Drug & supplement interaction

Tree Turmeric + Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine

Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine brand name: Actifed Allergy.

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

Tree Turmeric has a moderate interaction with Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine. Theoretically, use of tree turmeric along with CNS depressants might increase the risk of additive therapeutic and adverse effects.

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

Tree Turmeric and Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine

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

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine

Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Tree Turmeric interacts with.

Theoretically, use of tree turmeric along with CNS depressants might increase the risk of additive therapeutic and adverse effects.
Animal research suggests that berberine, a constituent of tree turmeric, can have sedative effects.
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

This combo product pairs diphenhydramine (a sedating antihistamine, the same ingredient in many nighttime sleep aids) with pseudoephedrine (a stimulating decongestant). The concern here is mostly with the diphenhydramine half. Animal studies hint that berberine, the active compound in tree turmeric, may have a mild calming or sedative effect of its own. Stacked on top of diphenhydramine, that could in theory add up to more drowsiness, grogginess, dizziness, or trouble concentrating.

To be honest, this is a theoretical worry based only on lab and animal data, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, if you feel unusually sleepy or foggy taking both, ease up and check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Janbaz KH, Gilani AH. Studies on preventive and curative effects of berberine on chemical-induced hepatotoxicity in rodents. Fitoterapia 2000;71:25-33.. PubMed
  2. Shanbhag, S. M., Kulkarni, H. J., and Gaitonde, B. B. Pharmacological actions of berberine on the central nervous system. Jpn.J Pharmacol 1970;20(4):482-487. PubMed
  3. Peng, W. H., Hsieh, M. T., and Wu, C. R. Effect of long-term administration of berberine on scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats. Jpn J Pharmacol 1997;74(3):261-266. DOI
  4. Sabir M and Bhide NK. Study of some pharmacological actions of berberine. Ind J Physiol & Pharmac 1971;15(3):111-132.

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 Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 1,157 No known interaction 1,671 (incl. Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine)
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 Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine

This page covers Tree Turmeric only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine page lists 185 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Ephedra (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 13 major · 150 moderate · 22 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine page

“This medicine pulls in two directions at once, which is exactly why the supplement list for diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine (Actifed Allergy) is not one to skim. The antihistamine half is sedating, so anything else that slows the brain deepens drowsiness; beer, wine, and kava all carry major ratings, with alcohol the best documented.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine 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 Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine 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 Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine
Steady interest

#1,741 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
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
2 Major 1,157 Moderate 1,670 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,670 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Tree Turmeric list.

See the full Tree Turmeric interactions page
See every supplement checked against Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine, 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
Tree Turmeric monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine, ranked by severity 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 Tree Turmeric and Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Tree Turmeric with Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine?
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 Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine 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 Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine and Tree Turmeric?

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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.