Drug & supplement interaction

Dandelion + Nalidixic Acid

Nalidixic Acid brand name: NegGram.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Dandelion has a moderate interaction with Nalidixic Acid. Theoretically, dandelion might lower fluoroquinolone levels.

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

Dandelion and Nalidixic Acid

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

Moderate

QUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS

Why this applies to Nalidixic Acid

Nalidixic Acid falls under QUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS — the group Dandelion interacts with.

Theoretically, dandelion might lower fluoroquinolone levels.
Animal research shows that dandelion reduces absorption of ciprofloxacin and can lower levels by 73%. However, this effect has not been reported in humans.
Severity Moderate 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 dandelion and nalidixic acid: dandelion is rich in minerals like potassium, plus calcium and magnesium can show up in some products. Antibiotics in this quinolone family can bind to minerals like these in your gut, which may keep some of the drug from being absorbed. In animal studies, dandelion cut absorption of a related quinolone (ciprofloxacin) by quite a lot. If less nalidixic acid gets into your system, it may not fight your urinary infection as well, and the bug could linger.

I'll be honest though, this is theoretical and based on animal data, not people, so don't panic. As a sensible habit, separating dandelion supplements from your dose by a couple of hours is reasonable. Run it by your pharmacist or doctor to be sure.

References
  1. Zhu M, Wong PY, Li RC. Effects of taraxacum mongolicum on the bioavailability and disposition of ciprofloxacin in rats. J Pharm Sci 1999;88:632-4. PubMed

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

Dandelion Also Interacts With Other Medications

Dandelion has 456 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Nalidixic Acid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dandelion

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Dandelion or Nalidixic 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 Dandelion or Nalidixic 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 Nalidixic Acid

This page covers Dandelion only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nalidixic Acid page lists 146 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Grapefruit (major).

By severity: 8 major · 118 moderate · 20 minor.

Open the Nalidixic Acid interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 4,328 real supplement products containing Dandelion, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Dandelion. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Nalidixic Acid too, on top of Dandelion — 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 Dandelion and Nalidixic 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 Dandelion
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Nalidixic Acid
Top half

#1,140 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 Dandelion

What is Dandelion?

Dandelion
  • Water retention (diuretic)
  • Digestive upset
  • Liver and gallbladder support
  • Mild appetite stimulant
  • Skin conditions

Dandelion is a common plant used in food and traditional medicine, often promoted as a natural 'water pill' and digestive aid. Human evidence for these uses is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. It is generally considered safe as a food, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements, especially if you have allergies or take other medicines.

Read the full Dandelion monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dandelion

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

0Major
456Moderate
0Minor
2,373No known interaction
Moderate

456 interactions

Showing 60 of 456 moderate interactions — see all 456 on the Dandelion page.

No interaction 2,373 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dandelion and Nalidixic Acid Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dandelion with Nalidixic Acid?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Dandelion and Nalidixic Acid interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

Still Have a Question About Nalidixic Acid and Dandelion?

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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.