Drug & supplement interaction

Nutmeg + Atropine Sulfate

Atropine Sulfate brand names: Atropine Sulfate, Isopto Atropine.

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

Nutmeg has a moderate interaction with Atropine Sulfate. Theoretically, concomitant use of nutmeg and anticholinergic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of either agent.

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

Nutmeg and Atropine Sulfate

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

Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Atropine Sulfate

Atropine Sulfate falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS — the group Nutmeg interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of nutmeg and anticholinergic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of either agent.
Animal research suggests that nutmeg extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels.
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 idea behind this one. Atropine works by blocking acetylcholine, the chemical messenger that controls things like saliva, heart rate, and the muscles in your eyes. In animal studies, nutmeg seems to do the opposite, raising acetylcholine levels by slowing the enzyme that breaks it down. So in theory, if you took a lot of nutmeg, it could push back against what atropine is trying to do and make it work a little less well.

I want to be honest though: this is based only on lab and animal research, not real people, so the concern is mostly theoretical. Normal cooking amounts of nutmeg are very unlikely to matter. Large medicinal doses are a different story and can be toxic on their own. If you use atropine regularly, just mention any nutmeg supplements to your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Mukherjee PK, Kumar V, Houghton PJ. Screening of Indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Phytother Res. 2007;21(12):1142-5. 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

Nutmeg Also Interacts With Other Medications

Nutmeg has 527 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Atropine Sulfate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 527 No known interaction 2,303 (incl. Atropine Sulfate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Nutmeg

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Atropine Sulfate

This page covers Nutmeg only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Atropine Sulfate page lists 34 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Henbane (major), Scopolia (major), Angel's Trumpet (moderate), Bacopa (moderate) and Belladonna (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 28 moderate · 4 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Atropine Sulfate page

“Atropine Sulfate is a potent anticholinergic in its own right, used for dangerously slow heart rhythms and, as Isopto Atropine drops, to dilate the pupil, so the 34 supplements and herbs on this list call for genuine caution before you add any of them. Henbane and scopolia, the two rated major, contain the very alkaloids atropine is bu…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Atropine Sulfate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 182 real supplement products containing Nutmeg, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Nutmeg. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Atropine Sulfate too, on top of Nutmeg — 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 Nutmeg and Atropine Sulfate 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 Nutmeg
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Atropine Sulfate
Steady interest

#2,131 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 Nutmeg

What is Nutmeg?

Nutmeg
  • Digestive upset
  • Diarrhea
  • Sleep and relaxation
  • Pain and inflammation
  • Flavoring spice

Nutmeg is a popular cooking spice that has long been used in traditional medicine for digestion and other complaints, but there is little solid human research to support its medicinal use. In normal cooking amounts it is generally safe, but larger "medicinal" doses can cause serious poisoning, so it should never be taken in high amounts.

Read the full Nutmeg monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Nutmeg

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

0Major
527Moderate
0Minor
2,302No known interaction
527 Moderate 2,302 No interaction
Moderate

527 interactions

Showing 60 of 527 moderate interactions — see all 527 on the Nutmeg page.

No interaction 2,302 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,302 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Nutmeg list.

See the full Nutmeg interactions page
See every supplement checked against Atropine Sulfate, 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
Nutmeg monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Atropine Sulfate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Atropine Sulfate, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Nutmeg and Atropine Sulfate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Nutmeg with Atropine Sulfate?
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 Nutmeg and Atropine Sulfate 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 Atropine Sulfate and Nutmeg?

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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.