Scotch Thistle + Ferric Citrate
Ferric Citrate brand name: Auryxia.
We found no known interaction between Scotch Thistle and Ferric Citrate 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 Ferric Citrate states a food rule worth keeping to.
Scotch Thistle and Ferric Citrate
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 Ferric Citrate and Scotch Thistle 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 Scotch Thistle at all — not against Ferric Citrate, 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.
Scotch Thistle safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Some Ferric Citrate Products Have a Food Rule — Scotch Thistle Should Not Break It
At least one FDA label for a product containing Ferric Citrate says to take it with food. If you take Scotch Thistle on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Ferric Citrate 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 Ferric Citrate 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.
( 2.2 ) 2.1 Dosage for Hyperphosphatemia in Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis The recommended starting dose is 2 tablets, swallowed whole, 3 times per day with meals.
From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Ferric Citrate — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›
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.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ferric Citrate
This page covers Scotch Thistle only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ferric Citrate page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).
By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ferric Citrate page
“Ferric citrate (Auryxia) does its work in the gut, binding dietary phosphate in kidney disease or supplying iron, and all 17 supplements on this list can interfere with how oral medicines get absorbed. That is worth real caution, starting with the single major-rated entry, activated charcoal, which adsorbs many drugs directly and can m…”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Where Scotch Thistle and Ferric Citrate 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.
#1,321 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#2,380 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.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions. Scotch Thistle 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 Scotch Thistle reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Scotch Thistle and Ferric Citrate records this page draws on were last updated June 22, 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.
About Scotch Thistle
What is Scotch Thistle?
- Digestive upset
- Liver and gallbladder support
- Mild diuretic
- Skin sores and wound care (traditional/topical)
- General tonic
Scotch Thistle is a tall, spiny plant used in folk medicine for digestion, liver complaints, and as a mild diuretic, but there is very little modern scientific evidence to support these uses. Because reliable safety and dosing information is lacking, it is best to talk with a pharmacist or doctor before trying it, and to avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Onopordum acanthium · Asteraceae · Aerial parts (flowers, leaves, stems) and roots; sometimes seeds · Tea (dried herb infusion), tincture, capsules, dried herb
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Scotch Thistle is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Scotch Thistle record says about it on its own.
Scotch Thistle: dosing
There is no established, standardized dose for Scotch Thistle. Because it has not been well studied in people, safe and effective amounts are simply not known.If you choose to use a commercial product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount.
From our Scotch Thistle monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Ferric Citrate
What Is Ferric Citrate Used For?
Brand name: Auryxia
Ferric citrate tablets — sold as Auryxia and under the generic name Ferric Citrate — are approved for two related uses in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
For patients on dialysis, they work as a phosphate binder to control high phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia) levels in the blood. For patients with CKD who are not on dialysis, they serve as an iron replacement to treat iron deficiency anemia.
Most-Reported Side Effects for Ferric Citrate
From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.
Other Drugs & Scotch Thistle
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Scotch Thistle — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Scotch Thistle against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Warfarin ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Aspirin ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Letrozole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Scotch Thistle list.
Scotch Thistle References
The 2 sources that drive our Scotch Thistle monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing. Scotch Thistle is not covered by the licensed Natural Medicines interaction database, so its page cites these public sources directly.
- Herbs and Supplements — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Source
- Using Dietary Supplements Wisely — NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) 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.
Taking Scotch Thistle and Ferric Citrate Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Scotch Thistle with Ferric Citrate?
Should I take Scotch Thistle and Ferric Citrate at the same time of day?
Does Ferric Citrate interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Keep Exploring
Still Have a Question About Ferric Citrate and Scotch Thistle?
Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.
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.