Drug & supplement interaction

Uva Ursi + Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine

Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine brand name: Bancap w/ Codeine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Uva Ursi has a moderate interaction with Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine. Theoretically, uva ursi may increase levels of drugs metabolized by glucuronidation.

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

Uva Ursi and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine

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

Moderate

GLUCURONIDATED DRUGS

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine

Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine falls under GLUCURONIDATED DRUGS — the group Uva Ursi interacts with.

Theoretically, uva ursi may increase levels of drugs metabolized by glucuronidation.
In vitro, uva ursi extract appears to strongly inhibit UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 (UGT1A1). However, uva ursi extract does not appear to inhibit UGT1A1 in animal models. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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 short version: this combo product (acetaminophen with butalbital and codeine) is partly cleared by a process called glucuronidation, and acetaminophen in particular leans on it. In a test-tube study, uva ursi blocked one of those clearing enzymes (UGT1A1). On paper, that could mean acetaminophen lingers a bit longer in your body, which over time might add a little extra strain on the liver.

But I want to be honest about how thin this evidence is. It was only seen in the lab, the effect disappeared in animal studies, and it has never been shown in people. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. The bigger picture is that uva ursi itself can be hard on the liver, and so can acetaminophen, so pairing them long-term isn't ideal. Please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Park JB, Kim D, Min JS, et al. Identification and characterization of in vitro inhibitors against UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 in uva-ursi extracts and evaluation of in vivo uva-ursi-drug interactions. Food Chem Toxicol. 2018;120:651-661. 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

Uva Ursi Also Interacts With Other Medications

Uva Ursi has 739 moderate, 63 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine 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 Uva Ursi

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine

This page covers Uva Ursi only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine page lists 240 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), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 9 major · 191 moderate · 40 minor.

Open the Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,423 real supplement products containing Uva Ursi, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Uva Ursi. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine too, on top of Uva Ursi — 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 Uva Ursi and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine 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 Uva Ursi
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine
Top 25%

#533 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 Uva Ursi

What is Uva Ursi?

Uva Ursi
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Urinary discomfort
  • Mild diuretic
  • Kidney stones
  • Skin conditions

Uva ursi is a traditional herb used mainly for urinary tract infections, and its leaves contain a compound called arbutin that may have antimicrobial effects in the urine. Evidence in people is limited, and because high doses or long-term use may be harmful to the liver and could be toxic, it should only be used short-term and with guidance from a healthcare professional. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Uva Ursi monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Uva Ursi

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

0Major
739Moderate
63Minor
2,027No known interaction
Moderate

739 interactions

Showing 60 of 739 moderate interactions — see all 739 on the Uva Ursi page.

Minor

63 interactions

Showing 60 of 63 minor interactions — see all 63 on the Uva Ursi page.

No interaction 2,027 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 Uva Ursi and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Uva Ursi with Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine?
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 Uva Ursi and Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine 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.