Drug & supplement interaction

Tree Turmeric + Penbutolol Sulfate

Penbutolol Sulfate brand name: Levatol.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Tree Turmeric has a moderate interaction with Penbutolol Sulfate. Theoretically, taking tree turmeric along with antihypertensive drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of hypotension.

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

Tree Turmeric and Penbutolol Sulfate

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

Moderate

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Why this applies to Penbutolol Sulfate

Penbutolol Sulfate falls under ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS — the group Tree Turmeric interacts with.

Theoretically, taking tree turmeric along with antihypertensive drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research suggests that berberine, a constituent of tree turmeric, can have hypotensive effects. Also, a meta-analysis of clinical research suggests that taking berberine in combination with amlodipine (Norvasc) can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure when compared with taking amlodipine alone.
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: penbutolol (Levatol) is a beta blocker that lowers your blood pressure by slowing your heart rate and relaxing blood vessels. Tree turmeric, thanks to its berberine content, may have its own mild blood pressure lowering effect. Put the two together and they could stack up, pushing your numbers lower than you intended.

If that happens, you might notice dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, or feeling faint when you stand up, along with a slower pulse. I'll be honest though, this concern mostly comes from animal and lab research, so it's more theoretical than proven in people. Still, if you'd like to try tree turmeric, check in with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your blood pressure at home.

References
  1. Sabir M and Bhide NK. Study of some pharmacological actions of berberine. Ind J Physiol & Pharmac 1971;15(3):111-132.
  2. Chun YT, Yip TT, Lau KL, and et al. A biochemical study on the hypotensive effect of berberine in rats. Gen Pharmac 1979;10:177-182. PubMed
  3. Lan J, Zhao Y, Dong F, et al. Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;161:69-81. 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 Penbutolol Sulfate 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 Penbutolol Sulfate

This page covers Tree Turmeric only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Penbutolol Sulfate page lists 139 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Indian Snakeroot (major) and Tyramine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 113 moderate · 21 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Penbutolol Sulfate page

“Penbutolol sulfate (Levatol) is a beta-blocker that lowers blood pressure and slows the heart, and its supplement file earns real vigilance, since five of the 139 ingredients on record carry a major rating. The great majority, 119 ingredients, tug on blood pressure one way or the other, some stacking with the drug until it falls too fa…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Penbutolol Sulfate 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 Penbutolol Sulfate 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 Penbutolol Sulfate 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 Penbutolol Sulfate
Top half

#1,396 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 Penbutolol

What Is Penbutolol Used For?

Brand name: Levatol

  • Penbutolol is used to treat high blood pressure. Penbutolol is in a class of medications called beta blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure.

See full Penbutolol 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 Penbutolol Sulfate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Tree Turmeric with Penbutolol Sulfate?
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 Penbutolol Sulfate 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 Penbutolol Sulfate 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.