Drug & supplement interaction

Scarlet Pimpernel + Nitrofurantoin

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

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

We found no known interaction between Scarlet Pimpernel 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

Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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.

Scarlet Pimpernel safety at a glance

Scarlet Pimpernel overall Use caution It contains potentially toxic compounds and is not well studied, so internal use is generally discouraged.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally or topically long-term. Scarlet pimpernel shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally or topically long-term; avoid using. 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 Scarlet Pimpernel? 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 Scarlet Pimpernel. 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. Scarlet Pimpernel’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Scarlet Pimpernel side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Scarlet Pimpernel has no side effects.

Special populations

Scarlet Pimpernel in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally or topically long-term. Scarlet pimpernel shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity.

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally or topically long-term; 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 — Scarlet Pimpernel Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Nitrofurantoin says to take it with food. If you take Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Nitrofurantoin
Top half

#1,282 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 Scarlet Pimpernel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel

What is Scarlet Pimpernel?

  • Skin conditions and wounds
  • Liver and gallbladder complaints
  • Respiratory ailments
  • Mild mood or 'melancholy' (folk use)
  • Urinary complaints

Scarlet Pimpernel is a small wild flowering plant with a long history in folk medicine, but there is very little modern scientific evidence to support any of its uses. It contains compounds called saponins that can be irritating and potentially toxic, so it is generally not recommended for internal use. If you are considering it, talk with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Lysimachia arvensis · Primulaceae · Aerial parts (leaves, flowers, and stems) · Dried herb, tinctures, infusions, and topical preparations

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

Scarlet Pimpernel: dosing

There is no established, standardized safe dose for Scarlet Pimpernel. Because of its potential toxicity and the lack of quality research, no specific milligram amount can be recommended.If you find a commercial product, follow the label directions exactly and do not exceed them.

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

Read the full Scarlet Pimpernel 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 & Scarlet Pimpernel

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Scarlet Pimpernel — 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel list.

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

Scarlet Pimpernel References

The 1 references that drive our Scarlet Pimpernel 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. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

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 Scarlet Pimpernel and Nitrofurantoin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Scarlet Pimpernel with Nitrofurantoin?
We do not list a known interaction between Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 Scarlet Pimpernel 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 — Scarlet Pimpernel 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

Scarlet Pimpernel 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 1 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Nitrofurantoin and Scarlet Pimpernel?

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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.