990;161:108-12. PubMed
  5. Fudenberg HH. Transfer factor: past, present and future. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 1989;29:475-516. PubMed
  6. Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
  7. Miller LL, Spitler LE, Allen RE, Minor DR. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of transfer factor as adjuvant therapy for malignant melanoma. Cancer 1988;61:1543-9. PubMed
  8. Bukowski RM, Deodhar S, Hewlett JS, Greenstreet R. Randomized controlled trial of transfer factor in Stage II malignant melanoma. Cancer 1983;51:269-72. PubMed
  9. Bowden RA, Siegel MS, Steele RW, et al. Immunologic and clinical responses to varicella-zoster virus-specific transfer factor following marrow ransplantation. J Infect Dis 1985;152:1324-7.
  10. Sharma MK, Anaraki F, Ala F. Preliminary results of transfer factor therapy of persistant cutaneous leishmania infection. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1979;12:183-90. PubMed
  11. Whyte RI, Schork MA, Sloan H, et al. Adjuvant treatment using transfer factor for bronchogenic carcinoma: long-term follow-up. Ann Thorac Surg 1992;53:391-6. PubMed
  12. Lloyd AR, Hickie I, Brockman A, et al. Immunologic and psychologic therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Med 1993;94:197-203. PubMed
  13. Spitler LE. Transfer factor therapy in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Results of long-term follow-up in 32 patients. Am J Med 1979;67:59-66.
  14. Roda E, Viza D, Pizza G, et al. Transfer factor for the treatment of HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1985;178:468-75. PubMed
  15. Basten A, McLeod JG, Pollard JD, et al. Transfer factor in treatment of multiple sclerosis. Lancet 1980;2:931-4. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Transfer Factor with Glycerol Phenylbutyrate?
We do not list a known interaction between Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Transfer Factor and Glycerol Phenylbutyrate at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Glycerol Phenylbutyrate says to take it with food. If you take Transfer Factor on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Glycerol Phenylbutyrate with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Glycerol Phenylbutyrate products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Glycerol Phenylbutyrate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Glycerol Phenylbutyrate has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Transfer Factor is not one of them. The Glycerol Phenylbutyrate interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Glycerol Phenylbutyrate and Transfer Factor?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.