Drug interactions
Echinacea + Tocilizumab
Severity: Minor
Echinacea and Tocilizumab: 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 is reputed to stimulate immune function, which could theoretically counter tocilizumab's anti-inflammatory effect. Clinical evidence of a meaningful interaction is lacking.
What this interaction means in plain words
Echinacea and Tocilizumab 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; Tocilizumab belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Theoretical pharmacodynamic opposition between immune stimulation and IL-6 receptor blockade; not established.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid echinacea products during tocilizumab therapy, and monitor disease activity if used.
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?
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Other interactions of Tocilizumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Rubella vaccine + Tocilizumab Contraindicated
- Smallpox vaccine live + Tocilizumab 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 Tocilizumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Echinacea and Tocilizumab 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 is reputed to stimulate immune function, which could theoretically counter tocilizumab's anti-inflammatory effect. Clinical evidence of a meaningful interaction is lacking.
How serious is the interaction between Echinacea and Tocilizumab?
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 during tocilizumab therapy, and monitor disease activity if used.
What other medicines interact with Tocilizumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tocilizumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Tocilizumab page.
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