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Dietary supplement

Lavender Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by doTERRA

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

Lavender is a dietary supplement by doTERRA with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for anxiety and stress, sleep problems, relaxation and calming.Based on those ingredients, 248 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Lavender Essential Oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Lavender by doTERRA

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 pure lavender essential oil — one active ingredient. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, very different from the diluted forms you'd find in food or topical skincare.

Because this is an essential oil, it's potent and not meant to be swallowed in its pure form; it should only be used as directed by the label or your healthcare provider.

Does it work?

Not established
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 established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Lavender's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Relaxation, calming, and aromatherapy.
  • We looked for evidence on: Stress, Insomnia, Perioperative anxiety, Pre-procedural anxiety, Anxiety, Sleep quality — and 1 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Lavender is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Pre-procedural anxiety (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Lavender is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Insomnia, Stress, Perioperative anxiety.

Lavender has possibly effective evidence for dysmenorrhea (painful periods). For cancer-related pain, the evidence suggests it's possibly ineffective.

For alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), pre-procedural anxiety, and cancer-related fatigue, there isn't enough reliable evidence in our data to rate how well it works.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lavender

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.

Lavender essential oil is generally well tolerated when used as directed, but it's toxic if swallowed in its pure form and can irritate skin in some people. The most common side effects with oral lavender are breath odor, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, belching, headache, and nausea.

Topically, allergic skin reactions can occur. Rare cases of breast tissue growth have been reported in young boys using lavender oil.

Because safety data for essential oils is limited, use medicinal amounts only with your doctor's approval and guidance.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lavender

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 — Lavender.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 248 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.

Check before combining with CNS depressants — sedating drugs like benzodiazepines, sleep aids (zolpidem, melatonin), narcotic pain relievers, antihistamines, and muscle relaxants. Lavender may increase how much these drugs calm or sedate you.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This concentrated lavender essential oil may help with period pain, though evidence for other uses isn't strong or is still being studied. The main caution is mixing it with sedating medications — check with your pharmacist first.

Essential oils are potent and not meant to be taken neat; follow the label directions carefully, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting if you take any sleep aids, anti-anxiety drugs, or other CNS depressants.

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 May 19, 2022.

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 Lavender, straight from the product label.

Brand doTERRA
Net contents 15 mL; 0.5 fl. Oz.
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 19, 2022
DSLD ID 267373
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 Lavender by doTERRA, 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:
1 Drop(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Drop(s)
Servings per container
250
IngredientAmount% DV
Lavender Essential Oil60 mg--

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

For aromatic or topical use. Diffuse aromatically, or to apply topically, dilute with a carrier oil to minimize skin sensitivity.

For internal use dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.

Precautions

Caution: Possible skin sensitivity.

Keep out of reach of children.

If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician.

Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.

Formula

Lavandula angustifolia

FDA Statement of Identity

Essential Oil Supplement

Formulation

CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade

See for yourself

Lavender by doTERRA label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Lavender by doTERRA

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

Serving size1 Drop(s) Dosage formLiquid Servings per container250 Amounts shown are per serving.

Lavender Essential Oil

Interacts with
248 drugs
60 mg per serving

Lavender is a fragrant herb most popular for promoting relaxation, easing anxiety, and supporting sleep, with some encouraging evidence for a standard...

Lavender Essential Oil monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Lavender by doTERRA Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Lavender?

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
248Drugs
248 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Lavender 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.

Lavender Essential Oil1 drug type · 248 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, lavender might potentiate the therapeutic effects and adverse effects of CNS depressants.
Laboratory research suggests that lavender has sedative effects. However, clinical studies in patients taking oral lavender oil (Silexan) 160 mg for 10 weeks or taking lavender flower powder 1 gram daily for 2 months have not reported side effects of drowsiness, sedation, or sleepiness. There is still some concern that higher doses or different preparations of lavender might have additive effects with CNS depressant medications.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

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

doTERRA

See all doTERRA products
Name
doTERRA Intl, LLC
Street Address
389 South 1300 West
City
Pleasant Grove
State
UT
ZipCode
84062
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Lavender by doTERRA: Common Questions

Does Lavender by doTERRA interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Lavender has a known interaction with 248 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Lavender 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 or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough safety data on file for lavender essential oil in pregnancy and lactation to know either way. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What are the side effects I should watch for?
Most common ones are breath odor, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, belching, headache, and nausea if taken by mouth. If applied to skin, you might see allergic rash. Serious side effects are rare.
Is this lavender oil safe to swallow?
Pure essential oil is toxic if swallowed. This product must be used only as directed on the label — never taken straight or in undiluted form.
Will this help my anxiety before a procedure?
There isn't enough reliable evidence in our data to say whether lavender works for pre-procedural anxiety. Talk with your doctor about what's proven for your situation.

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

Not sure if Lavender 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.

Lavender label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Lavender'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 20 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.

Lavender 20 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.
  3. Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Fotouhi A, et al. Comparison of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. tincture and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized trial. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2003;27:123-7. PubMed
  4. Varma S, Blackford S, Statham BN, Blackwell A. Combined contact allergy to tea tree oil and lavender oil complicating chronic vulvovaginitis. Contact Dermatitis 2000;42:309-10.
  5. Coulson IH and Khan AS. Facial 'pillow' dermatitis due to lavender oil allergy. Contact Dermatitis 1999;41(2):111. PubMed
  6. Woelk, H. and Schlafke, S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(2):94-99. PubMed
  7. Kasper, S., Gastpar, M., Muller, W. E., Volz, H. P., Moller, H. J., Dienel, A., and Schlafke, S. Silexan, an orally administered Lavandula oil preparation, is effective in the treatment of 'subsyndromal' anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, plac
  8. Uehleke, B., Schaper, S., Dienel, A., Schlaefke, S., and Stange, R. Phase II trial on the effects of Silexan in patients with neurasthenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or somatization disorder. Phytomedicine. 6-15-2012;19(8-9):665-671. PubMed
  9. Brandao FM. Occupational allergy to lavender oil. Contact Dermatitis 1986;15(4):249-250. PubMed
  10. Rademaker M. Allergic contact dermatitis from lavender fragrance in Difflam gel. Contact Dermatitis 1994;31(1):58-59. PubMed
  11. Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, et al. Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder--a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 Jun;17(6):859-69. PubMed
  12. Farshbaf-Khalili A, Kamalifard M, Namadian M. Comparison of the effect of lavender and bitter orange on anxiety in postmenopausal women: A triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2018;31:132-8. PubMed
  13. Bingham LJ, Tam MM, Palmer AM, Cahill JL, Nixon RL. Contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis caused by lavender: A retrospective study from an Australian clinic. Contact Dermatitis. 2019;81(1):37-42. PubMed
  14. Donelli D, Antonelli M, Bellinazzi C, Gensini GF, Firenzuoli F. Effects of lavender on anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytomedicine. 2019;65:153099. PubMed
  15. Firoozeei TS, Feizi A, Rezaeizadeh H, Zargaran A, Roohafza HR, Karimi M. The antidepressant effects of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Complement Ther Med 2021;59:102 PubMed
  16. Kodama T, Watanabe T, Mataki N, Kanoh S, Kichikawa Y. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia following aromatherapy with essential oil. Respir Med Case Rep 2022;37:101657. PubMed
  17. Barbaud A, Kurihara F, Raison-Peyron N, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis from essential oil in consumer products: Mode of uses and value of patch-tests with an essential oil series. Results of a French study of the DAG (dermato-allergy group of the Fren
  18. Ozer H, Sayan ZA, Baloglu I, Ozturk Y, Yonet F, Turkmen K. Unknown criminals for kidney: Acute interstitial nephritis due to lavender tea. Explore (NY) 2023. PubMed
  19. Kasper S, Volz HP, Möller HJ, et al. Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in mild-to-moderate major depression: a randomized, placebo- and reference-controlled trial. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024. PubMed
  20. Simaei SR, Askari VR, Rostami M, et al. Lavender and metformin effectively propagate progesterone levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Fitoterapia 2023;172:105720. PubMed

See these in context on the Lavender 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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