Drug & supplement interaction

Calamus + Nizatidine

Nizatidine brand names: Axid, Axid Injection.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Minor

Calamus has a minor interaction with Nizatidine. Theoretically, taking calamus might reduce the effectiveness of H2-blockers.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Calamus and Nizatidine

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

Minor

H2-BLOCKERS

Why this applies to Nizatidine

Nizatidine falls under H2-BLOCKERS — the group Calamus interacts with.

Theoretically, taking calamus might reduce the effectiveness of H2-blockers.
Some research suggests that calamus lowers gastric pH.
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 gist with nizatidine (Axid). This medicine works by telling your stomach to make less acid, which helps ulcers heal and calms heartburn. The thinking is that calamus may push stomach acid in the opposite direction, so taking the two together could blunt how well your nizatidine quiets that acid. You might notice your old symptoms creeping back, like burning, sour stomach, or indigestion.

I want to be honest that this is a minor, theory-based concern resting on weak, anecdotal evidence, not solid human studies. On top of that, calamus has real safety worries of its own (a compound called beta-asarone), which is why I'd steer clear regardless. If you're considering it, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

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

Calamus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Calamus has 1,098 moderate, 18 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Nizatidine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,098 Minor 18 No known interaction 1,714 (incl. Nizatidine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Calamus

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Nizatidine

This page covers Calamus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nizatidine page lists 31 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (moderate), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate) and Glucomannan (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 9 moderate · 21 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nizatidine page

“Nizatidine (Axid) reduces stomach acid to treat heartburn and ulcers, and its supplement list earns real attention rather than a passing glance. The one major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the drug in the gut and cut how much reaches your bloodstream.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nizatidine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 71 real supplement products containing Calamus, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Calamus. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Nizatidine too, on top of Calamus — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Calamus and Nizatidine 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 Calamus
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Nizatidine
Steady interest

#2,736 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 Calamus

What is Calamus?

Calamus
  • Digestive upset and gas
  • Loss of appetite
  • Memory and focus (traditional)
  • Coughs and colds
  • Calming or sedative effect (traditional)

Calamus is a swamp plant with a long history in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, mostly for digestive and nervous-system complaints. However, it contains beta-asarone, a compound linked to cancer and other toxic effects in animal studies, which is why the U.S. FDA banned it from foods. Because of these safety concerns and a lack of solid human evidence, it is generally best avoided.

Read the full Calamus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Nizatidine

What Is Nizatidine Used For?

Brand names: Axid, Axid Injection

Nizatidine treats conditions caused by too much stomach acid. Both the capsule and oral solution are approved to treat active duodenal ulcers (ulcers in the small intestine) and active benign gastric ulcers (stomach ulcers), and to manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including erosive and ulcerative esophagitis (inflammation and damage to the esophagus) and related heartburn.

After a duodenal ulcer heals, nizatidine can be continued at a lower dose to help prevent the ulcer from coming back. Nizatidine oral solution is also approved for adolescents 12 years of age and older for GERD and erosive esophagitis. Before treating a stomach ulcer, your doctor will rule out stomach cancer, since the symptoms can overlap.

See full Nizatidine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Calamus

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

0Major
1,098Moderate
18Minor
1,713No known interaction
1,098 Moderate 18 Minor 1,713 No interaction
Moderate

1,098 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,098 moderate interactions — see all 1,098 on the Calamus page.

Minor

18 interactions

No interaction 1,713 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,713 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Calamus list.

See the full Calamus interactions page
See every supplement checked against Nizatidine, 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
Calamus monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Nizatidine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Nizatidine, ranked by severity Nizatidine 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 Calamus and Nizatidine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Calamus with Nizatidine?
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 Calamus and Nizatidine 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 Nizatidine and Calamus?

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.