Herb & supplement monograph

Corkwood Tree Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by ·Updated July 2026
What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Corkwood Tree interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Corkwood Tree is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Corkwood Tree is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

Check Corkwood Tree against your medication

Add one medication
Corkwood Tree
+
Start typing any prescription or over-the-counter drug name.
Reviewed by licensed pharmacists Sourced from Natural Medicines
On this page

Corkwood Tree Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, Corkwood Tree drug interactions carry a moderate risk overall, mainly for people who take medications with anticholinergic effects. Every listed interaction is rated moderate rather than major or minor, and all of them trace back to the same underlying concern.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The interactions that matter most involve anticholinergic drugs. Corkwood Tree naturally contains atropine and scopolamine, the same kind of compounds found in these medications, so combining them could add up and raise the chance of anticholinergic side effects. Eating the plant's leaves has been reported to cause effects consistent with anticholinergic toxicity, which is why we take this concern seriously even though the interaction itself has not been formally studied in people.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of medications looks daunting, but it reflects a single shared mechanism rather than many separate proven problems. The interaction is graded as possible, meaning it rests on the plant's known chemistry and limited reports rather than controlled human studies, so most combinations have never been directly tested. Still, because the plant itself contains active drug-like compounds, we would not dismiss the concern.

Check your medications against Corkwood Tree

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Corkwood Tree interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Corkwood Tree

195 medications have a known interaction with Corkwood Tree, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

2,830 drugs
AcepromazineAtravet› Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, PhenylephrineHycomine Compound› Acetaminophen, Caffeine, PyrilamineMidol Max Strength Menstrual› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Dextromethorphan HbrVicks Formula 44M Cough, Cold & Flu Relief› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Codeine, PhenylephrineColrex› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, DextromethorphanCoricidin II Extra Strength Cold and Flu› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan HydrobromideCoricidin HBP Maximum Strength Flu› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, PhenylpropanolamineMulti Symptom Cold Relief› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, PseudoephedrineChildren's Tylenol Cold Plus Cough, Tylenol Cold Ex Strength› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine, SalicylamideRhinogesic GG› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, PhenylephrineAlka-Seltzer PLUS, Histex SR, Protid› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, SalicylamideRhinogesic, Rhinogesic JR› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, PhenylpropanolamineAlumadrine, Conex, Sinadrin Max Strength, Sinulin› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, OpiumHista-Derfule› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, PhenyltoloxamineNorel Plus› Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, PseudoephedrineAlka-Seltzer PLUS Liquid Gels, Children's Tylenol Cold, Codimal, Comtrex, Extra Strength Tylenol Allergy Sinus, Lorsin +3 more› Acetaminophen, Codeine, DoxylamineMersyndol› Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine, PseudoephedrineVicks NyQuil› Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Phenylpropanolamine, PyrilamineTheracaps› Acetaminophen, DiphenhydramineTylenol PM, Tylenol PM Ex Strength› Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine, PseudoephedrineChildren's Tylenol Allergy, Cold Control, Contac Night Allergy Relief› Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, PseudoephedrineEx Strength Tylenol Sinus Nighttime› Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, PyrilamineMidol Max Strength PMS, Pamprin, Pamprin ES› Acetaminophen, Phenylephrine, ChlorpheniramineSuper Cold Tabs› Aclidinium BromideTudorza Pressair› Aclidinium Bromide, Formoterol Fumarate DihydrateDuaklir Pressair› Aerosphere Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate, GlycopyrrolateBreztri› AmantadineGocovri, Osmolex ER, Symmetrel› AminoglutethimideCytadren› AmitriptylineElavil›
Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

  • Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
  • Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
  • Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
  • No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

  • Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
  • Probable. Interaction 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.
  • Possible. 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
  • Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

  • Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
  • Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Corkwood Tree combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
  • Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
The big picture

The kinds of drugs Corkwood Tree affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Corkwood Tree is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 1 drug category Corkwood Tree interacts with
Anticholinergic Drugs
Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, corkwood tree might increase the risk of adverse anticholinergic effects when taken with anticholinergic drugs.
Corkwood tree contains the anticholinergic constituents atropine and scopolamine, and ingestion of corkwood tree leaves has been reported to cause effects consistent with anticholinergic toxicity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Monograph

Corkwood Tree: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by · Reviewed July 2026 ·
The bottom line

Corkwood Tree (Duboisia myoporoides) is an Australian plant best known as a commercial source of powerful tropane alkaloids like scopolamine and hyoscyamine, not as a safe home remedy. The raw plant is highly toxic and should not be used as a dietary supplement; only purified, medically prescribed alkaloids derived from it should be used, and only under a doctor's care.

Scientific name
Duboisia myoporoides
Family
Solanaceae
Part used
Leaves
Common forms
Not commonly sold as a consumer supplement; historically a source of plant extracts and isolated alkaloids
People commonly use it for
  • Source of scopolamine and hyoscyamine alkaloids
  • Traditional use as a stimulant or for fatigue
  • Historic use for motion sickness (via its alkaloids)
  • Antispasmodic / smooth muscle effects

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance
OverallBest avoided

The plant contains potent toxic tropane alkaloids and is not safe for self-use.

PregnancyLikely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail
BreastfeedingLikely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

The Corkwood Tree (Duboisia myoporoides) is a shrub or small tree native to Australia and parts of the southwest Pacific. It belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which includes many plants known for strong, sometimes dangerous chemical effects.

The plant's main importance is industrial and medical. Its leaves are rich in tropane alkaloids, especially scopolamine (hyoscine) and hyoscyamine. For many years it has been farmed and harvested as a natural source of these compounds, which are then purified and used to make prescription medicines.

Corkwood Tree is not a typical dietary supplement or herbal tea. Aboriginal peoples reportedly used the plant in traditional ways, but the raw leaf is highly poisonous and is not used as a safe home remedy today.

Uses & effectiveness

People do not generally use Corkwood Tree leaf directly. Instead, the alkaloids extracted from it are the active ingredients. Scopolamine, for example, is a well-established medicine used in patches for motion sickness and nausea, and hyoscyamine is used for certain stomach and bladder spasms.

It is important to separate the purified medicine from the raw plant. The prescription drugs made from these alkaloids are studied and dosed carefully. The plant itself, taken as a folk remedy, has no reliable evidence of safe or effective use and carries a serious risk of poisoning.

In short: there is no good evidence supporting Corkwood Tree as a self-care supplement for any condition. Its value is as a raw material for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

How it works

The leaves contain tropane alkaloids—mainly scopolamine and hyoscyamine (and the related compound atropine). These chemicals block a part of the nervous system that uses a messenger called acetylcholine. Drugs that do this are called anticholinergics.

By blocking acetylcholine, these alkaloids can relax certain muscles, slow secretions, affect heart rate, dilate the pupils, and act on parts of the brain involved in nausea and balance. This is why scopolamine helps with motion sickness.

These effects are dose-dependent and powerful. In a controlled medicine the dose is tiny and precise. In the raw plant the amount of alkaloid is unpredictable, which is what makes it dangerous.

Safety & precautions

Corkwood Tree should be treated as a poisonous plant, not a wellness product. Eating the leaves or making homemade preparations can cause serious anticholinergic poisoning, which can be life-threatening.

People with glaucoma, heart conditions, urinary problems, an enlarged prostate, or bowel obstruction are especially vulnerable to anticholinergic effects. Older adults are also more sensitive. No one should attempt to use the raw plant.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Avoid completely. The toxic alkaloids can be dangerous to both mother and baby, and there is no safe established use. Always speak with a doctor or pharmacist before using any product derived from this plant.

Side effects

Because the active compounds are strong anticholinergics, exposure can cause a cluster of effects often described as "dry as a bone, red as a beet, hot as a hare, blind as a bat, mad as a hatter." These include:

  • Dry mouth and dry skin
  • Flushing and overheating
  • Blurred vision and large pupils
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Trouble urinating and constipation
  • Confusion, agitation, hallucinations

In larger amounts this can progress to seizures, dangerous changes in heart rhythm, very high body temperature, coma, and death. Poisoning is a medical emergency—call poison control or seek emergency care immediately.

Corkwood Tree: Reported Adverse Effects

Documented safety reports on Corkwood Tree from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.

Orally, corkwood tree leaves are generally regarded as unsafe. Any benefits of therapy may not outweigh the risk of toxicity.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally: Ingestion of corkwood leaves can cause poisoning. Symptoms of corkwood tree poisoning are consistent with anticholinergic toxicity. Predominant symptoms include agitation, delirium, dry mouth, flushing, hallucinations, mydriasis, and tachycardia.

Reports by condition
Delirium Psychiatric

Orally, corkwood tree leaves can cause agitation, delirium, and hallucinations. In one case, a 22-year-old male presented with agitation, delirium, and visual hallucinations, among other symptoms, after ingesting 5-10 corkwood tree leaves. Alkaloid constituents in corkwood tree, namely scopolamine and atropine, have anticholinergic effects, which likely explains these adverse psychiatric effects.

  1. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.
Dry mouth Gastrointestinal

Orally, corkwood tree leaves can cause dry mouth. In one case, a 22-year-old male presented with dry mouth, among other symptoms, after ingesting 5-10 corkwood tree leaves. Alkaloid constituents in corkwood tree, namely scopolamine and atropine, have anticholinergic effects, which likely explains the dry mouth reported in this case.

  1. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.
Hypertension Cardiovascular

Orally, corkwood tree leaves can cause hypertension and tachycardia. In one case, a 22-year-old male presented with hypertension and tachycardia, among other symptoms, after ingesting 5-10 corkwood tree leaves. Alkaloid constituents in corkwood tree, namely scopolamine and atropine, have anticholinergic effects, which likely explains these adverse cardiovascular effects.

  1. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.
Niacin-induced flushing Dermatologic

Orally, corkwood tree leaves can cause flushing, hyperthermia, and anhidrosis. In one case, a 22-year-old male presented with flushing and hyperthermia, among other symptoms, after ingesting 5-10 corkwood tree leaves. Anhidrosis, or the inability to sweat normally, has also been observed with corkwood tree leaf use. Alkaloid constituents in corkwood tree, namely scopolamine and atropine, have anticholinergic effects, which likely explains these adverse dermatologic effects.

  1. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.
Urinary retention Genitourinary

Orally, corkwood tree leaves can cause urinary retention. Alkaloid constituents in corkwood tree, namely scopolamine and atropine, have anticholinergic effects, which explains reports of urinary retention associated with corkwood tree leaf use.

  1. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.
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.

Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

Dosing

There is no safe established dose of Corkwood Tree leaf for self-use, and it should not be taken as a supplement. The only appropriate use of compounds from this plant is in standardized, prescription medicines (such as scopolamine or hyoscyamine) that are dosed and monitored by healthcare professionals.

If you have been given a medicine derived from this plant, follow the product label and your prescriber's directions exactly. Do not attempt to make or use any homemade preparation. When in doubt, check with a pharmacist or doctor.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Corkwood Tree & Pregnancy

Likely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.

Corkwood Tree & Breastfeeding

Likely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
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

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 2 references that drive our Corkwood Tree 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. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Pellowe E, Poncia HD. Duboisia ingestion: an unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning. Emerg Med Australas 2013;25(3):268-70.
Keep reading

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.

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

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Corkwood Tree: Common Questions

Does Corkwood Tree interact with prescription medications?
Yes. We list 195 medications with a known interaction with Corkwood Tree. Use the checker above to see how Corkwood Tree interacts with a specific drug.
How are Corkwood Tree interactions rated?
Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.
Is it safe to take Corkwood Tree with my medications?
It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.
Where does this Corkwood Tree interaction information come from?
Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.
What is the Corkwood Tree used for?
Its leaves are mainly harvested as a commercial source of tropane alkaloids like scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which are purified and used to make prescription medicines. The raw plant is not used as a safe herbal remedy.
Is Corkwood Tree safe to take as a supplement?
No. The plant contains powerful, toxic alkaloids, and using the raw leaf can cause serious poisoning. Only purified, doctor-prescribed compounds from the plant should be used.
Can I use Corkwood Tree if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Its toxic alkaloids make it unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it should be avoided completely.
What happens if someone swallows part of the plant?
It can cause anticholinergic poisoning with symptoms like dry mouth, blurred vision, fast heart rate, confusion, and hallucinations, which can become life-threatening. Seek emergency care or call poison control right away.

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

Where next
Supplement interaction checkerCheck any supplement or product against your medications Drug–drug interactionsCheck two or more of your medications against each other Browse medications A–ZEvery drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements NDC & pricing lookupFind a drug’s NDCs, packaging and costs Ask a pharmacistFree, personal answer from our licensed team

Have a question about Corkwood Tree?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist