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Dietary supplement

Mucuna Pruriens Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Sun Potion

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

Mucuna Pruriens is a dietary supplement by Sun Potion with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for parkinson's disease symptoms, male fertility and libido, mood and stress support.Based on those ingredients, 193 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Mucuna pruriens Bean Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion

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

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.

Sun Potion's Mucuna Pruriens is a single-ingredient powder: mucuna pruriens bean extract. It's a concentrated form of a tropical plant that's been used traditionally to support mood and vitality.

The plant naturally contains levodopa (L-dopa), an amino acid that your body converts to dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in movement, mood, and motivation. Because it's an active, drug-like compound, this product calls for careful use under professional guidance.

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

We hold no graded evidence for this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: dopamine bean for general wellness.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

The evidence we hold doesn't establish that mucuna pruriens works for the uses listed — anxiety, skin redness (erythema), high prolactin levels, muscle pain (myalgia), Parkinson disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. All are rated insufficient reliable evidence to rate.

If you're considering it for any of these, talk with your doctor about whether the research supports it for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Cowhage

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.

Oral mucuna pruriens is generally well tolerated, but a thorough safety study hasn't been done. The most common side effects from taking it by mouth are diarrhea, flatulence, and mouth irritation.

Some people report dry mouth, headache, nausea, belly distention, or vomiting — especially at higher doses (research used 22.5–67.5 grams per day split into several doses). About 3% of trial participants taking the higher doses developed insomnia.

The safety data advises against use during pregnancy because of its dopamine effects and lack of safety testing. L-dopa can lower prolactin and reduce milk supply, so the data advises against use while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Cowhage

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Cowhage.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications; Parkinson's medications.
  • For scale: 193 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 you take this product, double-check if you're on any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) — older antidepressants like phenelzine or tranylcypromine — or methyldopa, a blood pressure medication; both carry major risks. Also confirm you're not taking levodopa for Parkinson disease.

Run through your list of blood pressure drugs (especially guanethidine), blood sugar medications, tricyclic antidepressants, and antipsychotics with your doctor or pharmacist, since moderate interactions are documented.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Mucuna pruriens is a concentrated, drug-like supplement with major interaction risks — especially if you take MAOIs, methyldopa, or levodopa itself. Evidence for its effectiveness isn't established in the data we hold.

If you're on any blood pressure medication, antidepressant, blood sugar drug, or antipsychotic, or if you have surgery planned, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it. This is one worth clearing with your own healthcare provider first.

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 Mar 22, 2024.

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 Mucuna Pruriens, straight from the product label.

Brand Sun Potion
Barcode (UPC) 045635343405
Net contents 100 Gram(s); 3.5 Ounce(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2024
DSLD ID 307998
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic
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 Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion, 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:
1.25 Gram(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1.25 Gram(s)
Servings per container
80
UPC/BARCODE
045635343405
IngredientAmount% DV
Mucuna pruriens Bean Extract0 NP--

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

Daily alchemy + recipes @ sunpotion Instagram Thank you for being here This is an amazing time on the planet. Participate in the shift. Experience transformational foods with Sun Potion! We invite you to reuse this glass jar. Thank you.

In joy!

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

Consult your healthcare practitioner before use if pregnant.

Formulation

Certified Organic by CCOF

Dopamine bean Bean Cold water extract

Consuming Mucuna may: Enhance brain function Soothe the nervous system Support overall well being Elevate mood & refine the senses Our source Organic cold-water extract of the Mucuna Pruriens Bean. Grown & processed in India.

Certified CCOF Organic USDA Organic

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Invitations for use Add 1/2 teaspoon to water or tea! Excellent addition to milk potions, elixirs, smoothies, shakes, raw treats, busy schedules, soup, social moments, everything!

These are powerful foods. Consume in small, regular doses over a lifetime.

Formula

Velvet bean of dopamine This organic cold water extract powder contains 15% L-DOPA, a precursor to dopamine.

Seals/Symbols

Certified CCOF Organic USDA Organic

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

See for yourself

Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion

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

Serving size1.25 Gram(s) Dosage formPowder Servings per container80 Amounts shown are per serving.

Mucuna pruriens Bean Extract

Interacts with
193 drugs
0 NP per serving Form: L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine

Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) is a tropical legume best known as a natural source of L-dopa, the compound the body turns into dopamine. It is most studied...

Mucuna pruriens Bean Extract monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Mucuna Pruriens?

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
193Drugs
17 Major 176 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Mucuna Pruriens 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.

Mucuna pruriens Bean Extract8 drug types · 193 drugs

Levodopa

Concomitant use can increase the risk of levodopa-related adverse effects.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Some cowhage products have been standardized to contain 75-400 mg of levodopa per dose.

Likelihood Likely Evidence D
Methyldopa (Aldomet)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and methyldopa might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with methyldopa might cause additive hypotension. In addition, methyldopa may inhibit peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa and increase levodopa levels in the central nervous system; avoid using.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and non-selective MAOIs might increase the risk of hypertensive crisis.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with non-selective MAOIs might cause hypertensive crisis. However, this interaction has not been reported with MAO-B selective inhibitors such as selegiline.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Anesthesia

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and anesthesia might increase the risk of arrhythmias.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anesthesia has led to arrhythmias. Other anesthetics have not been implicated. Use other anesthetics in patients taking cowhage or tell patients to stop taking cowhage at least 2 weeks before surgery.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research shows that cowhage might have hypoglycemic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antipsychotic Drugs

Theoretically, use of cowhage might decrease the clinical effects of antipsychotic drugs.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa might counteract the antidopaminergic effects of antipsychotic medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Guanethidine (Ismelin)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and guanethidine might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with guanethidine might cause additive hypotension; avoid using.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Tricyclic Antidepressants (Tcas)

Theoretically, use of TCAs might reduce the levels and clinical effects of cowhage.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of TCAs might reduce the absorption of levodopa. Some case reports describe patients that developed hypertension and dyskinesia when taking both levodopa and TCAs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Mucuna Pruriens, from the product label.

Sun Potion

See all Sun Potion products
Name
Sun Potion, LLC Transformational Foods
Street Address
430 E. Gutierrez Street
City
Santa Barbara
State
CA
Phone Number
866.676.8466
Web Address
www.SunPotion.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion: Common Questions

Does Mucuna Pruriens by Sun Potion interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Mucuna Pruriens has a known interaction with 193 medications, including 17 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Mucuna Pruriens 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.
What exactly is in this powder?
It's mucuna pruriens bean extract — a concentrated form of a plant that naturally contains levodopa, an amino acid your body converts to dopamine. That's why it's active enough to interact with medications and why it needs to be handled carefully.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data advises against it. During pregnancy, there isn't enough safety data and the dopamine effects raise concerns. While breastfeeding, L-dopa can lower prolactin and reduce milk supply, so it's best avoided.
What side effects might I get?
The most common are diarrhea, flatulence, and mouth irritation. Some people report dry mouth, headache, nausea, belly bloating, or vomiting — especially at higher doses. About 3% of people taking the higher doses in research developed insomnia.
Does this actually work for Parkinson disease, anxiety, or the other conditions listed?
The evidence we hold doesn't establish that it works for any of them — all are rated insufficient reliable evidence. If you're thinking of trying it for one of those uses, talk with your doctor about whether research supports it for you.
Why does this product interact with so many medications?
It contains levodopa, an active compound that mimics and influences dopamine in your brain and body. That dopamine activity is why it can boost or interfere with blood pressure meds, antidepressants, blood sugar drugs, antipsychotics, and others.
Is this safe to use with my medications?
That depends entirely on what you take. The product has major interactions with MAOIs, methyldopa, and levodopa itself, and moderate interactions with several other drug types. Use the medication checker on this page, then talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you start.

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

Not sure if Mucuna Pruriens 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.

Mucuna Pruriens label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Mucuna Pruriens'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 12 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.

Cowhage 12 references
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  3. Anon. Epidemiological notes and reports: Mucuna pruriens-associated pruritus--New Jersey. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1985;34:732-3.
  4. HP-200 in Parkinson's Disease study group. An alternative medicine treatment for Parkinson's disease: Results of a multicenter clinical trial. J Alt Comp Med 1995;1:249-55. DOI
  5. Infante ME, Perez AM, Simao MR, et al. Outbreak of acute toxic psychosis attributed to Mucuna pruriens. Lancet 1990;336:1129. PubMed
  6. Vaidya AB, Rajagopalan TG, Mankodi NA, et al. Treatment of Parkinson's disease with the cowhage plant-Mucuna pruriens Bak. Neurol India 1978;26:171-6.
  7. Vadivel V, Janardhanan K. Nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of velvet bean: an under-utilized food legume in south India. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2000;51:279-87. PubMed
  8. Akhtar MS, Qureshi AQ, Iqbal J. Antidiabetic evaluation of Mucuna pruriens, Linn seeds. J Pak Med Assoc 1990;40:147-50.
  9. Prakash, D., Niranjan, A., and Tewari, S. K. Some nutritional properties of the seeds of three Mucuna species. Int.J.Food Sci.Nutr. 2001;52(1):79-82.
  10. Vadivel, V. and Janardhanan, K. Nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of seven South Indian wild legumes. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr 2005;60(2):69-75. PubMed
  11. Creapure (Creatine Monohydrate). Toxicological Datasheet. Degussa BioActives. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/DOCKETS/.../95s-0316-rpt0154-54-Ref-50-vol112.pdf.
  12. Pulikkalpura H, Kurup R, Mathew PJ, Baby S. Levodopa in Mucuna pruriens and its degradation. Sci Rep 2015;5:11078. PubMed

See these in context on the Cowhage 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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