Herb & supplement monograph

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

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Bacopa 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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Bacopa 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 Bacopa drug interaction appears low for most people. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and nearly all rest on lab or animal research rather than confirmed effects in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The concern with the most human backing involves cevimeline, a dry-mouth medication: one person developed sweating, nausea, and a rapid heartbeat after adding bacopa, possibly because bacopa slows how the body clears this drug. Bacopa may also raise levels of acetylcholine, a nerve-signaling chemical, so it could blunt anticholinergic drugs or add to the effects of cholinergic drugs, though this is theoretical. Animal research also hints bacopa could add to thyroid hormone effects, a minor and unproven concern.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications comes mostly from lab studies suggesting bacopa might affect enzymes the body uses to clear many drugs. That research is conflicting, and some of it suggests any effect is too small to matter. A medication appearing on the list does not mean the combination has been shown to cause harm in people.

Check your medications against Bacopa

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

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Bacopa

932 medications have a known interaction with Bacopa, 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 Bacopa using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Bacopa 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 Bacopa 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 Bacopa affects

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

All 8 drug categories Bacopa interacts with

Anticholinergic DrugsCevimeline (evoxac)Cholinergic DrugsCytochrome P450 1a2 (cyp1a2) SubstratesCytochrome P450 2c19 (cyp2c19) SubstratesCytochrome P450 2c9 (cyp2c9) SubstratesCytochrome P450 3a4 (cyp3a4) SubstratesThyroid Hormone

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use might decrease the effectiveness of both agents.
Bacopa seems to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels, which could counteract the effects of anticholinergic drugs. Similarly, anticholinergic drugs might counteract the cholinergic effects of bacopa.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cevimeline (Evoxac)

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the effects and adverse effects of cevimeline.
In one case, a 58-year-old female taking cevimeline long-term for Sjogren syndrome experienced hyperhidrosis, malaise, nausea, and tachycardia shortly after taking a single dose of bacopa. Symptoms resolved after two days. Cevimeline is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 and CYP3A4, and researchers theorize that bacopa may have inhibited these isoenzymes. However, it is unclear if bacopa causes clinically significant inhibition of either CYP2D6 or CYP3A4.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use of bacopa with other cholinergic drugs might have additive effects.
Bacopa seems to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels. Theoretically, this could result in additive cholinergic effects when used with cholinergic drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Research on the effects of bacopa extracts on CYP1A2 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence shows that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP1A2, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 2C19 (Cyp2C19) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C19 substrates.
In vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP2C19 enzymes. It is not known whether this is clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C9 substrates.
Research on the effect of bacopa extracts on CYP2C9 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP2C9, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Research on the effects of bacopa extracts on CYP3A4 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and competitively inhibit CYP3A4, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Thyroid Hormone

Theoretically, bacopa might have additive effects when used with thyroid hormone.
Animal research suggests that bacopa increases thyroxine (T4) levels in mice by about 40%.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Bacopa: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

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

The bottom line

Bacopa is an Ayurvedic herb most often used for memory and thinking. Some small studies suggest it may modestly help memory when taken regularly for several weeks, but the evidence is limited and quality varies. It is generally well tolerated but can cause stomach upset, and it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to a lack of safety data.

Scientific name: Bacopa monnieri
Family: Plantaginaceae
Part used: Whole plant (mainly leaves and stems)
Common forms: Capsules, tablets, powder, liquid extracts, and standardized extracts (often standardized to bacosides)

People commonly use it for

Memory and cognitive support
Anxiety and stress
ADHD symptoms
Age-related memory decline
General brain health

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

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally well tolerated in studies, but quality and long-term safety data are limited.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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

Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) is a small, creeping perennial herb that grows in wet, marshy areas. It is native to India and other parts of Southeast Asia and produces tiny white or pale blue flowers. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine it is often called "Brahmi," a name also used for some other herbs, which can cause confusion.

For centuries, bacopa has been used in Ayurveda as a "brain tonic" to support memory, learning, and a sense of calm. Today it is sold as a dietary supplement, usually in capsules, tablets, or liquid extracts. Many products are standardized to contain a certain amount of active compounds called bacosides.

How it works

The main active compounds in bacopa are believed to be bacosides. In laboratory and animal studies, these compounds appear to have antioxidant effects and may help protect brain cells from damage. Researchers think bacopa may also influence chemical messengers in the brain involved in memory, such as acetylcholine.

Some research suggests bacopa may support the growth and repair of nerve endings, which could in theory help with learning and memory. It is important to know that most of this information comes from lab and animal research. We do not fully understand how bacopa works in people, and these proposed mechanisms do not prove it is effective.

Effectiveness

Does Bacopa work?

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

Evidence overview · 14 uses evaluated

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

Also studied for 14 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Alzheimer disease