Is Schisandra sphenanthera Extract Safe with tacrolimus?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Do not take Schisandra sphenanthera supplements while on tacrolimus. Inform your transplant team if you are using any herbal products containing Schisandra. Frequent monitoring of tacrolimus blood levels should begin within 1–3 days of co-administration.
Why this interaction occurs
Schisandra sphenanthera extracts are classified as strong CYP3A inhibitors. Co-administration may cause a rapid, sharp rise in tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations, increasing the risk of serious adverse reactions such as neurotoxicity and QT prolongation, even if tacrolimus dose is immediately reduced.
Evidence
Evidence level: strong.
Data source
FDA Drug Label
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 130,929 reports mentioning tacrolimus. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the tacrolimus + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Schisandra sphenanthera Extract interactions → · All tacrolimus interactions →
Already checked this one — check your whole list
Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.