Drug & supplement interaction

Ergot + Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine brand name: Desoxyn.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Methamphetamine falls into 2 drug categories that Ergot can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Certain ergot alkaloids, such as dihydroergotamine, act as serotonin agonists.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Ergot and Methamphetamine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Ergot interacts with whole categories of medication. Methamphetamine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Ergot in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group Ergot interacts with.

Certain ergot alkaloids, such as dihydroergotamine, act as serotonin agonists. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with ergot might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders. Monitor patients for signs of serotonin syndrome and other serotonergic side effects if using ergot with serotonergic drugs.
Serotonergic drugs include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); tricyclic and atypical antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), and imipramine (Tofranil); triptans such as sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and rizatriptan (Maxalt); opioids such as methadone (Dolophine) and tramadol (Ultram); and many other medications.
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

First things first: ergot itself isn't something you should ever take as a supplement. The raw fungus is genuinely toxic. Setting that aside, here's the concern with your prescription methamphetamine (Desoxyn). Both of these affect serotonin signaling in the brain. Methamphetamine pushes up serotonin (along with dopamine and norepinephrine), and some ergot chemicals act on serotonin receptors too. Stacking them could, in theory, raise your odds of serotonin syndrome, with symptoms like agitation, racing heart, sweating, shivering, muscle twitching, and confusion.

I'll be honest, this is mostly a theoretical, anecdotal worry rather than something proven, but ergot's strong blood-vessel-narrowing effect is a real reason to be cautious. Please don't change your Desoxyn, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist before adding anything new.

References
  1. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  2. Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? Lancet Neurol 2003;2:429-34. PubMed
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

2 of 2

Methamphetamine also falls under STIMULANT DRUGS.

Co-administration of stimulant drugs with ergot may increase the risk of vasoconstriction.
Some stimulant drugs include albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), diethylpropion (Tenuate), dopamine, epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and many others.
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 thing to know about pairing prescription methamphetamine (Desoxyn) with ergot. Both of these can tighten up your blood vessels. Methamphetamine is a stimulant that revs up your system and can already raise blood pressure and heart rate, while ergot alkaloids are powerful at squeezing blood vessels down. Put them together and you could stack those effects, which may mean a sharper rise in blood pressure, more vessel narrowing, and poor blood flow to your hands, feet, or other areas.

I'll be honest, this warning rests on anecdotal reports, so it isn't ironclad. But ergot itself is genuinely unsafe as a home remedy, and I'd never want you combining it with a stimulant. Please run this by your doctor or pharmacist before mixing anything.

References
  1. Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? Lancet Neurol 2003;2:429-34. 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

Ergot Also Interacts With Other Medications

Ergot has 461 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Methamphetamine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ergot

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Ergot or Methamphetamine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Ergot or Methamphetamine, 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 Methamphetamine

This page covers Ergot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methamphetamine page lists 126 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 6 major · 99 moderate · 21 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methamphetamine page

“Prescription methamphetamine (Desoxyn) is a potent stimulant, usually given for ADHD, and this is a list I would want anyone taking it to read closely. Six of the 126 supplement and herbal ingredients on file carry a major rating, and those six deserve your attention first.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methamphetamine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Ergot and Methamphetamine 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 Ergot
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Methamphetamine
Top 5%

#58 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 Ergot

What is Ergot?

Ergot
  • Heavy menstrual or uterine bleeding
  • Bleeding after childbirth
  • Migraine headaches
  • Stimulating uterine contractions

Ergot is a toxic fungus that grows on rye and contains powerful chemicals (ergot alkaloids) that strongly narrow blood vessels and squeeze the uterus. Because raw ergot is poisonous and the dose is impossible to control safely, it should never be used as a home remedy or supplement. Some purified ergot chemicals are used as prescription drugs under strict medical supervision, but the crude herb is not safe to take.

Read the full Ergot monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Methamphetamine

What Is Methamphetamine Used For?

Brand name: Desoxyn

Methamphetamine hydrochloride tablets are used as part of a total treatment program for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) in children over 6 years of age.

The program usually includes other support too, such as psychological, educational and social measures. The tablets are meant for moderate to severe distractibility, short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional lability (rapid mood swings) and impulsivity.

See full Methamphetamine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ergot

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

0Major
461Moderate
0Minor
2,368No known interaction
Moderate

461 interactions

Showing 60 of 461 moderate interactions — see all 461 on the Ergot page.

No interaction 2,368 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 Ergot and Methamphetamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ergot with Methamphetamine?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Ergot and Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine belongs to more than one drug category, and Ergot interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Ergot and Methamphetamine 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

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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.