Drug & supplement interaction

Tree Turmeric + Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine

Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine brand names: Tecnal, Esgic Plus, Fiogesic, Triad, Repan, and others.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Tree Turmeric has a moderate interaction with Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine. Theoretically, tree turmeric might increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs that are substrates of CYP3A4.

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

Tree Turmeric and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine

Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Tree Turmeric interacts with.

Theoretically, tree turmeric might increase the levels and clinical effects of drugs that are substrates of CYP3A4.
In vitro research and preliminary clinical evidence suggest that berberine, a constituent of tree turmeric, moderately inhibits CYP3A4.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence A

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the practical takeaway for your headache combo. The berberine in tree turmeric can moderately slow down a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. The butalbital piece of this medication leans on that same enzyme to be cleared from your body. So in theory, taking concentrated berberine supplements alongside it could let butalbital build up a bit, which may leave you feeling extra drowsy, lightheaded, foggy, or unusually sedated.

I'd call this a moderate, mostly theoretical concern, not a reason to panic. The bigger flag is layering two things that can both make you sleepy. Acetaminophen isn't the worry here. Before adding a tree turmeric supplement, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor so they can check the timing and your full medication list.

References
  1. Wu X, Li Q, Xin H, Yu A, Zhong M. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61:567-72. PubMed
  2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  3. Guo, Y., Chen, Y., Tan, Z. R., Klaassen, C. D., and Zhou, H. H. Repeated administration of berberine inhibits cytochromes P450 in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2012;68(2):213-217. PubMed
  4. Hermann, R. and von, Richter O. Clinical evidence of herbal drugs as perpetrators of pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Planta Med 2012;78(13):1458-1477. 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

Tree Turmeric Also Interacts With Other Medications

Tree Turmeric has 2 major, 1,157 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine 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 Tree Turmeric

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine

This page covers Tree Turmeric only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine page lists 252 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Ephedra (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 11 major · 197 moderate · 44 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine page

“Alcohol is the interaction I would flag first for anyone taking acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine (Esgic, Fiogesic, and others). Drinking raises the risk of liver injury from the acetaminophen component, and 38 of the 252 supplement ingredients on file carry that same liver concern.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 51 real supplement products containing Tree Turmeric, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Tree Turmeric. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine too, on top of Tree Turmeric — 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 Tree Turmeric and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine 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 Tree Turmeric
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine
Steady interest

#1,501 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 Tree Turmeric

What is Tree Turmeric?

  • Blood sugar support
  • High cholesterol
  • Digestive complaints
  • Skin and eye conditions
  • Antimicrobial uses
  • Liver support

Tree turmeric (Berberis aristata) is a shrub used in traditional Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine, valued mainly for its berberine content. Early research suggests possible benefits for blood sugar and cholesterol, but high-quality human evidence is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Tree Turmeric monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Acetaminophen, Butalbital, and Caffeine

What Is Acetaminophen, Butalbital, and Caffeine Used For?

Brand names: Tecnal, Esgic Plus, Fiogesic, Triad, Repan, Esgic, Fioricet

This combination product — available as capsules, tablets, and oral solution under various names including Fioricet — is used to relieve the symptoms of tension headaches (also called muscle contraction headaches).

All supported products, including Fioricet capsules and the oral solution, share this same indication. Because butalbital can be habit-forming, extended or repeated use is not recommended, and these products are not established as safe or effective for treating headaches that come back frequently over time.

See full Acetaminophen, Butalbital, and Caffeine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Tree Turmeric

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

2Major
1,157Moderate
0Minor
1,670No known interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

1,157 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,157 moderate interactions — see all 1,157 on the Tree Turmeric page.

No interaction 1,670 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 Tree Turmeric and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Tree Turmeric with Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine?
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 Tree Turmeric and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine 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

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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.