Nutmeg + Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital
Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital brand name: Micomp PB.
Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital falls into 3 drug categories that Nutmeg can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, nutmeg might increase the risk of additive sedation when taken with CNS depressants.
Read the full interaction reportNutmeg and Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital
These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.
Why Are There 3 Interactions?
Nutmeg interacts with whole categories of medication. Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Nutmeg in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).
CNS DEPRESSANTS
1 of 3Why this applies to Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital
Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Nutmeg interacts with.
Animal studies suggest that nutmeg extracts and several volatile oils in nutmeg, such as methyleugenol, isoeugenol, safrole, myristicin, trimyristin, 1,8-cineole, and geranyl acetate, have sedative effects. One animal study shows that petroleum ether extracts of nutmeg can potentiate the effects of pentobarbital or phenobarbital. However, evidence from other animal research suggests that the nutmeg constituent myristicin can actually reduce sleeping time in rats pretreated with phenobarbital.
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.
The medication you're asking about contains pentobarbital, a barbiturate that calms the nervous system and can make you drowsy. Nutmeg is mostly a kitchen spice, but in large concentrated doses some of its compounds have shown sedative effects in animal studies. The worry on file is that nutmeg might add to the sleepiness pentobarbital already causes, so you could feel extra groggy, foggy, or unsteady.
Honestly, this is theoretical and based only on animal research, and the findings even conflicted with each other. A pinch of nutmeg in your food is very unlikely to matter. Big "medicinal" amounts of nutmeg are dangerous on their own and should be avoided regardless. If you're unsure, check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.
- Sangalli BC, Chiang W. Toxicology of nutmeg abuse. Clin Toxicol 2000;38:671-8. PubMed
- Hallstrom H, Thuvander A. Toxicological evaluation of myristicin. Nat Toxins 1997;5:186-92. DOI
- Jeong HG, Yun CH. Induction of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes by myristicin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;217:966-71. PubMed
- Sell AB, Carlini EA. Anesthetic action of methyleugenol and other eugenol derivatives. Pharmacology. 1976;14(4):367-77. PubMed
- Fundarò A, Cassone MC. [Action of essential oils of chamomile, cinnamon, absinthium, mace and origanum on operant conditioning behavior of the rat]. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1980;56(22):2375-80.
- Grover JK, Khandkar S, Vats V, Dhunnoo Y, Das D. Pharmacological studies on Myristica fragrans--antidiarrheal, hypnotic, analgesic and hemodynamic (blood pressure) parameters. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2002;24(10):675-80. PubMed
- Sherry CJ, Ray LE, Herron RE. The pharmacological effects of the ligroin extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). J Ethnopharmacol. 1982;6(1):61-6.
CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES
2 of 3Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.
Animal research suggests that intraperitoneal injections of myristicin, a constituent of nutmeg, can induce CYP1A2.
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.
This is one to file under theoretical rather than something that's been proven in people. The combo product you're asking about includes caffeine, which your liver clears using an enzyme called CYP1A2. Lab and animal work hints that a compound in nutmeg (myristicin) might speed up that enzyme. If that happened in humans, your body could clear the caffeine a bit faster, so you might notice slightly less of its kick.
Honestly, the small amount of nutmeg you'd sprinkle in food is very unlikely to matter here. Large "medicinal" doses of nutmeg are never safe anyway. If you take Micomp PB regularly and want peace of mind, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor.
- Jeong HG, Yun CH. Induction of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes by myristicin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;217:966-71. PubMed
ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS
3 of 3Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital also falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS.
Animal research suggests that nutmeg extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels.
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.
Let's focus on the belladonna piece of this combo medicine (Micomp PB). Belladonna works by blocking acetylcholine, the body's "rest and digest" signal, which is how it calms stomach cramping. Here's the catch: animal studies hint that nutmeg may raise acetylcholine levels by slowing the enzyme that breaks it down. In theory, more acetylcholine could push back against belladonna and make it work a little less well.
I want to be honest about how shaky this is. It comes only from lab and animal data, not real patients, so a sprinkle of nutmeg in your eggnog or baked goods is very unlikely to matter. The bigger concern with nutmeg is taking large "medicinal" doses, which can be toxic on their own. If you're considering nutmeg supplements, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.
- 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.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- 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.
- 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.
Nutmeg Also Interacts With Other Medications
Nutmeg has 527 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Nutmeg
We haven’t checked that one against Nutmeg yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Nutmeg. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital
This page covers Nutmeg only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital page lists 290 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Ephedra (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).
By severity: 15 major · 227 moderate · 48 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital page
“People who take Micomp PB for migraines are often the same people reaching for an herbal sleep aid or a caffeinated energy product during a rough stretch, and with four drugs in one tablet (belladonna, caffeine, ergotamine, pentobarbital) nearly everything clashes with something. The 290 supplement ingredients on file here earn genuine…”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Open the Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital interaction page
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 Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital 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:
Where Nutmeg and Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital 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.
#431 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#1,100 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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.
About Nutmeg
What is 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.
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.
No drugs match “”.
527 interactions
- Theophylline ›
- Diphenhydramine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Estradiol ›
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- Verapamil ›
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- Morphine Sulfate ›
- Nitrazepam ›
- Procainamide ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Buprenorphine ›
- Diazepam ›
- Dimenhydrinate ›
- Lofepramine ›
- Meprobamate ›
- Nortriptyline ›
- Oxymorphone ›
- Pilocarpine ›
- Procyclidine ›
- Propoxyphene ›
- Topiramate ›
- Amantadine ›
- Aripiprazole ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Caffeine (otc Drug) ›
- Cetirizine ›
- Clobazam ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Clorazepate ›
- Cyclobenzaprine ›
- Desipramine ›
- Doxepin ›
- Edrophonium ›
- Fluphenazine ›
- Hydromorphone ›
- Hydroxyzine ›
- Hyoscyamine ›
- Levetiracetam ›
- Meclizine ›
- Metoclopramide ›
- Midazolam ›
- Phenobarbital ›
- Riluzole ›
- Scopolamine ›
- Tramadol ›
- Trihexyphenidyl ›
- Trospium ›
- Valproic Acid ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
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.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Sertraline ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Testosterone ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
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- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
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- Methotrexate ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Citalopram ›
- Buspirone ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Amoxicillin, Clavulanate Potassium ›
- Dapsone ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Acetylsalicylic Acid ›
- Ezetimibe ›
- Atorvastatin Calcium ›
- Mannitol ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Carbidopa, Levodopa ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,302 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Nutmeg list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
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
Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital Is Linked to Lower Levels of 2 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Nutmeg — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Nutmeg and Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital Together: Common Questions
Can you take Nutmeg with Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital?
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Nutmeg and Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital?
How serious is the Nutmeg and Belladonna, Caffeine, Ergotamine, Pentobarbital interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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