Drug & supplement interaction

American Spikenard + Ethacrynic Acid

Ethacrynic Acid brand name: Edecrin.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated February 2024
The bottom line Minor

American Spikenard has a minor interaction with Ethacrynic Acid. American spikenard is purported to have diaphoretic properties.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

American Spikenard and Ethacrynic Acid

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Minor

Diuretic Drugs

Why this applies to Ethacrynic Acid

Ethacrynic Acid falls under Diuretic Drugs — the group American Spikenard interacts with.

American spikenard is purported to have diaphoretic properties. Diaphoretic substances can increase sweating and fluid loss from the body, which may enhance the effects of diuretics. This interaction could potentially lead to excessive fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance, especially in individuals taking diuretic medications. Healthcare providers need to monitor patients closely for signs of dehydration or electrolyte disturbances if they are using both Aralia racemosa and diuretic drugs concurrently.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin) is a strong water pill that already pulls a lot of fluid and salt out of your body. American spikenard is traditionally thought to make you sweat more, which on its own causes some fluid loss too. Stack the two together and you could, in theory, lose a bit more water and minerals than expected.

What might that look like? Things like feeling dizzy or lightheaded when you stand, more thirst, muscle cramps, or low potassium and sodium. I'll be honest though, this concern is mostly theoretical and rated minor, with weak evidence behind it. Still, since ethacrynic acid is a potent diuretic, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

American Spikenard Also Interacts With Other Medications

American Spikenard has 74 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ethacrynic Acid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Minor 74 No known interaction 2,756 (incl. Ethacrynic Acid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against American Spikenard

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against American Spikenard. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About American Spikenard or Ethacrynic Acid

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers American Spikenard or Ethacrynic Acid, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ethacrynic Acid

This page covers American Spikenard only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethacrynic Acid page lists 201 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Lithium (major) and Oleander (major).

By severity: 7 major · 170 moderate · 24 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethacrynic Acid page

“Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin) is a potent loop diuretic, a water pill used to pull off serious fluid buildup, and its supplement list deserves genuine care, starting with the seven entries rated major. Most of the 201 interactions on file either stack with its blood-pressure-lowering effect, risking dizziness or faintness, or work against…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethacrynic Acid interaction page

How much people look this up

Where American Spikenard and Ethacrynic Acid Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement American Spikenard
Steady interest

#871 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ethacrynic Acid
Steady interest

#1,473 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About American Spikenard

What is American Spikenard?

American Spikenard
  • Cough and chest congestion
  • Common cold
  • Asthma symptoms
  • Promoting sweating
  • Skin and wound support (topical)

American spikenard is a traditional North American herb used mainly as an expectorant and to ease coughs and colds, but there is no reliable human research to confirm it works. If you choose to try it, use it short-term, follow the product label, and check with a pharmacist or doctor first—especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a health condition.

Read the full American Spikenard monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ethacrynic Acid

What Is Ethacrynic Acid Used For?

Brand name: Edecrin

Ethacrynic acid tablets (sold as Edecrin and Ethacrynic Acid) are used to treat edema — fluid buildup in the body — when stronger-than-usual diuretic action is needed. It is approved for edema related to congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease, including nephrotic syndrome.

It is also used for short-term management of fluid buildup from malignancy, idiopathic edema, and lymphedema, as well as short-term treatment of hospitalized children (not infants) with congenital heart disease or nephrotic syndrome.

See full Ethacrynic Acid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & American Spikenard

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against American Spikenard — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
74Minor
2,755No known interaction
74 Minor 2,755 No interaction
Minor

74 interactions

Showing 60 of 74 minor interactions — see all 74 on the American Spikenard page.

No interaction 2,755 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked American Spikenard against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,755 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full American Spikenard list.

See the full American Spikenard interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ethacrynic Acid, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
American Spikenard monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ethacrynic Acid supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethacrynic Acid, ranked by severity Ethacrynic Acid drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking American Spikenard and Ethacrynic Acid Together: Common Questions

Can you take American Spikenard with Ethacrynic Acid?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the American Spikenard and Ethacrynic Acid interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Ethacrynic Acid and American Spikenard?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.