Drug & supplement interaction

Western Herbal Medicine + Modafinil

Modafinil brand names: Provigil, Sparlon, Alertec.

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

We found no known interaction between Western Herbal Medicine and Modafinil 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.

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Interaction report

Western Herbal Medicine and Modafinil

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 Modafinil and Western Herbal Medicine 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Western Herbal Medicine at all — not against Modafinil, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Western Herbal Medicine safety at a glance

Western Herbal Med... overall Use caution Safety depends heavily on the specific herb, dose, and product quality.
Pregnancy Use caution Many herbs are not well studied in pregnancy and some may be harmful, so avoid unless cleared by your provider.
Breastfeeding Use caution Evidence is limited for most herbs while breastfeeding, so use only with professional guidance.

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

Still wondering about combining Modafinil and Western Herbal Medicine? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Modafinil’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Western Herbal Medicine. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Modafinil’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Chest pain Worth acting on
  • Drowsiness mentioned in 4.4% of FDA reports for Modafinil
  • A stuffy or runny nose
  • Anxiety or restlessness mentioned in 4.7% of FDA reports for Modafinil
  • Back pain
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Stomach upset
  • Dizziness
  • Headache mentioned in 5.8% of FDA reports for Modafinil
  • Nausea mentioned in 7.0% of FDA reports for Modafinil

Showing the 10 most notable of 11 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Modafinil. Read the label on DailyMed › Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 32,106 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Modafinil that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Western Herbal Medicine’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Western Herbal Medicine side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Western Herbal Medicine has no side effects.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Modafinil

This page covers Western Herbal Medicine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Modafinil page lists 197 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adrafinil (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major) and Peyote (major).

By severity: 8 major · 150 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Modafinil page

“Of the 197 supplements and herbs flagged for modafinil (Provigil, Alertec), eight carry a major rating, and those deserve real caution. Most of the rest fall into two themes.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Modafinil interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Western Herbal Medicine and Modafinil 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 Western Herbal Medicine
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Modafinil
Top half

#1,397 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. Western Herbal Medicine is not yet covered by that licensed database, so its write-up cites publicly available medical sources directly (see the references below).
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Western Herbal Medicine reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Western Herbal Medicine and Modafinil records this page draws on were last updated June 20, 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 Western Herbal Medicine

What is Western Herbal Medicine?

  • Digestive complaints
  • Sleep and anxiety support
  • Cold and immune support
  • Skin conditions
  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Women's health concerns

Western Herbal Medicine is a healing tradition that uses plants native to or commonly grown in Europe and North America to support health. Some individual herbs have decent research behind them, while many traditional uses are supported by limited or low-quality evidence. Always talk with a pharmacist or doctor before starting any herbal product, especially if you take medications or have a health condition.

Varies by plant — leaves, roots, flowers, bark, seeds, and whole herbs · Teas (infusions and decoctions), tinctures, capsules, tablets, powders, syrups, and topical creams

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

Western Herbal Medicine: dosing

There is no single standard dose for Western Herbal Medicine, because it covers so many different plants and product types. The right amount depends on the herb, its strength, the form (tea, tincture, or capsule), and the person.Follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed the suggested amount. A pharmacist, doctor, or qualified medical herbalist can help you choose a suitable product and dose for your situation. Start low, watch how you respond, and stop if you have any concerning reaction.

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

Read the full Western Herbal Medicine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Modafinil

What Is Modafinil Used For?

Brand names: Provigil, Sparlon, Alertec

Modafinil (also sold as Provigil) is used to improve wakefulness in adults who experience excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or shift work disorder (SWD).

In OSA, modafinil treats the sleepiness — not the underlying airway obstruction itself. It is used alongside standard treatments such as CPAP (a breathing device worn during sleep), not as a replacement for them. If CPAP is appropriate for you, your doctor will want you to use it consistently even while taking modafinil.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Modafinil

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (32,106 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 2,949 reports
Nausea 2,248 reports
Headache 1,870 reports
Fall 1,794 reports
Depression 1,619 reports
See full Modafinil drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Western Herbal Medicine

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Western Herbal Medicine list.

See the full Western Herbal Medicine interactions page
See every supplement checked against Modafinil, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Western Herbal Medicine References

The 4 sources that drive our Western Herbal Medicine monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing. Western Herbal Medicine is not covered by the licensed Natural Medicines interaction database, so its page cites these public sources directly.

  1. Herbs at a Glance — NIH NCCIH Source
  2. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely — NIH NCCIH Source
  3. Herbal Medicine — MedlinePlus Source
  4. About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source

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 Western Herbal Medicine and Modafinil Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Western Herbal Medicine with Modafinil?
We do not list a known interaction between Western Herbal Medicine and Modafinil. 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.
Does Modafinil interact with any supplements?
Yes. Modafinil has documented interactions with 197 supplements in our database — Western Herbal Medicine is not one of them. The Modafinil 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

Western Herbal Medicine monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Modafinil drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Modafinil supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Modafinil, 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 4 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Modafinil and Western Herbal Medicine?

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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.