Drug & supplement interaction

Swamp Milkweed + Omadacycline (IV)

Omadacycline (IV) brand name: Nuzyra.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Swamp Milkweed has a moderate interaction with Omadacycline (IV). Theoretically, tetracycline antibiotics might increase the risk of toxicity from cardioactive steroids in swamp milkweed.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Swamp Milkweed and Omadacycline (IV)

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

Moderate

TETRACYCLINE ANTIBIOTICS

Why this applies to Omadacycline (IV)

Omadacycline (IV) falls under TETRACYCLINE ANTIBIOTICS — the group Swamp Milkweed interacts with.

Theoretically, tetracycline antibiotics might increase the risk of toxicity from cardioactive steroids in swamp milkweed.
Swamp milkweed contains cardioactive steroids known as cardenolides that may have digitalis-like activity. Tetracycline antibiotics appear to increase the gastrointestinal absorption of oral digoxin. Theoretically, concomitant use of tetracycline antibiotics might increase the absorption of the cardenolides found in swamp milkweed and increase the risk of adverse effects.
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 idea behind this one. Swamp milkweed contains natural heart-active compounds called cardenolides that act a little like digoxin, a classic heart medicine. Tetracycline-type antibiotics, and omadacycline (Nuzyra) is in that family, have been shown to increase how much digoxin your gut absorbs. So in theory, pairing them could let more of those milkweed heart compounds into your bloodstream, raising the chance of side effects like nausea, vomiting, or an irregular or unusually slow heartbeat.

I want to be honest, though: this is a theoretical concern based on how the drugs work, not on real human studies. The bigger issue is that swamp milkweed is genuinely toxic and isn't a proven supplement. Please don't take it, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining anything new with your antibiotic.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

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

Swamp Milkweed Also Interacts With Other Medications

Swamp Milkweed has 3 major, 152 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Omadacycline (IV) one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 3 Moderate 152 No known interaction 2,675 (incl. Omadacycline (IV))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Swamp Milkweed

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Omadacycline (IV)

This page covers Swamp Milkweed only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Omadacycline (IV) page lists 24 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Oleander (major), Black Hellebore (moderate), Calcium (moderate), Dolomite (moderate) and Foxglove (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Omadacycline (IV) page

“Omadacycline (Nuzyra) is a tetracycline antibiotic given by IV drip for serious pneumonia and skin infections, and its interaction list earns real vigilance. The entry to understand first is oleander, the only one of the 24 rated major: tetracyclines can shift the gut bacteria that normally break down its heart-toxic compounds, letting…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Omadacycline (IV) interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Swamp Milkweed and Omadacycline (IV) 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 Swamp Milkweed
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Omadacycline (IV)
Steady interest

#1,434 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 Swamp Milkweed

What is Swamp Milkweed?

  • Traditional digestive remedy
  • Diuretic (increasing urine)
  • Cough and respiratory complaints
  • Worm or parasite remedy (folk use)
  • Pollinator/garden plant rather than medicine

Swamp Milkweed is a native North American wetland plant best known today as a butterfly and pollinator garden plant, not a proven medicine. It contains toxic milky sap with cardiac glycoside-like compounds, and there is very little reliable human research to support any health use. Because of its potential toxicity, it should not be used as a supplement without professional guidance.

Read the full Swamp Milkweed monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Omadacycline Injection

What Is Omadacycline Injection Used For?

Brand name: Nuzyra

Nuzyra (omadacycline) injection is used in adults to treat two types of serious bacterial infections: community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) — a lung infection picked up outside of a hospital — and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), which include serious skin infections such as those caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Nuzyra works only against bacterial infections. It is not effective against viral illnesses like the flu or common cold. Your doctor will prescribe it only when a bacterial infection is confirmed or strongly suspected, to help prevent the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

See full Omadacycline Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Swamp Milkweed

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

3Major
152Moderate
0Minor
2,674No known interaction
3 Major 152 Moderate 2,674 No interaction
Major

3 interactions

Moderate

152 interactions

Showing 60 of 152 moderate interactions — see all 152 on the Swamp Milkweed page.

No interaction 2,674 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Swamp Milkweed against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,674 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Swamp Milkweed list.

See the full Swamp Milkweed interactions page
See every supplement checked against Omadacycline (IV), ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Swamp Milkweed monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Omadacycline (IV) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Omadacycline (IV), ranked by severity Omadacycline Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Swamp Milkweed and Omadacycline (IV) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Swamp Milkweed with Omadacycline (IV)?
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 Swamp Milkweed and Omadacycline (IV) 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 Omadacycline (IV) and Swamp Milkweed?

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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.