Herb & supplement monograph

Banderol Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

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

What is this page for?

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

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Banderol 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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Banderol 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 Banderol drug interaction appears low for most people, because every reported interaction so far comes from lab research rather than confirmed effects in humans. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and all of them trace back to the same two laboratory findings about how Banderol may affect drug transporters in the liver.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The interactions that deserve the most attention involve medications that rely on liver transporters called OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 to move into liver cells for processing. Small lab studies suggest Banderol may block these transporters, which could in theory raise levels of medicines that depend on them. The concern is somewhat greater for a medication that uses both transporters, though even then the real-world significance is not well understood. No interaction in this profile has been confirmed in people.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of medications reflects how many drugs happen to use these two transporters, not evidence that each combination causes harm. These are theoretical predictions based on lab work, and none of the predicted effects have been shown to produce meaningful changes in people so far.

Check your medications against Banderol

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

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Banderol

177 medications have a known interaction with Banderol, 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 Banderol using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Banderol 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 Banderol 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 Banderol affects

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

All 2 drug categories Banderol interacts with

Organic Anion Transporter 1 (oat1) SubstratesOrganic Anion Transporter 3 (oat3) Substrates

Organic Anion Transporter 1 (Oat1) Substrates

Small lab studies have found that Banderol may inhibit OATP1B1 (Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1B1), which is a membrane protein responsible for the uptake of various drugs, hormones, and other biologically active substances into the cells of the liver and other tissues. It is often referred to as a drug transporter. It is a member of the OATP family of transporters and is known to play a critical role in the pharmacokinetics of many drugs. When OATPs are inhibited, it can cause problems with the elimination of drugs and result in a sudden rise in the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream and the extent to which it is absorbed (AUC) for drugs that rely on these transporters. This can increase the likelihood of adverse side effects associated with the therapy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence A

Organic Anion Transporter 3 (Oat3) Substrates

Small lab studies have found that Banderol may also inhibit OATP1B3 (Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1B3), in addition to OATP1B1. If a drug is a substrate for both transporters, the risk of interaction with Banderol increases but the overall clinical significance is not well understood.

Likelihood Possible Evidence A

Monograph

Banderol: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

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

The bottom line

Banderol is a Nutramedix-branded herbal extract made from the bark of the Amazonian tree Otoba parvifolia, most often promoted as part of alternative Lyme disease protocols. There is very little high-quality human research to support its use, so the evidence behind its benefits is weak and largely preliminary. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and never use it to replace proven treatments.

Scientific name: Otoba parvifolia
Family: Myristicaceae
Part used: Bark (extract)
Common forms: Liquid tincture/drops, capsules

People commonly use it for

Lyme disease support
Antimicrobial
Antifungal
Immune support
Inflammation

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

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Human safety data are very limited, so use carefully and under professional guidance.

PregnancyBest avoided

Not enough safety information; avoid during pregnancy.

BreastfeedingBest avoided

Not enough safety information; avoid while breastfeeding.

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

Jump to a section

Overview

Banderol is a dietary supplement made and sold by the company Nutramedix. It is a bark extract from Otoba parvifolia, a tree in the nutmeg family (Myristicaceae) that grows in the Amazon rainforest of South America. The tree is sometimes called the "small-leaved otoba."

In traditional Amazonian medicine, the bark and leaves of this tree have been used for skin problems and infections. Today, Banderol is best known in the alternative health world as part of herbal "protocols" for Lyme disease, often paired with another Nutramedix product called Samento (a cat's claw extract).

It is usually sold as a liquid tincture taken as drops in water. Keep in mind that popular or traditional use does not mean a product is proven to work.

Uses & effectiveness

People most often take Banderol hoping to support the body against infections, especially the bacteria thought to be involved in Lyme disease. It is also promoted for fungal infections, general immune support, and inflammation.

The evidence is weak. Most of what is known comes from laboratory (test-tube) studies, including some research on the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Lab results are a starting point only — they do not prove that a supplement works the same way inside the human body.

There are very few well-designed human clinical trials on Banderol. Because of this, we cannot say it is effective for Lyme disease, infections, or any other condition. It should never be used in place of antibiotics or other treatments your doctor recommends.

How it works

The bark of Otoba parvifolia contains natural plant compounds that researchers believe may have antimicrobial (germ-fighting) and anti-inflammatory effects. In test-tube studies, extracts have been reported to act against certain bacteria and fungi.

Some laboratory research has looked at whether the extract can affect Borrelia, the bacteria linked to Lyme disease, including hard-to-kill forms. These findings are interesting but very preliminary.

It is important to understand that these proposed mechanisms come mostly from lab and limited animal research. We do not have strong evidence about how Banderol behaves in the human body or what doses would be needed for any effect.

Safety & precautions

There is not much published safety information on Banderol in people. Because of this, it should be used with caution and ideally under the guidance of a healthcare provider who knows your full history.

People who should be especially careful include those with liver or kidney problems, those with serious medical conditions, people taking multiple medications, and anyone with allergies to plants in the nutmeg family.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Safety has not been established. Until we know more, pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid Banderol. As with any supplement, quality and purity can vary between products, so choose reputable brands and tell your pharmacist or doctor what you are taking.

Side effects

Reported side effects are not well documented in formal studies. Because Banderol is a liquid herbal tincture, some people may notice mild stomach upset, nausea, or changes in how they feel after taking it.

In alternative Lyme protocols, users sometimes describe a temporary worsening of symptoms (often called a "Herxheimer" or "die-off" reaction), but this is not well studied and may have other causes. Allergic reactions are always possible with plant products.

Stop using Banderol and seek medical care if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, swelling, or trouble breathing, or any other concerning symptoms.

Dosing

There is no official, standardized dose for Banderol. It has not been studied enough in humans to set a proven safe and effective amount.

If you choose to use it, follow the directions on the product label exactly, since the manufacturer's tincture is typically dosed as a small number of drops in water. Do not assume that more is better.

Before starting, check with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medicines, have a health condition, or are using it as part of a larger protocol.

References & further reading

The 3 sources that drive our Banderol monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing.

Lyme Disease and Alternative Treatments — NIH NCCIH Source
Using Dietary Supplements Wisely — NIH NCCIH Source
Herbal Supplements — MedlinePlus Source

Keep reading

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.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Banderol: Common Questions

Does Banderol interact with prescription medications?

Yes. We list 177 medications with a known interaction with Banderol. Use the checker above to see how Banderol interacts with a specific drug.

How are Banderol interactions rated?

Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.

Is it safe to take Banderol with my medications?

It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.

Where does this Banderol interaction information come from?

Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.

What is Banderol used for?

It is most often used in alternative health protocols for Lyme disease and as a general antimicrobial and immune support, but solid human evidence for these uses is lacking.

Does Banderol actually work?

Most supporting research is from test-tube studies, not human trials, so we cannot say it is proven effective for any condition. It should not replace proven treatments like antibiotics.

Is Banderol safe to take?

Human safety data are very limited. It may be reasonable for some healthy adults under professional guidance, but caution is advised and it is best to talk with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Can I take Banderol while pregnant or breastfeeding?

No reliable safety information exists for these situations, so it is best to avoid Banderol during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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

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