Drug & supplement interaction

Bismuth Nitrate + Formoterol

Formoterol brand names: Foradil Aerolizer, Atimos Modulite, Oxis Turbohaler, Perforomist, Foradil Certihaler.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bismuth Nitrate and Formoterol 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Bismuth Nitrate and Formoterol

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 Formoterol 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 Formoterol, 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 Formoterol and Bismuth Nitrate? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Bismuth Nitrate and Formoterol May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Dry mouth / Anxiety or restlessness / Trouble sleeping / Nausea Additional detail

    Bismuth Nitrate

    “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

    Formoterol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Formoterol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Tiredness / Dizziness Additional detail

    Bismuth Nitrate

    “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

    Formoterol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Formoterol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Headache Additional detail

    Bismuth Nitrate

    “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

    Formoterol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Formoterol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Bismuth Nitrate but not commonly for Formoterol: trouble concentrating, shortness of breath, reduced appetite and low mood.

Effects for Formoterol come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Bismuth Nitrate come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Formoterol

This page covers Bismuth Nitrate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Formoterol page lists 103 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,3-dmaa (moderate), Acacia Rigidula (moderate), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 84 moderate · 19 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Formoterol page

“Formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist) is the long-acting half of many asthma and COPD inhalers, keeping airways open for hours, and its supplement list is calmer than its length suggests. None of the 103 ingredients on file is rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Formoterol 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 Formoterol, 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 Formoterol 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
Steady interest

#1,216 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Formoterol
Steady interest

#2,418 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 20, 2026. The Bismuth Nitrate and Formoterol 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 Formoterol Oral Inhalation

What Is Formoterol Oral Inhalation Used For?

Brand names: Foradil Aerolizer, Atimos Modulite, Oxis Turbohaler, Perforomist, Foradil Certihaler

Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is used for the long-term maintenance treatment of airway narrowing (bronchoconstriction) in adults with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is taken twice daily — morning and evening — as a regular, ongoing treatment.

Important limits: This medication is not for relieving sudden COPD flare-ups or breathlessness in the moment, and it is not approved to treat asthma. A separate short-acting inhaler should always be on hand for sudden symptoms.

See full Formoterol Oral Inhalation 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 Formoterol Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bismuth Nitrate with Formoterol?
We do not list a known interaction between Bismuth Nitrate and Formoterol. 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.
Do Bismuth Nitrate and Formoterol have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 7 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Does Formoterol interact with any supplements?
Yes. Formoterol has documented interactions with 103 supplements in our database — Bismuth Nitrate is not one of them. The Formoterol 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 Formoterol 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.