Wahoo - Nuvigil (Armodafinil) Interaction
Herbal: Wahoo
Also Known As: Euonymus atropurpureus, Arrowwood, Bitter Ash, Bleeding Heart, Bursting Heart, Eastern Burning Bush, Fish Wood, Fusain, Fusanum, Fusoria, Gadrose, Gatten, Gatter, Indian Arrowroot, Indian Arrowwood, Pegwood, Pigwood, Prickwood, Skewerwood, Spindle Tree
Drug: Armodafinil
Brand names:
Nuvigil
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
Jun 22, 2025
Interaction Details
Armodafinil is classified as belonging to the following category: Stimulant Laxatives
Theoretically, use of stimulant laxatives with wahoo might have additive laxative effects, and can increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity due to potassium depletion.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
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
References
- Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
Wahoo Overview
Euonymus atropurpureus, commonly known as Eastern Wahoo, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to North America. It is commonly found in forests, along streams, and in other moist, shady areas.
Euonymus atropurpureus is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems, respiratory infections, and skin irritations. Wahoo is generally considered poisonous and supplements containing wahoo must be prepared carefully. The seeds of the plant can cause serious adverse effects, such as bloody diarrhea, fever, shortness of breath, circulatory problems, unconsciousness, and convulsions. The specific poisonous component of Euonymus atropurpureus isn't known, but it's likely from the cardioactive steroids, known as cardenolides, or alkaloids the plant contains.
Armodafinil Overview
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Armodafinil is used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy (a condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness) or shift work sleep disorder (sleepiness during scheduled waking hours and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep during scheduled sleeping hours in people who work at night or on rotating shifts). Armodafinil is also used along with breathing devices or other treatments to prevent excessive sleepiness caused by obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS; a sleep disorder in which the patient briefly stops breathing or breathes shallowly many times during sleep and therefore does not get enough restful sleep). Armodafinil is in a class of medications called wakefulness-promoting agents. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the area of the brain that controls sleep and wakefulness.
Wahoo - More Interactions
Wahoo interacts with 133 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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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
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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