Drug interactions
Echinacea + Mercaptopurine
Severity: Minor
Echinacea and Mercaptopurine: 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 immune-stimulating properties and could in theory counteract the immunosuppressive purpose of mercaptopurine. Clinical data are lacking and the effect is uncertain.
What this interaction means in plain words
Echinacea and Mercaptopurine 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; Mercaptopurine belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Theoretical pharmacodynamic antagonism between immune stimulation by echinacea and immunosuppression by mercaptopurine.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid echinacea products while on mercaptopurine, particularly in transplant or autoimmune settings. Monitor disease control if use occurs.
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 Mercaptopurine, 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 Mercaptopurine
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Azathioprine + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Bcg vaccine live + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Febuxostat + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent intranasal + Mercaptopurine Contraindicated
- Mercaptopurine + Smallpox vaccine live 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 Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Echinacea and Mercaptopurine 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 immune-stimulating properties and could in theory counteract the immunosuppressive purpose of mercaptopurine. Clinical data are lacking and the effect is uncertain.
How serious is the interaction between Echinacea and Mercaptopurine?
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 products while on mercaptopurine, particularly in transplant or autoimmune settings. Monitor disease control if use occurs.
What other medicines interact with Mercaptopurine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mercaptopurine with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Azathioprine, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Mercaptopurine 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.
