Drug & supplement interaction

Umckaloabo + Acyclovir

Acyclovir brand names: Zovirax, Zovirax Injection, Sitavig, Avaclyr.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Umckaloabo and Acyclovir 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 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.

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Interaction report

Umckaloabo and Acyclovir

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 Acyclovir and Umckaloabo 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.

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.

Umckaloabo safety at a glance

Umckaloabo overall Use caution Generally well tolerated for short-term use, but quality and standardization vary by product.
Pregnancy Avoid Safety has not been established, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is not enough safety information, so avoid use while breastfeeding.

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

Still wondering about combining Acyclovir and Umckaloabo? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Acyclovir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Acyclovir is filed under 6 classifications — including organic anion transporter 1 (oat1) substrates, topical drugs, nephrotoxic drugs. Umckaloabo has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being immunosuppressants (moderate) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (minor) — and none of Acyclovir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Umckaloabo Does Interact With Other Medications

Umckaloabo has 121 moderate, 120 minor known drug interactions in our database — Acyclovir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 Minor 120 No known interaction 2,589 (incl. Acyclovir)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Umckaloabo

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Umckaloabo and Acyclovir May Share a Side Effect

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.

  • A skin rash reported in 3.7% of FDA reports for Acyclovir Additional detail

    Umckaloabo

    “Orally, Pelargonium sidoides is generally well tolerated.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally: Allergic skin rash, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset.”

    Umckaloabo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    Acyclovir

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

Reported for Umckaloabo but not commonly for Acyclovir: stomach upset, pancreatitis, an allergic reaction and liver problems.

Effects for Acyclovir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Umckaloabo come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 114,761 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Acyclovir 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.

Overlapping uses

What Acyclovir Is Prescribed For, and What Umckaloabo Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Acyclovir is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Umckaloabo is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Acyclovir is prescribed for: Acyclovir treats infections caused by herpes viruses. Depending on the form, it is used for cold sores (herpes labialis), genital herpes (initial episodes and recurrent flare-ups), shingles (herpes zoster), and chickenpox (varicella). It can also be used long-term to suppress recurrent genital herpes outbreaks. Some forms are approved for more serious situations: acyclovir injection is used in hospital settings for herpes simplex encephalitis (herpes infection of the brain), neonatal herpes (in newborns), and herpes or shingles infections in immunocompromised patients.

Read the rest of what Acyclovir is prescribed for

Avaclyr ophthalmic ointment is specifically indicated for acute herpetic keratitis (a herpes ulcer on the cornea of the eye). Sitavig buccal tablet and Zovirax cream are specifically indicated for recurrent cold sores in immunocompetent adults.

Umckaloabo has been studied for:

  • Genital herpes studied, not established Umckaloabo has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Umckaloabo for genital herpes

    Although there has been interest in using oral Pelargonium sidoides for genital herpes, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of Pelargonium sidoides for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Acyclovir on your own; if you are taking Umckaloabo for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Umckaloabo or Acyclovir

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Umckaloabo or Acyclovir, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acyclovir

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

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Aristolochia (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 23 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acyclovir page

“Kidney strain is the risk to understand first. Acyclovir (Zovirax) can stress the kidneys on its own, and a few ingredients here, Siberian cocklebur especially, are toxic to kidney tissue, so pairing them could compound the harm.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acyclovir interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 77 real supplement products containing Umckaloabo, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Umckaloabo. Even though Umckaloabo itself has no known interaction with Acyclovir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Umckaloabo and Acyclovir 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 Umckaloabo
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acyclovir
Top 5%

#59 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 Umckaloabo reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Umckaloabo and Acyclovir 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 Umckaloabo

What is Umckaloabo?

Umckaloabo
  • Acute bronchitis
  • Common cold
  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throat
  • Upper respiratory infections

Umckaloabo is a root extract from a South African geranium that is most studied for short-term relief of acute bronchitis and other respiratory infections. Some clinical research suggests it may help symptoms resolve a bit faster, but the quality of evidence is mixed and it is not a cure. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a chronic illness.

Pelargonium sidoides · Geraniaceae · Roots · Liquid extract (drops), syrup, tablets, lozenges

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

Umckaloabo: dosing

There is no single official dose of Umckaloabo for everyone, and the right amount depends on the specific product and its strength. Most research has used standardized extracts taken a few times a day for a short period, usually during an active respiratory infection.Because formulations differ, the safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount. Doses for children differ from those for adults.

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

Read the full Umckaloabo monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Acyclovir

What Is Acyclovir Used For?

Brand names: Zovirax, Zovirax Injection, Sitavig, Avaclyr

Acyclovir treats infections caused by herpes viruses. Depending on the form, it is used for cold sores (herpes labialis), genital herpes (initial episodes and recurrent flare-ups), shingles (herpes zoster), and chickenpox (varicella). It can also be used long-term to suppress recurrent genital herpes outbreaks.

Some forms are approved for more serious situations: acyclovir injection is used in hospital settings for herpes simplex encephalitis (herpes infection of the brain), neonatal herpes (in newborns), and herpes or shingles infections in immunocompromised patients. Avaclyr ophthalmic ointment is specifically indicated for acute herpetic keratitis (a herpes ulcer on the cornea of the eye). Sitavig buccal tablet and Zovirax cream are specifically indicated for recurrent cold sores in immunocompetent adults.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Acyclovir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (114,761 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 8,029 reports
Diarrhea 7,348 reports
Pneumonia 5,700 reports
Nausea 5,643 reports
Fever 4,989 reports
See full Acyclovir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Umckaloabo

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

0Major
121Moderate
120Minor
2,588No known interaction
121 Moderate 120 Minor 2,588 No interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

Showing 60 of 121 moderate interactions — see all 121 on the Umckaloabo page.

Minor

120 interactions

Showing 60 of 120 minor interactions — see all 120 on the Umckaloabo page.

No interaction 2,588 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,588 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Umckaloabo list.

See the full Umckaloabo interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acyclovir, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Umckaloabo References

The 16 references that drive our Umckaloabo 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. Chuchalin AG, Berman B, Lehmacher W. Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults with a pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630): A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Explore 2005;1:437-45. PubMed
  2. Kolodziej H, Kayser O, Radtke OA, et al. Pharmacological profile of extracts of Pelargonium sidoides and their constituents. Phytomedicine 2003;10 Suppl 4:18-24. PubMed
  3. Bereznoy VV, Riley DS, Wassmer G, Heger M. Efficacy of extract of Pelargonium sidoides in children with acute non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus tonsillopharyngitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Altern Ther Health Med 2003;9
  4. Kolodziej H, Kiderlen AF. In vitro evaluation of antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities of Pelargonium reniforme, Pelargonium sidoides and the related herbal drug preparation EPs 7630. Phytomedicine 2007;14 Suppl 6:18-26. PubMed
  5. Koch E, Biber A. Treatment of rats with the Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 has no effect on blood coagulation parameters or on the pharmacokinetics of warfarin. Phytomedicine 2007;14 Suppl 6:40-5. PubMed
  6. Conrad A, Hansmann C, Engels I, et al. Extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) improves phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and intracellular killing of human peripheral blood phagocytes in vitro. Phytomedicine 2007;14 Suppl 6:46-51. PubMed
  7. Matthys H, Kamin W, Funk P, Heger M. Pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630) in the treatment of acute bronchitis in adults and children. Phytomedicine 2007;14 Suppl 6:69-73. PubMed
  8. Conrad A, Jung I, Tioua D, et al. Extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) inhibits the interactions of group A-streptococci and host epithelia in vitro. Phytomedicine 2007;14 Suppl 6:52-9. PubMed
  9. Matthys, H., Eisebitt, R., Seith, B., and Heger, M. Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2003;10 Suppl 4:7-17. PubMed
  10. de Boer, H. J., Hagemann, U., Bate, J., and Meyboom, R. H. Allergic reactions to medicines derived from Pelargonium species. Drug Saf 2007;30(8):677-680. PubMed
  11. Teschke R, Frenzel C, Schulze J, Eickhoff A. Spontaneous reports of primarily suspected herbal hepatotoxicity by Pelargonium sidoides: was causality adequately ascertained? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2012;63(1):1-9. PubMed
  12. Teschke R, Frenzel C, Wolff A, et al. Initially purported hepatotoxicity by Pelargonium sidoides: the dilemma of pharmacovigilance and proposals for improvement. Ann Hepatol 2012;11(4):500-12. DOI
  13. Riley DS, Lizogub VG, Zimmermann A, Funk P, Lehmacher W. Efficacy and tolerability of high-dose Pelargonium extract in patients with the common cold. Altern Ther Health Med 2018;24(2):16-26.
  14. Matthys H, Pliskevich DA, Bondarchuk OM, Malek FA, Tribanek M, Kieser M. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of EPs 7630 in adults with COPD. Respir Med 2013;107(5):691-701. PubMed
  15. Willcox M, Simpson C, Wilding S, et al. Pelargonium sidoides root extract for the treatment of acute cough due to lower respiratory tract infection in adults: a feasibility double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021;21 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 Umckaloabo and Acyclovir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Umckaloabo with Acyclovir?
We do not list a known interaction between Umckaloabo and Acyclovir. 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 Umckaloabo and Acyclovir have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to one 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.
Are Umckaloabo and Acyclovir used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Umckaloabo in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Acyclovir is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Umckaloabo and Acyclovir combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Acyclovir is filed under 6 classifications, and Umckaloabo has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Acyclovir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Umckaloabo interact with any other medications?
Yes. Umckaloabo has 241 documented drug interactions in our database — Acyclovir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Acyclovir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Acyclovir has documented interactions with 37 supplements in our database — Umckaloabo is not one of them. The Acyclovir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Umckaloabo monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Acyclovir drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Acyclovir supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Acyclovir, 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 References The 16 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Acyclovir and Umckaloabo?

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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.