Drug interactions
Echinacea + Ustekinumab
Severity: Minor
Echinacea and Ustekinumab: 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 claimed to stimulate immune activity, which could theoretically oppose ustekinumab's immunosuppressive effect. The clinical significance is unclear.
What this interaction means in plain words
Echinacea and Ustekinumab 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; Ustekinumab belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Theoretical pharmacodynamic opposition between immune stimulation and cytokine blockade; not well established.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid echinacea during ustekinumab therapy and monitor disease control.
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 Ustekinumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Typhoid vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Adalimumab + Ustekinumab Major
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Ustekinumab Major
- Alefacept + Ustekinumab Major
- Anakinra + Ustekinumab Major
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 Ustekinumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Echinacea and Ustekinumab 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 claimed to stimulate immune activity, which could theoretically oppose ustekinumab's immunosuppressive effect. The clinical significance is unclear.
How serious is the interaction between Echinacea and Ustekinumab?
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 during ustekinumab therapy and monitor disease control.
What other medicines interact with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ustekinumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Typhoid vaccine live, Adalimumab. The full list is on the Ustekinumab page.
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