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Dietary supplement

Coptis Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

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

Coptis is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive upset and diarrhea, mouth sores and sore throat, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 643 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Coptis Root Extract, Dry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Coptis by Hawaii Pharm

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 contains one active ingredient: Coptis Root Extract, Dry — a concentrated form of goldthread root, a traditional herb used in herbal medicine. The liquid also includes alcohol, water, and glycerin as inactive ingredients to preserve and deliver the extract.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
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
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Goldthread product and its label doesn't state a use — see Goldthread's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

We don't hold effectiveness data for Coptis in our records, so we can't speak to what it's been studied for or how well it works. If you're considering it for a specific health purpose, your pharmacist or doctor can point you toward the evidence.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Goldthread

How safe is it?

Some data gaps
Safety Information · database check
Some gaps

Safety data exists for these ingredients, but with some important gaps.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 0 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.

Human safety data for goldthread are limited, and product quality varies between manufacturers, so the safety profile isn't well established. Short-term use by some adults appears to be tolerated, but long-term safety isn't clear.

Goldthread should not be used during pregnancy — berberine (its active component) is likely unsafe for the fetus. It should also be avoided while breastfeeding, because berberine passes into breast milk and may harm infants.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Goldthread

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 — Goldthread.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 644 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 Coptis, check your medications against cyclosporine and any drug metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP3A4 (including lovastatin and many others). If you take either, confirm with your pharmacist that this product is safe for you.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and some safety-information gaps remain.

If you take cyclosporine or any medication metabolized by CYP3A4, you need to check with your pharmacist before using this product. Pregnant people and those nursing should not use it.

For everyone else, the limited human safety data means a conversation with your pharmacist about your individual situation is wise.

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 Oct 24, 2023.

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 Coptis, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 840253616098
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 24, 2023
DSLD ID 301492
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten 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 Coptis by Hawaii Pharm, 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:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
840253616098
IngredientAmount% DV
Coptis Root Extract, Dry983 mg--

Other ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin

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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Shake well before using. For adults add about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to some juice or water, up to 4 times a day.

Precautions

Warning: We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

May affect the ability to drive and operate machinery. May have contraindications, can cause side effects and adverse reactions. Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children!

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Seals/Symbols

cGMP Made in compliance with cGMP 21 CFR 111 in an FDA registered and inspected facility.

Organic Alcohol Based USA Made in United States of America

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Scan this QR-code to get 15% discount on your next purchase. Limited time deal.

Formula

Coptis chinensis

Organic Alcohol Based

Formulation

Only natural ingredients Purity is laboratory tested and verified

All the raw materials are gluten-free by their nature No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Not tested on animals

Organic Alcohol Based

Made in USA, Hawaii

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

See for yourself

Coptis by Hawaii Pharm label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Coptis by Hawaii Pharm

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

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Coptis Root Extract, Dry

Interacts with
643 drugs
983 mg per serving Form: Coptis chinensis Root Extract, Dry

Goldthread is a traditional Chinese and East Asian herb whose root is rich in berberine, a compound being studied for blood sugar, cholesterol, and an...

Coptis Root Extract, Dry monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Coptis by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Coptis?

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
643Drugs
643 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Coptis 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.

Coptis Root Extract, Dry2 drug types · 643 drugs

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

Berberine, a constituent of goldthread, can reduce metabolism of cyclosporine and increase serum levels. It might inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which metabolizes cyclosporine.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

There's very preliminary evidence that berberine, a constituent of goldthread, might inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, watch for an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in patients taking goldthread. Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), indinavir (Crixivan), sildenafil (Viagra), triazolam (Halcion), and numerous others. Use goldthread cautiously or avoid in patients taking these drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Coptis, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
Street Address
510 Sumner St. Ste. 613
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96817
Phone Number
888-854-2924
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Coptis by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Coptis by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Coptis has a known interaction with 643 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Coptis 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 this while I'm pregnant?
No. Berberine, the active ingredient in goldthread, is likely unsafe during pregnancy and may harm the fetus. Avoid this product if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Is it safe to use while breastfeeding?
No. Berberine passes into breast milk and may cause harm to infants, so goldthread should be avoided while you're nursing.
What is coptis root used for?
We don't have effectiveness data on file for coptis, so we can't tell you what it's been studied to treat. Talk with your pharmacist about what you're hoping it will do for you.
Are there any side effects I should know about?
We don't hold specific side-effect data for this product. Human safety studies are limited, so uncommon effects may not be well documented. If you experience anything unusual after starting it, let your pharmacist know.
Why do I need to check my medications?
Berberine in this product can raise blood levels of cyclosporine and potentially many other drugs your liver breaks down, which could make them too strong. It's important to make sure your specific medications aren't affected before you start.
Does this product have fillers?
It contains alcohol, water, and glycerin — these are inactive ingredients used to preserve and deliver the extract. There are no other inactive ingredients listed.

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

Not sure if Coptis is safe with your meds?

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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.

Coptis label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Coptis'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 3 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.

Goldthread 3 references
  1. Chan E. Displacement of bilirubin from albumin by berberine. Biol Neonate 1993;63:201-8. PubMed
  2. Wu X, Li Q, Xin H, Yu A, Zhong M. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61:567-72. PubMed
  3. Chuang CH, Doyle P, Wang JD, et al. Herbal medicines used during the first trimester and major congenital malformations: an analysis of data from a pregnancy cohort study. Drug Saf 2006;29:537-48. PubMed

See these in context on the Goldthread 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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