Drug interactions
Echinacea + Melphalan
Severity: Minor
Echinacea and Melphalan: minor interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Echinacea has immunostimulant properties that could theoretically counter immunosuppressive or cytotoxic therapy. There is no solid clinical evidence of reduced melphalan efficacy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Echinacea and Melphalan have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Echinacea belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Melphalan belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Theoretical pharmacodynamic opposition through immune stimulation; not established.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid echinacea supplements during melphalan treatment as a precaution.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Echinacea and Melphalan, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Melphalan
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine + Melphalan Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Melphalan Contraindicated
Other interactions of Echinacea
- Alefacept + Echinacea Moderate
- Antithymocyte globulin equine + Echinacea Moderate
- Antithymocyte globulin rabbit + Echinacea Moderate
- Azathioprine + Echinacea Moderate
- Basiliximab + Echinacea Moderate
- Cyclosporine + Echinacea Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Echinacea with Melphalan?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Echinacea and Melphalan have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Echinacea has immunostimulant properties that could theoretically counter immunosuppressive or cytotoxic therapy. There is no solid clinical evidence of reduced melphalan efficacy.
How serious is the interaction between Echinacea and Melphalan?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid echinacea supplements during melphalan treatment as a precaution.
What other medicines interact with Melphalan?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Melphalan with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Bcg vaccine live, Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal. The full list is on the Melphalan page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
