Poppy Seed Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Poppy Seed interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Poppy Seed is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Poppy Seed 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 Poppy Seed against your medication
Add one medicationDrugs that interact with Poppy Seed
0 medications have a known interaction with Poppy Seed, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Poppy Seed. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.
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 Poppy Seed combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Poppy Seed: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Poppy seeds are a common food ingredient harvested from the opium poppy, and the seeds themselves contain very little of the plant's opium compounds. They are generally safe as food, but eating large amounts can leave trace opiate residues that may show up on drug tests. There is little solid evidence supporting poppy seed as a medicinal supplement.
- Scientific name
- Papaver somniferum
- Family
- Papaveraceae
- Part used
- Seeds (and seed oil)
- Common forms
- Whole seeds, ground seeds, seed oil, baked goods, paste fillings
- Culinary flavoring and baking
- Source of dietary fat and minerals
- Traditional digestive remedy
- Skin and cooking oil
- Mild sleep or relaxation folk use
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Safe as a food, but large amounts may contain trace opiate residue and can trigger positive drug tests.
When used as a spice or flavoring in amounts commonly found in foods. Poppy seed has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US for use as a...
Read the full pregnancy detailWhen used as a spice or flavoring in amounts commonly found in foods. Poppy seed has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US for use as a...
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Poppy seed comes from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum), which is grown around the world for both food and, historically, for opium and certain medicines. The tiny seeds are harvested from the dried seed pods after the milky sap that contains opium compounds is gone.
Poppy seeds are best known as a food. They are used in breads, bagels, pastries, salad dressings, and pastes, and they are pressed for a mild cooking oil. They have a nutty flavor and provide fat, fiber, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese.
Although the plant is the source of opium, the seeds themselves contain only very small amounts of opiate compounds, usually picked up as residue on the outside of the seed during harvest.
How it works
Poppy seeds provide unsaturated fats, fiber, plant protein, and minerals, which is why they are valued mainly as a nutritious food. The seed oil is rich in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid.
The opium poppy plant produces alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, but these are concentrated in the sap of the unripe pod, not the seeds. The seeds can carry trace amounts of these alkaloids as surface contamination. This is why eating poppy seeds is generally not enough to cause drug-like effects, but can sometimes be enough to register on a sensitive urine drug test.
Any relaxing or sleep-related folk effects are often attributed to these trace alkaloids, but this is not well studied and the amounts in food are usually too low to be reliable.
Does Poppy Seed work?
How to read these evidence grades
Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.
Likely Effective Vesicoenteric fistula diagnosis
Oral poppy seed appears to be effective for diagnosing vesicoenteric fistula.
Also studied for 2 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Cough
Although there has been interest in using oral poppy seed for cough, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of poppy seed for this purpose.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Insomnia
Although there has been interest in using oral poppy seed for insomnia, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of poppy seed for this purpose.
Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.
Safety & precautions
Poppy seeds eaten as part of normal foods are widely considered safe for most people. The main concern is eating very large amounts or using unwashed seeds, which can carry higher levels of trace opiates.
Drug testing: Eating poppy seed foods can cause a positive result for opiates on a urine drug test, sometimes for a day or more. If you have a scheduled drug test or work in a setting that tests for drugs, it is wise to avoid poppy seeds beforehand.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Ordinary food amounts are likely fine, but large or concentrated doses, teas, or unwashed-seed preparations should be avoided because of possible trace opiates. When in doubt, choose caution and ask your doctor or pharmacist.
People who are sensitive to opiates, have a history of substance use disorder, or have certain breathing conditions should be cautious with very large amounts. As with any food, an allergy to poppy seed is possible.
Side effects
In normal food amounts, poppy seeds rarely cause problems. Some people may have mild digestive upset, and a small number of people are allergic to poppy seed and could have reactions ranging from mild itching to, rarely, a serious allergic reaction.
Eating very large quantities of poppy seeds or drinking homemade "poppy seed tea" made from unwashed seeds or pods is dangerous. These preparations can contain enough opiate to cause sedation, slowed breathing, and even fatal overdose. Such products should be avoided entirely.
Poppy Seed: Reported Adverse Effects
Documented safety reports on Poppy Seed from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.
Orally, poppy seeds are generally well tolerated when consumed in food amounts. Poppy seeds also seem to be well tolerated when used short-term in medicinal amounts. Consuming a large amount of poppy seeds or poppy seed tea may be unsafe.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Allergic reactions, including dyspnea, mucosal swelling, and urticaria, in sensitive individuals.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Intestinal obstruction, acute respiratory distress syndrome, aspiration pneumonitis, cardiotoxicity, and death at high doses.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Pulmonary/Respiratory
Three fatalities attributed to morphine overdose have been reported in individuals who consumed poppy seed tea. Symptoms and complications of overdose included slow breathing, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and aspiration pneumonitis.
- Powers D, Erickson S, Swortwood MJ. Quantification of morphine, codeine, and thebaine in home-brewed poppy seed tea by LC-MS/MS. J Forensic Sci. 2018;63(4):1229-1235.
- Poponea N, Kashlan MT, Vollstaedt J. Opium poppy seed tea: A lesser known but deadly cocktail. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;197:A6895.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Immunologic
Orally, allergic reactions to poppy seed have included vomiting and swelling of the oral mucosa, urticaria, respiratory distress, and dyspnea.
Arrhythmia Gastrointestinal
Orally, poppy seed can cause intestinal obstruction with fecal impaction when used in very large amounts. A case of bowel obstruction and subsequent death due to complications of bowel obstruction has been reported for a 54-year-old female who ingested at least 900 grams of poppy seed. The patient experienced severe intractable vomiting 1-2 days prior to death, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance resulting in arrhythmia.
Depression Cardiovascular
Orally, poppy seed may cause acute cardiotoxicity when used in very large amounts. A 21-year-old male was found unresponsive and transferred to the emergency department after ingesting "large quantities" of homemade poppy seed tea. In additional to typical symptoms of opioid overdose, including respiratory depression and altered consciousness, echocardiogram and electrocardiogram showed severe biventricular dysfunction and ST-segment elevations similar to a Brugada-type pattern. The patient slowly recovered upon treatment with naloxone, milrinone, and noradrenaline.
Myasthenia gravis Psychiatric
Orally, poppy seed may cause symptoms of opiate impairment when large amounts are sucked or prepared as poppy seed tea. Although poppy seeds do not naturally contain opiates, poppy seeds can become coated with opiates during harvesting or by insect damage. Drinking tea prepared by soaking 250 mg to 3 kg of poppy seeds in water, usually for about 1-2 hours, has been associated with symptoms of opiate impairment including feelings of calmness and euphoria. The symptoms reportedly start within 60 minutes of ingestion and can last up to 24 hours. In rare cases, poppy seed intake has been associated with dependence. One case of poppy seed dependence has been reported for a female patient who regularly sucked on large amounts of poppy seeds. The patient reported tingling sensations followed by euphoria after filling her mouth with poppy seeds and sucking until the seeds were dry. On average, the patient sucked on about 2 kg of poppy seed weekly. Over time, the patient began sucking on poppy seeds up to six times daily. She experienced restlessness if she used poppy seeds less often. Cases of poppy seed tea dependence have also been reported for patients with opioid dependence who maintained their dependence using the tea. Consuming poppy seeds in food amounts does not cause symptoms of opiate impairment, although it can cause positive opiate urinalysis results.
- Braye, K., Harwood, T., Inder, R., Beasley, R., and Robinson, G. Poppy seed tea and opiate abuse in New Zealand. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26(2):215-219.
- Pettitt BC Jr, Dyszel SM, Hood LV. Opiates in poppy seed: effect on urinalysis results after consumption of poppy seed cake-filling. Clin Chem 1987;33(7):1251-2.
- Bjerver K, Jonsson J, Kilsson A. Morphine intake from poppy seed food. J Pharma Pharmacol 2011;34(12):798-801.
- Facchini PJ, De Luca V. Phloem-Specific Expression of Tyrosine/Dopa Decarboxylase Genes and the Biosynthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids in Opium Poppy. The Plant Cell 1995;7(11):1811-1821.
- Kaplan, R. Poppy seed dependence. Med J Aust 1994;161(2):176.
- Lloyd-Jones, D. M. and Bonomo, Y. Unusual presentations for pharmacotherapy-poppy seed dependence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2006;25(4):375-376.
- Meneely KD. Poppy seed ingestion: the Oregon perspective. J Forensic Sci 1992;37(4):1158-1162.
Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
Dosing
There is no established medicinal dose for poppy seed. It is normally consumed as a food ingredient in amounts found in breads, pastries, and dressings, which is considered safe for most people.
No supplement form has a proven, standardized therapeutic dose. If you choose to use a poppy seed product, follow the label and avoid large amounts or homemade tea preparations. Check with a pharmacist or doctor before using poppy seed for any health purpose.
Poppy Seed & Pregnancy
Poppy Seed & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 13 references that drive our Poppy Seed 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.
- 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
- Meneely KD. Poppy seed ingestion: the Oregon perspective. J Forensic Sci 1992;37(4):1158-1162. DOI
- Kaplan, R. Poppy seed dependence. Med J Aust 1994;161(2):176. PubMed
- Braye, K., Harwood, T., Inder, R., Beasley, R., and Robinson, G. Poppy seed tea and opiate abuse in New Zealand. Drug Alcohol Rev 2007;26(2):215-219. PubMed
- Lloyd-Jones, D. M. and Bonomo, Y. Unusual presentations for pharmacotherapy-poppy seed dependence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2006;25(4):375-376. PubMed
- Braun, W. and Kovary, P. M. [Poppy seed allergy]. Z.Hautkr 1988;63(4):344.
- Pettitt BC Jr, Dyszel SM, Hood LV. Opiates in poppy seed: effect on urinalysis results after consumption of poppy seed cake-filling. Clin Chem 1987;33(7):1251-2. DOI
- Bjerver K, Jonsson J, Kilsson A. Morphine intake from poppy seed food. J Pharma Pharmacol 2011;34(12):798-801. DOI
- Facchini PJ, De Luca V. Phloem-Specific Expression of Tyrosine/Dopa Decarboxylase Genes and the Biosynthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids in Opium Poppy. The Plant Cell 1995;7(11):1811-1821. PubMed
- Powers D, Erickson S, Swortwood MJ. Quantification of morphine, codeine, and thebaine in home-brewed poppy seed tea by LC-MS/MS. J Forensic Sci. 2018;63(4):1229-1235.
- Schuppener LM, Corliss RF. Death due to complications of bowel obstruction following raw poppy seed ingestion. J Forensic Sci. 2018;63(2):614-618. PubMed
- Poponea N, Kashlan MT, Vollstaedt J. Opium poppy seed tea: A lesser known but deadly cocktail. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;197:A6895.
- Tan YPA, Alexander PDG, Knowles S. Acute cardiotoxicity following 'poppy seed tea' consumption. Anaesth Rep 2021;9(2):e12130. PubMed
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
Poppy Seed: Common Questions
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How are Poppy Seed interactions rated?
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Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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