Job's Tears Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Job's Tears interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Job's Tears is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Job's Tears 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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Add one medicationJob's Tears Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line
From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Job's Tears drug interaction appears low for most people, since no interaction is rated major and none has been confirmed in human studies. Every listed interaction is rated moderate, and the documentation for each comes from animal or early lab research rather than well-controlled human trials.
The combinations worth the most attention involve medicines where small changes matter. Animal research suggests Job's Tears may help the gut absorb more of certain drugs, raising their blood levels; this could be meaningful for theophylline, which has a narrow safety margin, and for diltiazem, a blood pressure medicine. Early evidence also hints that Job's Tears may lower blood sugar, so people taking diabetes medications such as insulin or glyburide should watch for signs of low blood sugar.
A long list of interacting medications can look worrying, but here it mostly reflects one broad theoretical concern applied to many drugs at once. These predictions come from animal and preliminary studies, and none of the effects has been shown to cause meaningful problems in people so far.
Based on HelloPharmacist’s Job's Tears interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.
Drugs that interact with Job's Tears
128 medications have a known interaction with Job's Tears, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
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Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Job's Tears using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.
AI summaries are generated from our Job's Tears interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI
No drugs match “”.
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 Job's Tears combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
The kinds of drugs Job's Tears affects
Every type of medication (drug category) Job's Tears is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.
Antidiabetes Drugs
Preliminary evidence shows that constituents of Job's tears might have hypoglycemic effects. Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs that decrease blood glucose levels might increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte, Paraflex)
Animal research suggests that Job's tears might enhance absorption of chlorzoxazone in the small intestine. Single dose and short-term oral administration of Job's tears bran ethanolic extract along with oral administration of a five-drug cocktail containing chlorzoxazone increases chlorzoxazone peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) without altering major cytochrome P450 activities in the liver. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Dextromethorphan (Robitussin Dm, Others)
Animal research suggests that Job's tears might enhance absorption of dextromethorphan in the small intestine. Single dose oral administration of Job's tears bran ethanolic extract along with oral administration of a five-drug cocktail containing dextromethorphan increases dextromethorphan area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) without altering major cytochrome P450 activities in the liver. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Others)
Animal research suggests that Job's tears might enhance absorption of diltiazem in the small intestine. Single dose oral administration of Job's tears bran ethanolic extract along with oral administration of a five-drug cocktail containing diltiazem increases diltiazem peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) without altering major cytochrome P450 activities in the liver. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Theophylline
Animal research suggests that Job's tears might enhance absorption of theophylline in the small intestine. Single dose and short-term oral administration of Job's tears bran ethanolic extract along with oral administration of a five-drug cocktail containing theophylline increases theophylline peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) without altering major cytochrome P450 activities in the liver. This effect has not been reported in humans.
Job's Tears: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Job's Tears is a grain-like seed long used as a food and in traditional medicine, especially in East Asia. While it is generally safe as a food and is being studied for possible effects on metabolism, inflammation, and immunity, strong human evidence for its health claims is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements, especially during pregnancy.
- Scientific name
- Coix lacryma-jobi
- Family
- Poaceae
- Part used
- Seeds (grain/kernel), sometimes root
- Common forms
- Whole grain, cooked food, tea, powder, capsules, flour
- Digestive support
- Skin health and smoothness
- Mild swelling or water retention
- General nourishing food/tonic
- Joint discomfort (traditional use)
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Generally safe as a cooked food, but concentrated supplement evidence is limited.
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy and human safety data are lacking.
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) is a tall grass that produces hard, bead-like seeds. The plant is native to parts of Asia and is now grown in many warm regions around the world. The shiny seeds were historically strung into beads, which is how the plant got its name.
As a food, the polished grain is cooked much like barley or rice and used in soups, porridges, teas, and desserts, especially in China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine the seed (often called "yi yi ren") is used for digestion, dampness or swelling, and skin concerns.
How it works
Job's Tears seeds contain starch, protein, fiber, and various plant compounds. Researchers have studied substances such as coixenolide and coixol, along with antioxidants and certain fatty acids, for possible anti-inflammatory and immune-related effects.
It is important to know that much of this is based on test-tube and animal research. These early findings suggest possible mechanisms, but they do not confirm that eating the grain or taking a supplement produces the same effects in people.
Does Job's Tears work?
How to read these evidence grades
Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.
For Job's Tears, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.
Also studied for 1 condition — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Hyperlipidemia
Preliminary evidence shows that consuming Job's tears 60 grams daily in place of rice for 4 weeks can significantly lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidemia. More evidence is needed to rate Job's tears for this use.
Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.
Safety & precautions
Job's Tears is widely eaten as a food and is generally well tolerated in normal food amounts. Concentrated extracts and supplements have not been studied as carefully, so their long-term safety is less certain.
People with grain or grass allergies should be cautious. Those with diabetes or who take blood-sugar–lowering treatment should monitor closely, since the grain may affect blood sugar. Pregnant people should avoid Job's Tears beyond ordinary culinary amounts, because it has traditionally been avoided in pregnancy and human safety data are lacking. During breastfeeding, stick to normal food amounts and check with your clinician before using supplements. Always talk with a pharmacist or doctor before starting any concentrated product.
Side effects
As a food, Job's Tears rarely causes problems for most people. Possible mild effects include digestive upset, bloating, or gas, especially when eaten in large amounts.
Allergic reactions are possible in people sensitive to grains or grasses. If you notice rash, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing, stop using it and seek medical care.
Dosing
There is no established standardized dose for Job's Tears as a supplement. As a food, it is simply cooked and eaten like other whole grains.
For capsules, powders, or teas, follow the directions on the product label, since strengths vary widely between products. Because a proven effective and safe supplement dose has not been set, check with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated forms.
Job's Tears & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 3 references that drive our Job's Tears 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.
- Chiang W, Cheng C, Chiang M, Chung KT. Effects of dehulled adlay on the culture count of some microbiota and their metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract of rats. J Agric Food Chem 2000;48:829-32. PubMed
- Yu YM, Chang WC, Liu CS, Tsai CM. Effect of young barley leaf extract and adlay on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic smokers. Biol Pharm Bull 2004;27:802-5. PubMed
- Yao HT, Lin JH, Liu YT, Li ML, Chiang W. Food-Drug Interaction between the Adlay Bran Oil and Drugs in Rats. Nutrients 2019;11(10):2473. PubMed
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.
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
Brands that make products with Job's Tears
25 brands in our database make a supplement containing Job's Tears.
Supplement products with Job's Tears
111 products in our database contain Job's Tears. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.
Job's Tears: Common Questions
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Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Products that contain Job's Tears
A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Job's Tears — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.
- ProstateEssence by Pure Essence
- Yi Yi Ren Alcohol Free by Hawaii Pharm
- Curing Pills by Plum Flower
- Quiet Digestion by Health Concerns
- Prostate Support System by Bairn Biologics
- Shen Ling Bai Zhu Pian by Plum Flower
- Quiet Digestion by Health Concerns
- Shen Ling by Health Concerns
- Super Placenta Beauty Queen #1 by Vigor Source
- Complete Detox by Doctor Bonhomme
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