Drug & supplement interaction

Wormwood + Valproic Acid

Valproic Acid brand names: Depakene, Depacon, Valproate.

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

Wormwood has a moderate interaction with Valproic Acid. Theoretically, taking wormwood might interfere with the effects of anticonvulsant drugs.

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

Wormwood and Valproic Acid

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

Moderate

ANTICONVULSANTS

Why this applies to Valproic Acid

Valproic Acid falls under ANTICONVULSANTS — the group Wormwood interacts with.

Theoretically, taking wormwood might interfere with the effects of anticonvulsant drugs.
Thujone, a constituent of wormwood, has convulsant effects.
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 concern with pairing wormwood and valproic acid. You take valproic acid to keep seizures (or mood swings and migraines) under control by calming overactive nerve signaling. Wormwood contains thujone, a compound that can do the opposite, it can actually make the brain more prone to seizures. So the worry is that wormwood could work against your medication and chip away at the seizure protection you're counting on.

I want to be honest about the evidence though: this is mostly theoretical, based on lab and animal findings, not real patient reports. Small culinary or bitter-tea amounts are far less concerning than concentrated wormwood supplements or essential oils. Since seizure control is something you don't want to gamble with, please run it by your doctor or pharmacist before adding wormwood.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hold KM, Sirisoma NS, Casida JE. Detoxification of alpha- and beta-Thujones (the active ingredients of absinthe): site specificity and species differences in cytochrome P450 oxidation in vitro and in vivo. Chem Res Toxicol 2001;14:589-95.

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

Wormwood Also Interacts With Other Medications

Wormwood has 49 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Valproic Acid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 49 No known interaction 2,781 (incl. Valproic Acid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Wormwood

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Wormwood or Valproic Acid

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

This page covers Wormwood only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Valproic Acid page lists 173 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Valproic Acid page

“Anyone taking valproic acid (Depakene, Depacon) for seizures or bipolar disorder should treat this list with genuine care. Of the 173 supplements and herbs on file, nine are rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Valproic Acid interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 387 real supplement products containing Wormwood, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Wormwood. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Valproic Acid too, on top of Wormwood — 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 Wormwood and Valproic Acid 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 Wormwood
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Valproic Acid
Top 25%

#390 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 Wormwood

What is Wormwood?

Wormwood
  • Digestive upset and poor appetite
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Crohn's disease symptoms
  • Bitter tonic for indigestion
  • Flavoring in absinthe and vermouth

Wormwood is a very bitter herb traditionally used to stimulate appetite and ease digestion, and it has early research interest in Crohn's disease. It contains thujone, which can be toxic in large amounts, so it should only be used short-term in controlled doses. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Read the full Wormwood monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Valproic Acid

What Is Valproic Acid Used For?

Brand names: Depakene, Depacon, Valproate

Valproic acid capsules (brands Valproic and Valproic Acid) and valproic acid oral solution (brand Valproic Acid) are both used to treat epilepsy. Specifically, they are approved for complex partial seizures (either alone or with other seizure types) as monotherapy or add-on therapy, and for simple and complex absence seizures as sole therapy or add-on therapy.

Both forms are intended for adults and pediatric patients. Always follow your prescriber's guidance on which product and regimen is right for you.

See full Valproic Acid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Wormwood

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

0Major
49Moderate
0Minor
2,780No known interaction
49 Moderate 2,780 No interaction
Moderate

49 interactions

No interaction 2,780 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,780 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Wormwood list.

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

Can you take Wormwood with Valproic Acid?
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 Wormwood and Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid and Wormwood?

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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.