Drug & supplement interaction

Kampo Medicine + Nitrofurantoin

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

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated June 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Kampo Medicine 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.

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Interaction report

Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine at all — not against Nitrofurantoin, 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.

Kampo Medicine safety at a glance

Kampo Medicine overall Use caution Generally considered low-risk when used appropriately, but multi-herb formulas can cause side effects and quality varies by product.
Pregnancy Avoid Many formulas contain herbs not proven safe in pregnancy, so avoid unless directed by a qualified clinician.
Breastfeeding Use caution Safety during breastfeeding is not well established, so use only with professional guidance.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Nitrofurantoin and Kampo Medicine? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Nitrofurantoin’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Kampo Medicine. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Nitrofurantoin’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. 10 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • An electrolyte imbalance Worth acting on
  • Pancreatitis Worth acting on
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes Worth acting on
  • High blood sugar Worth acting on
  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on mentioned in 6.3% of FDA reports for Nitrofurantoin
  • Confusion Worth acting on
  • A severe skin reaction Worth acting on
  • Chest pain Worth acting on
  • Low mood Worth acting on
  • A low platelet count Worth acting on

Showing the 10 most notable of 36 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Nitrofurantoin. Read the label on DailyMed › 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. Kampo Medicine’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Kampo Medicine side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Kampo Medicine has no side effects.

How to take them

Some Nitrofurantoin Products Have a Food Rule — Kampo Medicine Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Nitrofurantoin says to take it with food. If you take Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine 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

How much people look this up

Where Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine
Steady interest

#1,436 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Nitrofurantoin
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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions. Kampo Medicine is not yet covered by that licensed database, so its write-up cites publicly available medical sources directly (see the references below).
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Kampo Medicine reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Kampo Medicine and Nitrofurantoin records this page draws on were last updated June 20, 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 Kampo Medicine

What is Kampo Medicine?

  • Digestive complaints
  • Cold and flu symptoms
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Fatigue and general weakness
  • Constipation
  • Pain and inflammation

Kampo is a traditional Japanese system of herbal medicine that uses standardized multi-herb formulas, many of which are prescribed by doctors in Japan. Some formulas have modest supportive evidence for certain conditions, but quality and strength of research vary widely. Because Kampo products combine many ingredients, talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using them, especially if you take other medicines or have a health condition.

Roots, rhizomes, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and minerals depending on the formula · Granules, powders, decoctions (teas), tablets, and capsules

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

Kampo Medicine: dosing

There is no single standard dose for "Kampo medicine" because it is a whole system of many different formulas. Each formula has its own typical dosing, which can also depend on the person and the condition being treated.In Japan, doses are often based on standardized extract granules and prescribed by a clinician.

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

Read the full Kampo Medicine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Nitrofurantoin

What Is Nitrofurantoin Used For?

Brand names: Macrodantin, Furadantin, Furatoin, Macrobid

Nitrofurantoin treats urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by specific susceptible bacteria. The capsule forms (including Macrodantin and nitrofurantoin macrocrystals capsules) are indicated for UTIs due to Escherichia coli, enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and certain strains of Klebsiella and Enterobacter species. Nitrofurantoin capsules (monohydrate/macrocrystals) are indicated only for acute uncomplicated UTIs (acute cystitis) caused by E. coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Nitrofurantoin oral suspension (Furadantin) is indicated for adults and children 1 month of age and older for UTIs caused by susceptible strains of E. coli, Enterococcus species, S. aureus, Klebsiella species, and Enterobacter species. No form of nitrofurantoin is approved for kidney infections (pyelonephritis) or infections in the tissue surrounding the kidneys (perinephric abscesses).

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 & Kampo Medicine

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Kampo Medicine — 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 Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine list.

See the full Kampo Medicine interactions page
See every supplement checked against Nitrofurantoin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Kampo Medicine References

The 4 sources that drive our Kampo Medicine monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing. Kampo Medicine is not covered by the licensed Natural Medicines interaction database, so its page cites these public sources directly.

  1. Herbs at a Glance — NIH NCCIH Source
  2. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely — NIH NCCIH Source
  3. Herbal Medicine — MedlinePlus Source
  4. About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source

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 Kampo Medicine and Nitrofurantoin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Kampo Medicine with Nitrofurantoin?
We do not list a known interaction between Kampo Medicine 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.
Should I take Kampo Medicine 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 Kampo Medicine 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.
Does Nitrofurantoin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Nitrofurantoin has documented interactions with 82 supplements in our database — Kampo Medicine 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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Kampo Medicine monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Nitrofurantoin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Nitrofurantoin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Nitrofurantoin, 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 4 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Nitrofurantoin and Kampo Medicine?

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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.