Drug & supplement interaction

White Pepper + Citalopram

Citalopram brand name: Celexa.

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

White Pepper has a moderate interaction with Citalopram. 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 Citalopram

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Citalopram

Citalopram 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 for your Celexa. The piperine in white pepper has shown, in lab dishes only, that it can slow down an enzyme called CYP3A4. Citalopram is partly broken down by that enzyme, so in theory, blocking it could let a little more of the drug linger in your system. Citalopram is not a prodrug, so more drug would mean stronger effects, not weaker ones.

If that happened, you might notice more of citalopram's usual side effects, like drowsiness, nausea, or feeling jittery. But honestly, this is theoretical and based only on test-tube work. Sprinkling white pepper on your dinner is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated piperine supplements are a different story, so check with your pharmacist or doctor before using those.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

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 Citalopram one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 975 Minor 3 No known interaction 1,852 (incl. Citalopram)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About White Pepper or Citalopram

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers White Pepper or Citalopram, 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 Citalopram

This page covers White Pepper only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Citalopram page lists 191 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major), St. John's Wort (major) and 5-htp (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 144 moderate · 43 minor.

Open the Citalopram 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 Citalopram 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 Citalopram 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

#1,204 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Citalopram
Top 5%

#54 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 Citalopram

What Is Citalopram Used For?

Brand name: Celexa

Citalopram — available as tablets (including brand Celexa), oral solution, and capsules — is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. This includes depression that causes persistent low mood, loss of interest in everyday activities, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Citalopram capsules are specifically indicated for adults with MDD but are not intended for starting or stopping treatment — another citalopram product must be used for dose titration. All forms are indicated for adults only; citalopram tablets are not approved for use in children.

See full Citalopram 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
975 Moderate 3 Minor 1,851 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,851 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full White Pepper list.

See the full White Pepper interactions page
See every supplement checked against Citalopram, 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
White Pepper monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Citalopram supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Citalopram, ranked by severity Citalopram 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 White Pepper and Citalopram Together: Common Questions

Can you take White Pepper with Citalopram?
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 Citalopram 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 Citalopram and White Pepper?

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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.