Drug & supplement interaction

Spanish Broom + Diclofenac Sodium

Diclofenac Sodium brand names: Voltaren XR, Voltaren, Voltaren SR, Diclo, Difenac, and others.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium 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 two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium

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 Diclofenac Sodium and Spanish Broom 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 Spanish Broom at all — not against Diclofenac Sodium, 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.

Spanish Broom safety at a glance

Spanish Broom overall Avoid The plant contains toxic alkaloids and can cause serious poisoning if taken internally.
Pregnancy Avoid Not safe; its alkaloids may affect the uterus and the developing baby.
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally because large amounts of the alkaloid constituent sparteine can stimulate menstrual flow. 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 Diclofenac Sodium and Spanish Broom? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Confusion Worth acting on Additional detail

    Spanish Broom

    “Ingestion of Spanish broom flowers or seeds collected directly from the plant has been associated with cases of sedation, confusion, dizziness, headache, agitation, and tremors. In children aged 5-6 years, these symptoms occurred after ingesting 4-8 seeds, with the severity of the effects appearing to be dose-dependent.”

    Spanish Broom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    2 sources cited
    1. 95934. Giménez N, Magro N, Cortés N, Guitart R. Poisoning after Ingestion of Spartium junceum Seeds: Dose-Dependent Effects in Three Boys. J Emerg Med. 2017;53(3):e41-e44. PubMed
    2. 95935. Riccardi A, Frumento F, Ghinatti M, Guiddo G, Lerza R. Spanish Broom flower ingestion: a very unusual poisoning. Eur J Emerg Med. 2006;13(5):317-8. PubMed

    Diclofenac Sodium

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Diclofenac Sodium. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Drowsiness / Anxiety or restlessness / Dizziness / Headache Additional detail

    Spanish Broom

    “Information on the adverse effects of Spanish broom is limited. Case reports describe toxicity in adults and children after ingestion of Spanish broom seeds or flowers collected directly from the plant. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, sedation, headache, dizziness, agitation, and tremors. Adverse effects have not been reported with use of flower extracts in the amounts allowed in foods in the US.”

    Spanish Broom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    3 sources cited
    1. 95934. Giménez N, Magro N, Cortés N, Guitart R. Poisoning after Ingestion of Spartium junceum Seeds: Dose-Dependent Effects in Three Boys. J Emerg Med. 2017;53(3):e41-e44. PubMed
    2. 95935. Riccardi A, Frumento F, Ghinatti M, Guiddo G, Lerza R. Spanish Broom flower ingestion: a very unusual poisoning. Eur J Emerg Med. 2006;13(5):317-8. PubMed
    3. 4912. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182

    Diclofenac Sodium

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Diclofenac Sodium. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach pain / Vomiting Additional detail

    Spanish Broom

    “Ingestion of Spanish broom flowers or seeds collected directly from the plant has been associated with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and hypersalivation. In children aged 5-6 years, these symptoms occurred after ingesting 4-8 seeds, with the severity of the effects appearing to be dose-dependent.”

    Spanish Broom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    2 sources cited
    1. 95934. Giménez N, Magro N, Cortés N, Guitart R. Poisoning after Ingestion of Spartium junceum Seeds: Dose-Dependent Effects in Three Boys. J Emerg Med. 2017;53(3):e41-e44. PubMed
    2. 95935. Riccardi A, Frumento F, Ghinatti M, Guiddo G, Lerza R. Spanish Broom flower ingestion: a very unusual poisoning. Eur J Emerg Med. 2006;13(5):317-8. PubMed

    Diclofenac Sodium

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Diclofenac Sodium. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea Additional detail

    Spanish Broom

    Recorded for Spanish Broom in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Stomach pain / Vomiting above.

    Diclofenac Sodium

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Diclofenac Sodium. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Effects for Diclofenac Sodium come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Spanish Broom come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 155,962 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Diclofenac Sodium that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Spanish Broom in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally because large amounts of the alkaloid constituent sparteine can stimulate menstrual flow.

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Spanish Broom or Diclofenac Sodium

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Spanish Broom or Diclofenac Sodium, 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 Diclofenac Sodium

This page covers Spanish Broom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diclofenac Sodium page lists 308 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 7 major · 266 moderate · 35 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Diclofenac Sodium page

“Diclofenac (Voltaren), a daily mainstay for arthritis and joint pain, comes with a supplement list that calls for real vigilance. Of the 308 ingredients on file, 7 rate major, and roughly two hundred entries share a single theme: anything with blood-thinning activity adds to diclofenac's own bleeding risk, especially in the stomach.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Diclofenac Sodium interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium 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 Spanish Broom
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Diclofenac Sodium
Top 10%

#240 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 Spanish Broom reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium 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 Spanish Broom

What is Spanish Broom?

  • Diuretic ('water pill') effect
  • Heart and circulation complaints (folk use)
  • Mild laxative
  • Fragrance in perfumes and cosmetics
  • Traditional fiber and dye source

Spanish Broom is a Mediterranean flowering shrub used historically as a diuretic and heart remedy and today mostly as a perfume ingredient. It contains toxic alkaloids that can affect the heart and nervous system, and there is no reliable modern evidence that it is safe or effective for any health condition. Because of the poisoning risk, it is best avoided as an oral supplement.

Spartium junceum · Fabaceae · Flowers, and sometimes the flowering tops and seeds · Traditional teas or infusions, tinctures, and an essential oil (absolute) used in perfumery; rarely sold as a standardized supplement

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

Spanish Broom: dosing

There is no established safe dose for Spanish Broom as a supplement, and it is not recommended for internal use. Because the plant is toxic and its alkaloid content varies, no reliable, safe amount can be given.We do not provide a dose for this plant.

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

Read the full Spanish Broom monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Diclofenac

What Is Diclofenac Used For?

Brand names: Voltaren XR, Voltaren, Voltaren SR, Diclo, Difenac, Diclo SR, Voltarol, Acoflam, Defenac, Dicloflex, Diclovol, Diclozip, Fenactol, Flamrase, Volraman, Diclomax SR, Diclomax Retard, Motifene 75 mg, Voltarol 75 mg SR, Acoflam 75 SR, Defenac SR, Dexomon 75 SR, Dicloflex 75 SR, Diclovol SR, Fenactol 75 mg SR, Flamatak 75 MR, Flamrase SR, Flexotard MR 75, Rheumatac Retard 75, Rhumalgan CR, Slofenac SR, Volsaid Retard 75, Voltarol Retard, Acoflam Retard, Defenac Retard, Dexomon Retard 100, Dicloflex Retard, Diclovol Retard, Fenactol Retard 100 mg, Flamatak 100 MR, Volsaid Retard 100, Voltarol Ophtha Multidose, Voltarol Ophtha, Pennsaid, Voltaren Emulgel, Dyloject

Diclofenac sodium topical gel is used to treat actinic keratoses (AK) — rough, scaly skin patches that form after years of sun exposure. These patches are considered precancerous, meaning they can develop into skin cancer if left untreated.

This is a topical gel, meaning it is applied directly to the skin over the affected area rather than taken by mouth. It belongs to the NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) family.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Diclofenac Sodium

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (155,962 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 13,844 reports
Arthralgia 11,333 reports
Rash 10,855 reports
Rheumatoid arthritis 10,744 reports
Abdominal discomfort 9,636 reports
See full Diclofenac drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Spanish Broom

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Spanish Broom — 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
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Spanish Broom References

The 4 references that drive our Spanish Broom 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. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  2. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  3. Giménez N, Magro N, Cortés N, Guitart R. Poisoning after Ingestion of Spartium junceum Seeds: Dose-Dependent Effects in Three Boys. J Emerg Med. 2017;53(3):e41-e44. PubMed
  4. Riccardi A, Frumento F, Ghinatti M, Guiddo G, Lerza R. Spanish Broom flower ingestion: a very unusual poisoning. Eur J Emerg Med. 2006;13(5):317-8. PubMed

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 Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Spanish Broom with Diclofenac Sodium?
We do not list a known interaction between Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium. 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.
Do Spanish Broom and Diclofenac Sodium have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 8 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Does Diclofenac Sodium interact with any supplements?
Yes. Diclofenac Sodium has documented interactions with 308 supplements in our database — Spanish Broom is not one of them. The Diclofenac Sodium interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Diclofenac Sodium and Spanish Broom?

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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.