Drug & supplement interaction

White Pepper + Brentuximab Vedotin

Brentuximab Vedotin brand name: Adcetris.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

White Pepper has a moderate interaction with Brentuximab Vedotin. In vitro evidence suggests that piperine, a constituent of white pepper, inhibits cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4).

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

White Pepper and Brentuximab Vedotin

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Brentuximab Vedotin

Brentuximab Vedotin falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group White Pepper interacts with.

In vitro evidence suggests that piperine, a constituent of white pepper, inhibits cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Theoretically, concomitant use with white pepper might increase the effects and side effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include some calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil), chemotherapeutic agents (etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine), antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), glucocorticoids, cisapride (Propulsid), alfentanil (Alfenta), fentanyl (Sublimaze), losartan (Cozaar), fluoxetine (Prozac), midazolam (Versed), omeprazole (Prilosec), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), fexofenadine (Allegra), and numerous others.
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 gist with Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin). Once it's inside your body, this drug releases a powerful piece called MMAE, and your liver clears that piece using an enzyme called CYP3A4. The piperine in white pepper has shown, in lab studies only, that it can slow down that same enzyme. In theory, slowing it could let more of the active chemo drug linger, which might mean stronger side effects like nerve tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, low blood counts, nausea, or more fatigue.

I want to be honest though: this is a theoretical concern based on test-tube data, not real patients. Normal cooking amounts of white pepper are very unlikely to matter. Concentrated piperine supplements are a different story, so please clear those with your oncology team first.

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

White Pepper Also Interacts With Other Medications

White Pepper has 975 moderate, 3 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Brentuximab Vedotin 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 White Pepper

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Brentuximab Vedotin

This page covers White Pepper only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Brentuximab Vedotin page lists 121 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 87 moderate · 32 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Brentuximab Vedotin page

“Every entry on this page traces back to a single enzyme. Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), an IV treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma and certain other lymphomas, carries a chemotherapy payload the body clears through CYP3A4, and I would treat this list with real care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Brentuximab Vedotin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2 real supplement products containing White Pepper, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides White Pepper. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Brentuximab Vedotin too, on top of White Pepper — 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 White Pepper and Brentuximab Vedotin 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 White Pepper
Steady interest

#1,224 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Brentuximab Vedotin
Top half

#756 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 White Pepper

What is White Pepper?

  • Digestive upset
  • Seasoning and appetite support
  • Cough and cold remedies (traditional)
  • Minor aches and pains (traditional)
  • Antimicrobial (traditional)

White pepper comes from the same plant as black pepper and is mostly used as a kitchen spice. In normal food amounts it is generally safe for most people, but there is little solid human research supporting its use as a medicine. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a health condition.

Read the full White Pepper monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Brentuximab Vedotin Injection

What Is Brentuximab Vedotin Injection Used For?

Brand name: Adcetris

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is used to treat classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in adults — including newly diagnosed advanced-stage disease, as consolidation therapy after a stem cell transplant, and in relapsed or refractory cases. It is also approved for pediatric patients aged 2 and older with previously untreated high-risk classical Hodgkin lymphoma, given in combination with chemotherapy.

Adcetris is also used for several T-cell lymphomas — including systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL), and CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (MF). Additionally, Adcetris is used in combination with lenalidomide and a rituximab product for adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who are not candidates for a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy.

See full Brentuximab Vedotin Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & White Pepper

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

0Major
975Moderate
3Minor
1,851No known interaction
Moderate

975 interactions

Showing 60 of 975 moderate interactions — see all 975 on the White Pepper page.

Minor

3 interactions

No interaction 1,851 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 White Pepper and Brentuximab Vedotin Together: Common Questions

Can you take White Pepper with Brentuximab Vedotin?
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 White Pepper and Brentuximab Vedotin 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.