Drug & supplement interaction

Bismuth Nitrate + Insulin (rDNA)

Insulin (rDNA) brand names: Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humulin R, Humulin N, Humulin L, and others.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bismuth Nitrate and Insulin (rDNA) 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 label for Insulin (rDNA) states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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.

Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Bismuth Nitrate and Insulin (rDNA)

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 Insulin (rDNA) 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 Insulin (rDNA), 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 Insulin (rDNA) and Bismuth Nitrate? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Bismuth Nitrate and Insulin (rDNA) 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. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on 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

    “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).

    Insulin (rDNA)

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Insulin (rDNA). Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Sweating 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

    Insulin (rDNA)

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Insulin (rDNA). Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Bismuth Nitrate but not commonly for Insulin (rDNA): trouble concentrating, reduced appetite, low mood and eye irritation or redness.

Effects for Insulin (rDNA) 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.

How to take them

Some Insulin (rDNA) Products Have a Food Rule — Bismuth Nitrate Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Insulin (rDNA) says to take it with food. If you take Bismuth Nitrate on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Insulin (rDNA) with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Insulin (rDNA) products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

( 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.4 ) Subcutaneous injection ( 2.2 ): Administer HUMALOG ® U-100 or U-200 by subcutaneous injection into the abdominal wall, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks within 15 minutes before a meal or immediately after a meal.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Insulin (rDNA) — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin (rDNA)

This page covers Bismuth Nitrate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin (rDNA) page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Chelation Therapy Products (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 211 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin (rDNA) page

“A weed called Siberian cocklebur has caused severe low blood sugar in humans and is the one ingredient to avoid outright while using insulin (rDNA) products like Humalog or Humulin. This list deserves real respect.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin (rDNA) 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 Insulin (rDNA), 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 Insulin (rDNA) 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

#1,242 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin (rDNA)
Top half

#997 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 Insulin (rDNA) 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 Insulin Lispro Injection

What Is Insulin Lispro Injection Used For?

Brand names: Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humulin R, Humulin N, Humulin L, Humulin 50/50, Humulin 70/30, Humulin U, NovoLog, Velosulin, Novolog Mix 70/30, Actrapid, Humulin S, Insuman Rapid

Insulin lispro injection is used to improve glycemic control (blood sugar management) in people with diabetes mellitus. It is a rapid-acting insulin analog approved for use in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Admelog is specifically indicated to improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Humalog Mix75/25 is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus; it is a fixed-ratio mixture of insulin lispro and insulin lispro protamine, and its fixed proportions do not allow for separate adjustment of basal (background) and prandial (mealtime) doses.

See full Insulin Lispro Injection 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
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bismuth Nitrate list.

See the full Bismuth Nitrate interactions page
See every supplement checked against Insulin (rDNA), ranked by severity
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 Insulin (rDNA) Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bismuth Nitrate with Insulin (rDNA)?
We do not list a known interaction between Bismuth Nitrate and Insulin (rDNA). 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 Insulin (rDNA) have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 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.
Should I take Bismuth Nitrate and Insulin (rDNA) at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Insulin (rDNA) says to take it with food. If you take Bismuth Nitrate on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Insulin (rDNA) with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Insulin (rDNA) products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Insulin (rDNA) interact with any supplements?
Yes. Insulin (rDNA) has documented interactions with 242 supplements in our database — Bismuth Nitrate is not one of them. The Insulin (rDNA) interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Bismuth Nitrate monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Insulin Lispro Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Insulin (rDNA) supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Insulin (rDNA), ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 6 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Insulin (rDNA) and Bismuth Nitrate?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.