Herb & supplement monograph

Anise Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Anise interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Anise is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Anise is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Anise Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Anise drug interaction appears low for most people, since none of the known interactions are rated major and nearly all rest on animal or lab research rather than human studies. Most listed interactions are graded moderate in theory, but almost every one is only a possible effect that has not been confirmed in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The best-supported concern involves diabetes medications. A small human study found anise seed powder lowered fasting blood sugar substantially, so combining the two could theoretically drop blood sugar too far, which matters for a closely monitored condition. Beyond that, animal research suggests anise oil might strengthen the sedating effects of diazepam and midazolam, and lab findings raise a theoretical question about hormone-sensitive treatments such as tamoxifen, estrogens, and contraceptives, though the lab results conflict and human relevance is unknown.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications sounds worse than it is. Most entries are theoretical, built on how anise might affect enzymes the body uses to clear certain drugs, and these predictions come from animal or test-tube work that has not been shown to cause meaningful changes in people.

Check your medications against Anise

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Anise interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Anise

245 medications have a known interaction with Anise, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Anise using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Anise interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction 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.
Possible. 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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Anise combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Anise affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Anise is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 11 drug categories Anise interacts with

Antidiabetes DrugsCaffeineCodeineContraceptive DrugsDiazepam (valium)EstrogensFluoxetine (prozac)Imipramine (tofranil)Midazolam (versed)Tamoxifen (nolvadex)Acetaminophen (tylenol, Others)

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, anise seed might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
A small clinical study shows that anise seed powder decreases fasting blood glucose levels by 36% when compared to baseline.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Caffeine

Theoretically, anise oil might decrease the efficacy of caffeine.
Animal research shows that taking anise oil with caffeine decreases the bioavailability of caffeine. Whether this interaction will occur in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Codeine

Theoretically, anise oil might increase the effects and adverse effects of codeine.
Animal research shows that anise oil increases the analgesic effects of codeine, possibly by inducing its phase I metabolism and increasing conversion to morphine. Whether this interaction occurs in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Contraceptive Drugs

Theoretically, anise might interfere with contraceptive drug therapy.
Some in vitro research suggests that anise has estrogenic effects, while other in vitro research suggests that anise has antiestrogenic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Diazepam (Valium)

Theoretically, anise oil might increase the effects and adverse effects of diazepam.
Animal research shows that taking anise oil with diazepam increases the motor impairment associated with diazepam, possibly by inhibiting its breakdown by cytochrome P450 3A4. Whether this interaction occurs in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Estrogens

Theoretically, anise might interfere with estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy.
Some in vitro research suggests that anise has estrogenic effects, while other in vitro research suggests that anise has antiestrogenic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Theoretically, anise oil might decrease the efficacy of fluoxetine.
Animal research shows that taking anise oil with fluoxetine reduces the antidepressant effects of fluoxetine, possibly by promoting its breakdown by cytochrome P450 2D6. Whether this interaction occurs in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Imipramine (Tofranil)

Theoretically, anise oil might decrease the efficacy of imipramine.
Animal research shows that taking anise oil with imipramine reduces the antidepressant effects of imipramine, possibly by promoting its breakdown by cytochrome P450 2D6. Whether this interaction occurs in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Midazolam (Versed)

Theoretically, anise oil might increase the effects and adverse effects of midazolam.
Animal research shows that taking anise oil with midazolam increases the motor impairment associated with midazolam, possibly by inhibiting its breakdown by cytochrome P450 3A4. Whether this interaction occurs in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

Theoretically, anise might interfere with tamoxifen therapy.
Some in vitro research suggests that anise has estrogenic effects, while other in vitro research suggests that anise has antiestrogenic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Others)

Theoretically, anise oil might decrease the levels and clinical effects of acetaminophen.
Animal research shows that taking anise oil with acetaminophen decreases peak plasma levels of acetaminophen but does not reduce overall bioavailability. Whether this interaction will occur in humans is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Anise: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Anise is a fragrant, licorice-flavored seed used for centuries to ease digestion and soothe coughs. Most of its health claims are based on tradition and small or laboratory studies rather than strong human research, so evidence is limited. It is generally safe as a food and tea for most adults, but the concentrated essential oil should be used carefully and avoided in pregnancy.

Scientific name: Pimpinella anisum
Family: Apiaceae
Part used: Seeds (fruit) and essential oil
Common forms: Whole or ground seeds, tea, capsules, extracts, essential oil

People commonly use it for

Digestive upset and bloating
Cough and respiratory complaints
Sore throat
Menstrual discomfort
Flavoring agent

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally safe as a food or tea, but the concentrated essential oil needs more care.

PregnancyLikely Safe

When used orally in amounts commonly found in food. Anise and anise oil have Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US. There is insufficie...

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingLikely Safe

When used orally in amounts commonly found in food. Anise and anise oil have Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US. There is insufficie...

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a small flowering plant in the carrot and parsley family. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia and is now grown in many parts of the world. The part most often used is the small, ribbed seed (botanically a fruit), which has a sweet, licorice-like flavor.

The flavor and smell come mainly from a compound called anethole. Anise seeds are widely used in cooking, baking, and in flavored liquors. They also have a long history in traditional medicine, where people have used them for digestion, coughs, and other complaints.

Today anise is sold as whole or ground seeds, teas, capsules, liquid extracts, and a concentrated essential oil. Do not confuse anise with star anise (Illicium verum), which is a different plant.

How it works

The main active compound in anise is anethole, along with other plant oils and antioxidant compounds. In laboratory studies, anethole and anise extracts have shown effects such as relaxing smooth muscle, which may help explain its traditional use for cramping and gas.

Lab and animal research also suggest possible antioxidant, antimicrobial, and mild estrogen-like (phytoestrogen) activity. The estrogen-like effect is one reason caution is advised in pregnancy and in people with hormone-sensitive conditions.

It is important to remember that effects seen in a test tube or in animals do not always carry over to people at the amounts found in food or supplements.

Effectiveness

Does Anise work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 12 uses evaluated

12 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Anise, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 12 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Asthma