Drug & supplement interaction

Golden Ragwort + Nitrofurantoin

Nitrofurantoin brand names: Macrodantin, Furadantin, Furatoin, Macrobid.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin 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 Nitrofurantoin 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.

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Interaction report

Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin

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 Nitrofurantoin and Golden Ragwort 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.

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.

Golden Ragwort safety at a glance

Golden Ragwort overall Avoid It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can be toxic to the liver.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally. Golden ragwort preparations containing hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents might be teratogenic and hepatotoxic. There is ins... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally. Hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents in golden ragwort are excreted in breast-milk. There is insufficient reliable information... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Nitrofurantoin and Golden Ragwort? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Nitrofurantoin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Nitrofurantoin is filed under 3 classifications — antibiotic drugs, hepatotoxic drugs, oral drugs. Golden Ragwort has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) inducers (moderate) — and none of Nitrofurantoin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Golden Ragwort Does Interact With Other Medications

Golden Ragwort has 87 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Nitrofurantoin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Golden Ragwort

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin 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. 2 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail

    Golden Ragwort

    “Orally, the major concern with golden ragwort use is its pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) content. These constituents can cause lung damage with pulmonary-arterial hypertension.”

    Golden Ragwort · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypertension.

    2 sources cited
    1. 12841. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
    2. 12842. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.

    Nitrofurantoin

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

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Golden Ragwort

    “Orally, the major concern with golden ragwort use is its pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) content. These constituents can cause liver injury. Chronic exposure to other plants containing hepatotoxic PA constituents is associated with veno-occlusive disease. Subacute veno-occlusive disease can cause vague symptoms, including colicky pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and ascites within several days;”

    Golden Ragwort · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    3 sources cited
    1. 12841. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
    2. 12842. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
    3. 4021. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.

    Nitrofurantoin

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

  • Diarrhea / Vomiting reported in 5.7% of FDA reports for Nitrofurantoin Additional detail

    Golden Ragwort

    Recorded for Golden Ragwort in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Liver problems above.

    Nitrofurantoin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Nitrofurantoin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Effects for Nitrofurantoin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Golden Ragwort come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 22,743 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Nitrofurantoin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Golden Ragwort in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally. Golden ragwort preparations containing hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents might be teratogenic and hepatotoxic. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of using golden ragwort products that do not contain hepatotoxic PAs during pregnancy.

Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally. Hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) constituents in golden ragwort are excreted in breast-milk. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of using golden ragwort products that are PA-free during lactation; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Nitrofurantoin Products Have a Food Rule — Golden Ragwort Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Nitrofurantoin says to take it with food. If you take Golden Ragwort on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Nitrofurantoin 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 Nitrofurantoin 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.

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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Golden Ragwort or Nitrofurantoin

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

This page covers Golden Ragwort only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nitrofurantoin page lists 82 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Ashwagandha (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 68 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nitrofurantoin page

“Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid, Macrodantin) treats urinary tract infections and can strain the liver on its own, which is why this interaction list deserves genuine care rather than a glance. Of the 82 ingredients on file, 38 can add their own liver stress on top of the drug's, and three of the four major-rated entries fall in that group, i…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nitrofurantoin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Golden Ragwort, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Golden Ragwort. Even though Golden Ragwort itself has no known interaction with Nitrofurantoin, 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 Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin 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 Golden Ragwort
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Nitrofurantoin
Top half

#1,295 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 Golden Ragwort reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Golden Ragwort

What is Golden Ragwort?

  • Menstrual complaints
  • Easing childbirth (traditional)
  • Urinary discomfort
  • Sore throat (folk use)

Golden Ragwort is a flowering plant once used in traditional and folk medicine, mainly for menstrual and female reproductive complaints. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause serious liver damage, so it is not considered safe for internal use, and modern herbalists generally avoid it.

Packera aurea · Asteraceae · Aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers) and roots · Tea, tincture, dried herb

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Golden Ragwort is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Golden Ragwort record says about it on its own.

Golden Ragwort: dosing

There is no established safe dose for Golden Ragwort, and no standardized products are recommended. Because it contains liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, health authorities generally advise against taking it at all.If you come across a product that contains this plant, do not assume any amount is safe.

From our Golden Ragwort monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Golden Ragwort monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Nitrofurantoin

What Is Nitrofurantoin Used For?

Brand names: Macrodantin, Furadantin, Furatoin, Macrobid

Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by certain susceptible bacteria. The capsule forms (including Macrodantin) are indicated for UTIs due to susceptible strains of Escherichia coli, enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and certain strains of Klebsiella and Enterobacter species. Nitrofurantoin oral suspension (Furadantin) is indicated for adults and children 1 month of age and older for the same types of UTIs.

Nitrofurantoin is not used for kidney infections (pyelonephritis) or infections of the tissue around the kidney (perinephric abscesses). Because it works primarily in the urine and does not spread widely through body tissues, it may not fully clear the infection in some patients, and the UTI may return after treatment.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Nitrofurantoin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (22,743 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Urinary tract infection 2,221 reports
Fatigue 1,839 reports
Nausea 1,827 reports
Headache 1,705 reports
Dyspnea 1,437 reports
See full Nitrofurantoin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Golden Ragwort

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

0Major
87Moderate
0Minor
2,742No known interaction
Moderate

87 interactions

Showing 60 of 87 moderate interactions — see all 87 on the Golden Ragwort page.

No interaction 2,742 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Golden Ragwort References

The 4 references that drive our Golden Ragwort 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. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.
  2. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  3. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
  4. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. PubMed

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 Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Golden Ragwort with Nitrofurantoin?
We do not list a known interaction between Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin. 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 Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 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 Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Nitrofurantoin says to take it with food. If you take Golden Ragwort on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Nitrofurantoin with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Nitrofurantoin products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Golden Ragwort and Nitrofurantoin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Nitrofurantoin is filed under 3 classifications, and Golden Ragwort has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Nitrofurantoin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Golden Ragwort interact with any other medications?
Yes. Golden Ragwort has 87 documented drug interactions in our database — Nitrofurantoin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Nitrofurantoin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Nitrofurantoin has documented interactions with 82 supplements in our database — Golden Ragwort is not one of them. The Nitrofurantoin 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 Nitrofurantoin and Golden Ragwort?

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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.