Drug & supplement interaction

Witch Hazel + Ipilimumab

Ipilimumab brand name: Yervoy.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab

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 Ipilimumab and Witch Hazel 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 Witch Hazel at all — not against Ipilimumab, 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.

Witch Hazel safety at a glance

Witch Hazel overall Use caution Generally well tolerated on the skin short-term, but not meant to be taken by mouth.
Pregnancy Use caution Topical use is likely low risk, but data are limited; avoid oral use and ask your doctor first.
Breastfeeding Use caution Limited safety data; topical use is likely low risk but check with your doctor, and avoid applying to the nipple area.

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

Still wondering about combining Ipilimumab and Witch Hazel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Witch Hazel

    “Topically, witch hazel is generally well tolerated. Orally, witch hazel seems to be well tolerated at appropriate doses, but high doses may be associated with more adverse effects due to the tannin content in witch hazel.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Topically: Contact dermatitis.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Kidney and liver damage when preparations containing at least 10% tannins are used in high doses.”

    Witch Hazel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    Ipilimumab

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ipilimumab. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A skin rash reported in 4.2% of FDA reports for Ipilimumab Additional detail

    Witch Hazel

    “Topically, witch hazel can cause contact dermatitis (6,86505). A small number of people develop redness or burning.”

    Witch Hazel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    3 sources cited
    1. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    2. 86505. Khanna, N. and Datta, Gupta S. Rejuvenating facial massage--a bane or boon? Int J Dermatol. 2002;41(7):407-410. PubMed
    3. 67795. Wolff, H. H. and Kieser, M. Hamamelis in children with skin disorders and skin injuries: results of an observational study. Eur.J.Pediatr. 2007;166(9):943-948. PubMed

    Ipilimumab

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ipilimumab, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Effects for Ipilimumab come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Witch Hazel come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 42,912 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Ipilimumab that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Ipilimumab Is Prescribed For, and What Witch Hazel Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Ipilimumab is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Witch Hazel is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Ipilimumab is prescribed for: Yervoy (ipilimumab) is used to treat a range of advanced cancers. As a single agent, Yervoy treats unresectable (cannot be surgically removed) or metastatic melanoma in adults and children 12 and older, and is also used as adjuvant (after-surgery) treatment in adults with melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Most of its other uses are in combination with nivolumab. In combination with nivolumab, Yervoy is indicated for advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer (in adults and children 12+), unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, and unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Read the rest of what Ipilimumab is prescribed for

Some of these uses require tumor testing for specific markers (such as PD-L1 expression or MSI-H/dMMR status) before treatment begins.

Witch Hazel has been studied for:

  • Cancer studied, not established Witch Hazel has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Witch Hazel for cancer

    Although there has been interest in using oral and topical witch hazel for cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of witch hazel for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Ipilimumab on your own; if you are taking Witch Hazel for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

One more smart check

Taking Witch Hazel as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 150 real supplement products containing Witch Hazel, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Witch Hazel. Even though Witch Hazel itself has no known interaction with Ipilimumab, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab 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 Witch Hazel
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ipilimumab
Top 25%

#354 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.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Witch Hazel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 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 Witch Hazel

What is Witch Hazel?

  • Skin irritation and inflammation
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Minor cuts and bruises
  • Oily or acne-prone skin
  • Itching and minor swelling
  • Soothing after shaving or sun exposure

Witch hazel is a plant-based astringent used mostly on the skin for minor irritation, hemorrhoids, and oily skin. It is generally well tolerated as a topical product for short-term use, but evidence for most uses is limited, and it should not be swallowed. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Hamamelis virginiana · Hamamelidaceae · Bark, leaves, and twigs · Liquid astringent (distilled water), gels, ointments, creams, wipes/pads, suppositories, soaps

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

Witch Hazel: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for witch hazel. The right amount depends on the product and the form, such as a liquid, gel, pad, or ointment.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and use it only on the skin as directed. For hemorrhoid pads or creams, follow the package instructions. Do not take witch hazel by mouth unless a healthcare professional specifically advises it.

From our Witch Hazel monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Witch Hazel monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ipilimumab Injection

What Is Ipilimumab Injection Used For?

Brand name: Yervoy

Yervoy (ipilimumab) is used to treat a range of advanced cancers. As a single agent, Yervoy treats unresectable (cannot be surgically removed) or metastatic melanoma in adults and children 12 and older, and is also used as adjuvant (after-surgery) treatment in adults with melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Most of its other uses are in combination with nivolumab.

In combination with nivolumab, Yervoy is indicated for advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer (in adults and children 12+), unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, and unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Some of these uses require tumor testing for specific markers (such as PD-L1 expression or MSI-H/dMMR status) before treatment begins.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Ipilimumab

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (42,912 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Malignant neoplasm progression 3,782 reports
Diarrhea 3,128 reports
Colitis 2,316 reports
Fever 2,057 reports
Rash 1,805 reports
See full Ipilimumab Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Witch Hazel

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Witch Hazel — 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 Witch Hazel 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 Witch Hazel list.

See the full Witch Hazel interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ipilimumab, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Witch Hazel References

The 7 references that drive our Witch Hazel monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.
  4. Hormann HP, Korting HC. Evidence for the efficacy and safety of topical herbal drugs in dermatology: part I: anti-inflammatory agents. Phytomedicine 1994;1:161-71. PubMed
  5. Wolff, H. H. and Kieser, M. Hamamelis in children with skin disorders and skin injuries: results of an observational study. Eur.J.Pediatr. 2007;166(9):943-948. PubMed
  6. Khanna, N. and Datta, Gupta S. Rejuvenating facial massage--a bane or boon? Int J Dermatol. 2002;41(7):407-410. PubMed
  7. Theisen LL, Erdelmeier CA, Spoden GA, Boukhallouk F, Sausy A, Florin L, Muller CP. Tannins from Hamamelis virginiana bark extract: characterization and improvement of the antiviral efficacy against influenza A virus and human papillomavirus. PLoS One. 201 PubMed

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 Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Witch Hazel with Ipilimumab?
We do not list a known interaction between Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab. 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.
Do Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Witch Hazel and Ipilimumab used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Witch Hazel in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Ipilimumab is being adjusted to a target.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Witch Hazel monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Ipilimumab Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Ipilimumab supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Ipilimumab, 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 7 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Ipilimumab and Witch Hazel?

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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.