Drug & supplement interaction

Wild Cherry + Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide

Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide brand names: Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold, Coricidin II Cough & Cold, Pediatric Vicks Formula 44m Cough & Cold Relief.

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

Wild Cherry has a moderate interaction with Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide. In vitro research suggests that wild cherry can inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes.

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

Wild Cherry and Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide

Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Wild Cherry interacts with.

In vitro research suggests that wild cherry can inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes. Theoretically, wild cherry might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. However, so far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and 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 cough and cold combo. Both ingredients (chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan) get processed by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Lab studies suggest wild cherry can slow that enzyme down a bit. In theory, that could let these two medicines build up slightly higher than usual, nudging up effects like drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and that foggy or sedated feeling.

I want to be honest though: this is based only on test-tube research, and it has never actually been reported in real people. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. The bigger thing with this product is that it already makes many folks sleepy on its own. If you take it regularly with wild cherry, just mention it to your pharmacist to be safe.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. 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

Wild Cherry Also Interacts With Other Medications

Wild Cherry has 642 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 642 No known interaction 2,188 (incl. Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Wild Cherry

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide

This page covers Wild Cherry only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide page lists 218 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Henbane (major), Lithium (major) and Scopolia (major).

By severity: 6 major · 170 moderate · 42 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide page

“Grapefruit is the interaction I would flag first for anyone taking chlorpheniramine with dextromethorphan (Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold). It blocks the enzyme that clears these ingredients, so levels and side effects can climb.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Wild Cherry as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 439 real supplement products containing Wild Cherry, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Wild Cherry. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide too, on top of Wild Cherry — 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 Wild Cherry and Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide 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 Wild Cherry
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide
Top 5%

#131 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 Wild Cherry

What is Wild Cherry?

Wild Cherry
  • Cough
  • Bronchitis and respiratory irritation
  • Sore throat
  • Digestive upset and diarrhea
  • Flavoring agent

Wild cherry bark is a traditional cough remedy found in many old-fashioned cough syrups and lozenges, but there is little modern scientific evidence proving it works. The bark, leaves, and seeds naturally contain cyanide-producing compounds, so it should be used only in properly prepared products and avoided in large amounts. Talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially during pregnancy or for children.

Read the full Wild Cherry monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Wild Cherry

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

0Major
642Moderate
0Minor
2,187No known interaction
642 Moderate 2,187 No interaction
Moderate

642 interactions

Showing 60 of 642 moderate interactions — see all 642 on the Wild Cherry page.

No interaction 2,187 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,187 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Wild Cherry list.

See the full Wild Cherry interactions page
See every supplement checked against Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, 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
Wild Cherry monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Wild Cherry and Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Wild Cherry with Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide?
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 Wild Cherry and Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide 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 Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide and Wild Cherry?

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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.