Drug & supplement interaction

Bismuth Nitrate + Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein

Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein brand names: Correctol, Modane Plus.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bismuth Nitrate and Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Bismuth Nitrate and Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein and Bismuth Nitrate in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Bismuth Nitrate at all — not against Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Bismuth Nitrate safety at a glance

Bismuth Nitrate overall Use caution Bismuth nitrate is not a standard supplement and can pose toxicity risks, so it should only be used under professional guidance.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety while breastfeeding is unknown, so avoid use.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein and Bismuth Nitrate? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Bismuth Nitrate Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein. It is the side-effect record for Bismuth Nitrate on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Bismuth Nitrate, this list is the first place to look. 4 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Confusion / Low mood Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, bismuth nitrate may cause headache. Long-term use of bismuth nitrate has been associated with bismuth encephalopathy. One report describes a patient who developed confusion, restlessness, convulsions, hypertonia, hypoventilation, and fever after taking 30-40 grams of bismuth nitrate daily for 10-20 years to treat stomach troubles. The patient was comatose upon admission to the hospital.”

    Bismuth Nitrate · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    3 sources cited
    1. 100547. Bismuth nitrate; MSDS No. B3396 [Online]; Mallenckrodt Baker: Phillipsburg, NJ, December 8, 1996. https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/b3396.htm (accessed December 27, 2019).
    2. 100540. - Jaeger A, Kopferschmitt J, Sauder Ph, Flesch F, Tournoud C. Diagnosis in clinical toxicology. In: Bolt HM, de Wolff FA, Henderson PT (eds) Medical Toxicology. Archives of Toxicology (Supplement). Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 1992:29-39. PubMed
    3. 100550. Von Bose MJ, Zaudig M. Encephalopathy resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following oral, prescribed doses of bismuth nitrate. Br J Psychiatry. 1991;158:278-80. PubMed
  • Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, bismuth nitrate may be converted to nitrites in the intestines, which may cause methemoglobinemia. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, cyanosis, headache, fatigue, changes in mental status, dizziness, and discoloration of the skin. In severe cases, dysrhythmias, convulsion, coma, or death may occur.”

    Bismuth Nitrate · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    2 sources cited
    1. 100547. Bismuth nitrate; MSDS No. B3396 [Online]; Mallenckrodt Baker: Phillipsburg, NJ, December 8, 1996. https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/b3396.htm (accessed December 27, 2019).
    2. 101508. Raafat BM, Samir WA, Khader MH. Met-Hemoglobin concentration reduction and methemoglobin reductase enhancement after applying of alpha-tocopherol and selenium combination as a radio protector against ionizing radiation exposure. Wulfenia J. 2012;19(10):37
  • Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, bismuth nitrate may cause loss of appetite, headache, methemoglobinemia, or kidney damage. Chronic use of bismuth nitrate may cause black spots on the gums, bad breath, salivation, and a "bismuth line." In rare cases, chronic use of bismuth may cause bismuth encephalopathy. Orally or topically, bismuth nitrate may cause mild skin irritation.”

    Bismuth Nitrate · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    5 sources cited
    1. 100540. - Jaeger A, Kopferschmitt J, Sauder Ph, Flesch F, Tournoud C. Diagnosis in clinical toxicology. In: Bolt HM, de Wolff FA, Henderson PT (eds) Medical Toxicology. Archives of Toxicology (Supplement). Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 1992:29-39. PubMed
    2. 100547. Bismuth nitrate; MSDS No. B3396 [Online]; Mallenckrodt Baker: Phillipsburg, NJ, December 8, 1996. https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/b3396.htm (accessed December 27, 2019).
    3. 100550. Von Bose MJ, Zaudig M. Encephalopathy resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following oral, prescribed doses of bismuth nitrate. Br J Psychiatry. 1991;158:278-80. PubMed
    4. 101507. Lewis RJ Sr. Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference. 6th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley; 2008.
    5. 101508. Raafat BM, Samir WA, Khader MH. Met-Hemoglobin concentration reduction and methemoglobin reductase enhancement after applying of alpha-tocopherol and selenium combination as a radio protector against ionizing radiation exposure. Wulfenia J. 2012;19(10):37
  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Inhalation of bismuth nitrate may cause respiratory tract irritation, with symptoms including cough and shortness of breath.”

    Bismuth Nitrate · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cough.

    1 source cited
    1. 100547. Bismuth nitrate; MSDS No. B3396 [Online]; Mallenckrodt Baker: Phillipsburg, NJ, December 8, 1996. https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/b3396.htm (accessed December 27, 2019).
  • Trouble concentrating / Sweating / Dry mouth Additional detail

    Recorded for Bismuth Nitrate in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Confusion / Low mood above.

  • Eye irritation or redness Additional detail

    Recorded for Bismuth Nitrate in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Kidney problems above.

  • Mouth irritation or sores Additional detail

    “Orally, bismuth nitrate may cause loss of appetite. Chronic use of bismuth nitrate may cause black spots on the gums, bad breath, salivation, and a "bismuth line," which is a thin, blue-black discoloration along the gum margin. Serious ulcerative stomatitis may occur if bismuth nitrate use is not discontinued when gingivitis appears.”

    Bismuth Nitrate · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in gingivitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 100547. Bismuth nitrate; MSDS No. B3396 [Online]; Mallenckrodt Baker: Phillipsburg, NJ, December 8, 1996. https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/b3396.htm (accessed December 27, 2019).
    2. 101507. Lewis RJ Sr. Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference. 6th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley; 2008.

Showing the 10 most notable of 19 recorded effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Bismuth Nitrate — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein.

From our Q&A

Questions About Bismuth Nitrate or Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Bismuth Nitrate or Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein, 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 Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein

This page covers Bismuth Nitrate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein page lists 46 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Jalap (major), Oleander (major), Alder Buckthorn (moderate) and Aloe (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 34 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein page

“Correctol and Modane Plus pair docusate, a stool softener, with phenolphthalein, a stimulant laxative, and the pairings below deserve real caution. Of the 46 supplements and herbs on this list, 29 are plant laxatives that work the same way phenolphthalein does, so doubling up can drain fluid and potassium fast.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Bismuth Nitrate as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1 real supplement products containing Bismuth Nitrate, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bismuth Nitrate. Even though Bismuth Nitrate itself has no known interaction with Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Bismuth Nitrate and Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein 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 Bismuth Nitrate
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein
Top 5%

#96 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Bismuth Nitrate reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Bismuth Nitrate and Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Bismuth Nitrate

What is Bismuth Nitrate?

  • Upset stomach and indigestion
  • Diarrhea
  • Wound and skin protection (topical)
  • Mild antiseptic

Bismuth nitrate is a bismuth-based chemical compound that was historically used for stomach complaints and as a mild topical antiseptic, but it is not a common modern dietary supplement and is rarely used today. Better-studied bismuth products (like bismuth subsalicylate) have largely replaced it, and bismuth nitrate carries safety concerns, so talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using any bismuth product.

Not applicable (a chemical bismuth compound, not a plant) · Compounded powders, topical preparations, and historically in some oral antacid or stomach formulas

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Bismuth Nitrate is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Bismuth Nitrate record says about it on its own.

Bismuth Nitrate: dosing

There is no established standard dose of bismuth nitrate as a supplement, and it is not a typical over-the-counter product. Because of this, no specific safe amount can be recommended here.If a product containing bismuth nitrate is available to you, follow the directions on the label exactly and do not exceed them.

From our Bismuth Nitrate monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Bismuth Nitrate monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Bisacodyl

What Is Bisacodyl Used For?

Brand names: Correctol, Modane Plus

Bisacodyl is used for the temporary relief of occasional constipation and irregularity. Oral tablets (including Dulcolax Stimulant Laxative and Fleet tablets) generally produce a bowel movement within 6 to 12 hours.

Rectal suppositories (such as Dulcolax Laxative, Conlax, Avedana Gentle Laxative, and others) typically work within 15 minutes to 1 hour. The Fleet Enema (rectal) is also used for relief of fecal impaction (a severe blockage of stool) and for removal of residue after barium administration (a procedure used in certain imaging tests), and usually works within 5 to 20 minutes.

See full Bisacodyl drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bismuth Nitrate

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Bismuth Nitrate References

The 6 references that drive our Bismuth Nitrate monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. - Jaeger A, Kopferschmitt J, Sauder Ph, Flesch F, Tournoud C. Diagnosis in clinical toxicology. In: Bolt HM, de Wolff FA, Henderson PT (eds) Medical Toxicology. Archives of Toxicology (Supplement). Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 1992:29-39. PubMed
  2. Bismuth nitrate; MSDS No. B3396 [Online]; Mallenckrodt Baker: Phillipsburg, NJ, December 8, 1996. https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/b3396.htm (accessed December 27, 2019).
  3. Saberi-Firoozi M, Massarrat S, Zare S, et al. Effect of triple therapy or amoxycillin plus omeprazole or amoxycillin plus tinidazole plus omeprazole on duodenal ulcer healing, eradication of Helicobacter pylori, and prevention of ulcer relapse over a 1-ye
  4. Von Bose MJ, Zaudig M. Encephalopathy resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following oral, prescribed doses of bismuth nitrate. Br J Psychiatry. 1991;158:278-80. PubMed
  5. Lewis RJ Sr. Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference. 6th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley; 2008.
  6. Raafat BM, Samir WA, Khader MH. Met-Hemoglobin concentration reduction and methemoglobin reductase enhancement after applying of alpha-tocopherol and selenium combination as a radio protector against ionizing radiation exposure. Wulfenia J. 2012;19(10):37

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bismuth Nitrate and Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bismuth Nitrate with Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein?
We do not list a known interaction between Bismuth Nitrate and Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Does Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein interact with any supplements?
Yes. Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein has documented interactions with 46 supplements in our database — Bismuth Nitrate is not one of them. The Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein and Bismuth Nitrate?

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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.