Drug & supplement interaction

Squill + Insulin (rDNA)

Insulin (rDNA) brand names: Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humulin R, Humulin N, Humulin L, and others.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Squill and Insulin (rDNA) 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 Insulin (rDNA) states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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

Squill and Insulin (rDNA)

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 Insulin (rDNA) and Squill 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.

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.

Squill safety at a glance

Squill overall Use caution Squill contains heart-active glycosides that can be toxic, so it should only be used under medical supervision.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally because it can have an abortifacient effect. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Unsafe When used orally. 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 Insulin (rDNA) and Squill? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Insulin (rDNA)

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Insulin (rDNA) is filed under 2 classifications — including antidiabetes drugs. Squill has documented interactions with 7 drug classes — the most serious being digoxin (lanoxin) (major), corticosteroids (moderate) and diuretic drugs (moderate) — and none of Insulin (rDNA)’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Squill Does Interact With Other Medications

Squill has 1 major, 155 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Insulin (rDNA) isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Squill

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Squill. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Squill and Insulin (rDNA) 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.

  • A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

    Squill

    “Orally, squill can cause irregular pulse (18,94852).

    Squill poisoning resembles digoxin poisoning. The cardiovascular symptoms of squill poisoning include cardiac arrest and life-threatening arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia with atrioventricular block, and ventricular fibrillation (18,3488).”

    Squill · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    3 sources cited
    1. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    2. 94852. Nejatbakhsh F, Karegar-Borzi H, Amin G, et al. Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial. J Eth PubMed
    3. 3488. Tuncok Y, Kozan O, Cavdar C, et al. Urginea maritima (squill) toxicity. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1995;33:83-6.

    Insulin (rDNA)

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Insulin (rDNA). Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Squill

    “Squill is generally regarded as unsafe for use. Any benefits of therapy might not outweigh the risk of toxicity. Orally, squill can cause gastric irritation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach disorders, headache, irregular pulse (18,94852), and convulsions (6). Squill poisoning resembles digoxin poisoning.”

    Squill · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

    4 sources cited
    1. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    2. 94852. Nejatbakhsh F, Karegar-Borzi H, Amin G, et al. Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial. J Eth PubMed
    3. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    4. 3488. Tuncok Y, Kozan O, Cavdar C, et al. Urginea maritima (squill) toxicity. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1995;33:83-6.

    “Topically, the fresh squill bulb can cause dermatitis (18). In one case report, a 52-year-old woman presented with non-allergic irritant contact dermatitis after topical application of a squill preparation to the knee and wrist. The squill preparation was kept under occlusive dressing for 24 hours.”

    Squill · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 18. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
    2. 94852. Nejatbakhsh F, Karegar-Borzi H, Amin G, et al. Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial. J Eth PubMed

    Insulin (rDNA)

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Insulin (rDNA). Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Squill but not commonly for Insulin (rDNA): an irregular heartbeat, stomach upset, reduced appetite and hallucinations.

Effects for Insulin (rDNA) come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Squill come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Squill in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Unsafe

When used orally because it can have an abortifacient effect.

Lactation Unsafe

When used orally.

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 Insulin (rDNA) Products Have a Food Rule — Squill Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Insulin (rDNA) says to take it with food. If you take Squill on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Insulin (rDNA) 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 Insulin (rDNA) 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.

( 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.4 ) Subcutaneous injection ( 2.2 ): Administer HUMALOG ® U-100 or U-200 by subcutaneous injection into the abdominal wall, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks within 15 minutes before a meal or immediately after a meal.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Insulin (rDNA) — 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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin (rDNA)

This page covers Squill only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin (rDNA) page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Chelation Therapy Products (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 211 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin (rDNA) page

“A weed called Siberian cocklebur has caused severe low blood sugar in humans and is the one ingredient to avoid outright while using insulin (rDNA) products like Humalog or Humulin. This list deserves real respect.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin (rDNA) interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Squill as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Squill, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Squill. Even though Squill itself has no known interaction with Insulin (rDNA), another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Squill and Insulin (rDNA) 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 Squill
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin (rDNA)
Top half

#1,226 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 Squill reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Squill and Insulin (rDNA) 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 Squill

What is Squill?

Squill
  • Cough and chest congestion
  • Fluid retention (diuretic)
  • Heart conditions (traditional 'cardiac tonic')
  • Hair loss (topical use)
  • Rodenticide (red squill, non-medicinal)

Squill is a bulb plant that contains potent cardiac glycosides, which can affect the heart much like the drug digoxin. While it has a long history of use as a cough remedy and heart tonic, it can be dangerously toxic and there is little solid evidence for its modern use, so we do not recommend taking it without close medical supervision.

Drimia maritima · Asparagaceae · Dried inner bulb scales · Dried bulb, tinctures, liquid extracts, syrups, and some traditional cough preparations

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

Squill: dosing

There is no well-established, standardized safe dose of squill for general use. Because the active compounds are so potent and the toxic dose is close to any possibly effective dose, self-dosing is not recommended.If a product contains squill, follow the label exactly and do not take more than directed.

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

Read the full Squill monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Insulin Lispro Injection

What Is Insulin Lispro Injection Used For?

Brand names: Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humulin R, Humulin N, Humulin L, Humulin 50/50, Humulin 70/30, Humulin U, NovoLog, Velosulin, Novolog Mix 70/30, Actrapid, Humulin S, Insuman Rapid

Insulin lispro injection is used to improve glycemic control (blood sugar management) in people with diabetes mellitus. It is a rapid-acting insulin analog approved for use in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Admelog is specifically indicated to improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Humalog Mix75/25 is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus; it is a fixed-ratio mixture of insulin lispro and insulin lispro protamine, and its fixed proportions do not allow for separate adjustment of basal (background) and prandial (mealtime) doses.

See full Insulin Lispro Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Squill

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Squill — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
155Moderate
0Minor
2,673No known interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

155 interactions

Showing 60 of 155 moderate interactions — see all 155 on the Squill page.

No interaction 2,673 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Squill References

The 9 references that drive our Squill 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. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  3. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  4. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
  5. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  6. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  7. Tuncok Y, Kozan O, Cavdar C, et al. Urginea maritima (squill) toxicity. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1995;33:83-6.
  8. Nejatbakhsh F, Karegar-Borzi H, Amin G, et al. Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial. J Eth PubMed
  9. Moosavi ZB, Aliabdi M, Golfakhrabadi F, Namjoyan F. The comparison of therapeutic effect of Clobetasol propionate lotion and squill extract in alopecia areata: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Arch Dermatol Res. 2020 Apr;312(3):173-178. 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 Squill and Insulin (rDNA) Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Squill with Insulin (rDNA)?
We do not list a known interaction between Squill and Insulin (rDNA). 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 Squill and Insulin (rDNA) have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 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.
Should I take Squill and Insulin (rDNA) at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Insulin (rDNA) says to take it with food. If you take Squill on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Insulin (rDNA) with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Insulin (rDNA) products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Squill and Insulin (rDNA) combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Insulin (rDNA) is filed under 2 classifications, and Squill has documented interactions with 7 drug classes — none of Insulin (rDNA)'s classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Squill interact with any other medications?
Yes. Squill has 156 documented drug interactions in our database — Insulin (rDNA) is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Insulin (rDNA) interact with any supplements?
Yes. Insulin (rDNA) has documented interactions with 242 supplements in our database — Squill is not one of them. The Insulin (rDNA) 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 Insulin (rDNA) and Squill?

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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.