Drug & supplement interaction

Nutmeg + Fluphenazine

Fluphenazine brand names: Prolixin, Permitil, Fluphenazine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Nutmeg has a moderate interaction with Fluphenazine. 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 Fluphenazine

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

Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Fluphenazine

Fluphenazine 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 short version on nutmeg and fluphenazine. Part of how fluphenazine works (and part of why it causes side effects like dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and trouble urinating) is by gently blocking acetylcholine, a signaling chemical in your body. In animal studies, nutmeg appears to do the opposite, nudging acetylcholine levels up. In theory, that could push against fluphenazine and slightly soften its anticholinergic effects.

I want to be honest, though: this is theoretical and based only on lab and animal work, not real people. The pinch of nutmeg you'd use in cooking is very unlikely to matter at all. Large "medicinal" doses are a different story and aren't safe anyway. If you're thinking about nutmeg supplements, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

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 Fluphenazine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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 Fluphenazine

This page covers Nutmeg only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Fluphenazine page lists 148 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Henbane (major), Indian Snakeroot (major), Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major) and Scopolia (major).

By severity: 5 major · 109 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Fluphenazine page

“Take real care with supplements while on fluphenazine (Prolixin), an antipsychotic used mainly for schizophrenia. Five of the 148 ingredients on file rate major: herbs like henbane that stack anticholinergic side effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, confusion) onto a drug already prone to them, two rauwolfia plants that can intensify it…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Fluphenazine 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 Fluphenazine 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 Fluphenazine 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Fluphenazine
Top half

#1,019 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
Medication

About Fluphenazine

What Is Fluphenazine Used For?

Brand names: Prolixin, Permitil, Fluphenazine

Fluphenazine hydrochloride tablets and oral solution are indicated for the management of psychotic disorders. Fluphenazine Hydrochloride Injection is also used for psychotic disorders and can bridge patients to oral therapy.

Fluphenazine Decanoate Injection is a long-acting form specifically intended for patients who need extended antipsychotic treatment — for example, those with chronic schizophrenia who benefit from a single injection that can last up to four weeks or longer. It is not approved for behavioral problems related to intellectual disability, and it is not approved for dementia-related psychosis in elderly patients.

See full Fluphenazine drug information
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
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
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 Nutmeg and Fluphenazine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Nutmeg with Fluphenazine?
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 Fluphenazine 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 Fluphenazine 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.