Drug & supplement interaction

Vitex Agnus-castus + Risperidone

Risperidone brand names: Risperdal, Perseris.

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

Vitex Agnus-castus has a moderate interaction with Risperidone. Theoretically, vitex agnus-castus could interfere with the activity of antipsychotic drugs.

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

Vitex Agnus-castus and Risperidone

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

Moderate

ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Risperidone

Risperidone falls under ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS — the group Vitex Agnus-castus interacts with.

Theoretically, vitex agnus-castus could interfere with the activity of antipsychotic drugs.
Vitex agnus-castus might interfere with the action of dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotic drugs due to its dopamine agonist 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

Here's the idea behind this one. Risperidone works mainly by blocking dopamine in the brain, which is how it calms symptoms like hallucinations, mania, or severe agitation. Vitex (chasteberry) is thought to do a bit of the opposite, nudging dopamine activity up. So in theory, the two could work against each other, and risperidone might not control symptoms as well as it should.

I want to be honest about how weak this evidence is. This concern comes only from lab and animal studies, not from real patients, so we don't actually know if it matters in everyday life. Risperidone is not a prodrug, so this is about effect, not breakdown. Still, because we're talking about a serious mental health medication, please don't add Vitex without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Wuttke W. Dopaminergic action of extracts of Agnus Castus. Forschende Komplementarmedizen 1996;3:329-30.
  2. Jarry H, Leonhardt S., Gorkow C, Wuttke W. In vitro prolactin but not LH and FSH release is inhibited by compounds in extracts of Agnus Castus: direct evidence for a dopaminergic principle by the dopamine receptor assay. Exp Clin Endocrinol 1994;102:448- 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

Vitex Agnus-castus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Vitex Agnus-castus has 120 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Risperidone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 120 No known interaction 2,710 (incl. Risperidone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Vitex Agnus-castus

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Vitex Agnus-castus. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Vitex Agnus-castus or Risperidone

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Vitex Agnus-castus or Risperidone, 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 Risperidone

This page covers Vitex Agnus-castus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Risperidone page lists 199 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 11 major · 147 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Risperidone page

“Someone taking risperidone (Risperdal, Perseris) for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder depends on a steady blood level to stay well, and this list calls for genuine care, starting with its eleven major-rated entries. Most of the 199 ingredients can shift that level, because risperidone is cleared by liver enzymes that a long roster of…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Risperidone interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Vitex Agnus-castus as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 45 real supplement products containing Vitex Agnus-castus, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Vitex Agnus-castus. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Risperidone too, on top of Vitex Agnus-castus — 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 Vitex Agnus-castus and Risperidone 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 Vitex Agnus-castus
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Risperidone
Top 25%

#484 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 Vitex Agnus-castus

What is Vitex Agnus-castus?

Vitex Agnus-castus
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Irregular or absent menstrual periods
  • Cyclical breast pain (mastalgia)
  • Menopause symptoms
  • Fertility support

Vitex (chasteberry) is an herbal remedy most often used for PMS and menstrual cycle problems, and the strongest evidence is for easing some PMS symptoms. It is generally well tolerated by many adults, but it can affect hormone-related processes, so anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or has a hormone-sensitive condition should talk with a healthcare professional first.

Read the full Vitex Agnus-castus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Risperidone

What Is Risperidone Used For?

Brand names: Risperdal, Perseris

Risperidone is prescribed for three main conditions: schizophrenia (a disorder affecting how a person thinks, feels, and perceives reality), acute manic or mixed episodes in Bipolar I Disorder, and irritability associated with autistic disorder — including aggression, self-injury, temper tantrums, and rapid mood swings.

For bipolar mania, it can be used alone or alongside lithium or valproate. It is approved for use in both adults and certain age groups of children and adolescents, depending on the condition being treated.

See full Risperidone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Vitex Agnus-castus

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

0Major
120Moderate
0Minor
2,709No known interaction
120 Moderate 2,709 No interaction
Moderate

120 interactions

Showing 60 of 120 moderate interactions — see all 120 on the Vitex Agnus-castus page.

No interaction 2,709 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,709 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Vitex Agnus-castus list.

See the full Vitex Agnus-castus interactions page
See every supplement checked against Risperidone, 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
Vitex Agnus-castus monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Risperidone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Risperidone, ranked by severity Risperidone drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Vitex Agnus-castus and Risperidone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Vitex Agnus-castus with Risperidone?
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 Vitex Agnus-castus and Risperidone 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 Risperidone and Vitex Agnus-castus?

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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.