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Dietary supplement

Butterbur Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by BulkSupplements.com

Powder Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Butterbur Extract is a dietary supplement by BulkSupplements.com with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for migraine prevention, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), asthma symptoms.Based on those ingredients, 87 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Butterbur extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product is just butterbur extract — one active ingredient, no fillers listed. Butterbur is a plant used traditionally for migraine prevention and allergy relief.

The extract is prepared to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (toxic compounds found in raw butterbur), which is important because raw butterbur can harm your liver.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Butterbur's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Butterbur for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Migraine headache — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

The evidence shows butterbur extract is possibly effective for two uses: migraine headaches and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). That means some decent research supports it, but the evidence isn't conclusive.

If you're considering it for either of those conditions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it makes sense for you alongside whatever else you're taking.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Butterbur

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Butterbur is generally well tolerated when you take it by mouth. Most side effects are mild — belching, diarrhea, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, itchy eyes, rash, and stomach upset.

Rarely, it can cause liver injury, even in supplements labeled as PA-free, so don't ignore signs like yellowing skin or dark urine. The safety data advises against butterbur during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because the risks aren't well understood and liver damage is a concern.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Butterbur

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Butterbur.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 88 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check whether you're on any CYP3A4 inducers (drugs that speed up liver processing of other substances). If you are, run them through the interaction checker below or ask your pharmacist — the interaction is Moderate and worth confirming before you start.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Butterbur may help with migraines or hay fever if you're looking for a plant-based option. But it's not for you if you're pregnant, nursing, or taking a CYP3A4-inducing medication without checking first.

Always use a PA-free standardized product, and talk with your pharmacist before you start — especially if you have liver concerns or take multiple drugs.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Aug 23, 2021.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Butterbur Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand BulkSupplements.com
Barcode (UPC) X001D4DDNT
Net contents 10 Gram(s); 0.35 Oz(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 23, 2021
DSLD ID 253957
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
150 mg
Maximum serving Sizes:
150 mg
Servings per container
67
UPC/BARCODE
X001D4DDNT
IngredientAmount% DV
Butterbur extract150 mg--

Other ingredients: None

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Clean & pure bulk supplements

Formulation

Free of: Added sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, additives

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take 150 mg once daily with water or as directed by a physician. Use an accurate milligram scale to measure.

Storage

Store in a dry, cool place

FDA Disclaimer Statement

Warning: This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Precautions

Always consult a physician before taking any dietary supplement.

Keep out of reach of children.

See for yourself

Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size150 mg Dosage formPowder Servings per container67 Amounts shown are per serving.

Butterbur extract

Interacts with
87 drugs
150 mg per serving Form: Petasins

Butterbur is a plant extract most studied for preventing migraines and easing hay fever symptoms, and some standardized products show promise. However...

Butterbur extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: None. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Butterbur Extract?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
87Drugs
87 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Butterbur Extract with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Butterbur extract1 drug type · 87 drugs

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Inducers

Theoretically, CYP3A4 inducers might increase the toxicity of butterbur.
The pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents found in some butterbur products are substrates of CYP3A4. Theoretically, drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase the conversion of PAs to toxic metabolites.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Butterbur Extract, from the product label.

BulkSupplements.com

See all BulkSupplements.com products
Name
BulkSupplements.com
Street Address
7511 Eastgate Rd
City
Henderson
State
NV
ZipCode
89011
Web Address
BulkSupplements.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com: Common Questions

Does Butterbur Extract by BulkSupplements.com interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Butterbur Extract has a known interaction with 87 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Butterbur Extract contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take butterbur extract if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against butterbur in both pregnancy and while breastfeeding because there isn't enough safety information and liver damage is a concern. Talk with your doctor about safer alternatives.
What's this 'PA-free' thing I keep hearing about?
PA stands for pyrrolizidine alkaloid — a compound in raw butterbur that can damage your liver. This product is made to be free of PAs, which is why it's safer. Always buy PA-free butterbur extract; never use raw butterbur.
What side effects should I watch for?
Most people experience mild effects like belching, diarrhea, drowsiness, or stomach upset. Rarely, butterbur can cause liver injury — stop and see a doctor if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.
Does this really work for migraines and allergies?
The evidence says it's possibly effective for both migraine headaches and hay fever, which means some solid research supports it — but it's not a sure thing. Results vary person to person.
Why do I need to check my medications before I start?
Butterbur contains compounds that your liver processes using a specific pathway. If you're on a drug that revs up that same pathway, it could theoretically increase butterbur's toxicity. That's why we need to check your exact medications first.

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

Not sure if Butterbur Extract is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Butterbur Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Butterbur Extract’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Butterbur Extract's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 7 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Butterbur 7 references
  1. Danesch U, Rittinghausen R. Safety of a patented special butterbur root extract for migraine prevention. Headache 2003;43:76-8.. PubMed
  2. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  3. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
  4. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. PubMed
  5. Pothmann R, Danesch U. Migraine Prevention in Children and Adolescents: Results of an Open Study With a Special Butterbur Root Extract. Headache 2005;45:196-203.. PubMed
  6. Oelkers-Ax R, Leins A, Parzer P, et al. Butterbur root extract and music therapy in the prevention of childhood migraine: an explorative study. Eur J Pain 2008;12:301-13. PubMed
  7. Schapowal A. Butterbur Ze339 for the treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis: dose-dependent efficacy in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Otolaryngol.Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:1381-86. PubMed

See these in context on the Butterbur monograph →

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

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