Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 3 of 5 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Calming Formula Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Energique

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Calming Formula is a dietary supplement by Energique with 5 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for anxiety and stress, sleep problems, digestive upset.Based on those ingredients, 927 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Passionflower, Lemon Balm, Damiana. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Calming Formula by Energique

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 5 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (1.50 mL) without saying how much of each component you get.

Energique's Calming Formula is a liquid with five active ingredients. The main components are lemon balm, passionflower, damiana, mulungu, and a proprietary blend (the other ingredients listed separately here).

The formula also contains water and ethanol as inactive ingredients. Lemon balm and passionflower are both traditional calming herbs.

Damiana is included for its traditional uses, though the evidence for its benefits is still being studied. Mulungu and tayuya are herbal components whose detailed roles aren't specified in the available data.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: calming and relaxation support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Adjustment disorders, Anxiety, Benzodiazepine withdrawal, Depression, Insomnia, Opioid withdrawal — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Lemon Balm is rated "Possibly Effective" for Depression (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Lemon Balm is rated "Possibly Effective" for Stress.
  • Also on file: Passion Flower is rated "Possibly Effective" for Pre-procedural anxiety, Insomnia.

Lemon balm is rated possibly effective for cold sores, stress, and depression based on available evidence. Passionflower is rated possibly effective for insomnia and pre-procedural anxiety, but the evidence for benzodiazepine withdrawal and alcohol use disorder is insufficient to rate.

For damiana, the evidence is insufficient to establish benefits — the product contains it, but we don't have reliable data showing it works for the conditions it's traditionally used for (sexual dysfunction, asthma, headache, cognitive function, constipation, or depression).

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lemon Balm Passion Flower Damiana

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 3 of the 3 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 3 of 3.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 3 of 3.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Lemon balm is generally well tolerated for short-term use in most healthy adults, though high doses and long-term safety haven't been well studied. It may cause dizziness or sedation in some people, though these don't appear to occur more often than placebo.

One rare case report links it to heart rhythm changes, but that involved a multi-ingredient product and wasn't clearly caused by lemon balm alone. Passionflower is also generally well tolerated short-term and can cause drowsiness; it's been reported to cause confusion, dizziness, or sedation.

One case involved severe nausea, vomiting, and heart rhythm changes at very high doses. Damiana has limited human safety data, and one extreme case reports tetanus-like convulsions at very high doses.

For pregnancy: lemon balm and damiana advise against use unless your doctor says otherwise; passionflower should be avoided due to possible effects on the uterus. For breastfeeding: lemon balm and passionflower both warrant caution and a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lemon Balm Passion Flower Damiana

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 3 of the 3 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Lemon Balm, Damiana, Passion Flower.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 928 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with your pharmacist if you're on a CNS depressant — anything that makes you drowsy, from sleeping pills to anxiety medications — because lemon balm and passionflower may add to that effect. Also check if you take thyroid hormone replacement, diabetes medications, or drugs that rely on liver metabolism (especially those using the CYP3A4 pathway), since lemon balm and passionflower may affect how they work.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This formula may help with stress and sleep, though the evidence is strongest for lemon balm on stress and passionflower on insomnia. If you take a sedative medication, blood pressure drug, diabetes medication, thyroid hormone, or any medication metabolized by your liver, check with us before you start.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? Talk to your pharmacist or doctor first.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 3 of 5 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Aug 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Calming Formula, straight from the product label.

Brand Energique
Barcode (UPC) 363113500493
Net contents 30 mL; 1 Fluid Ounce
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 22, 2024
DSLD ID 318439
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Children 4 or More Years of Age, Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Calming Formula by Energique, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0.5 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1.5 mL
Servings per container
20
UPC/BARCODE
363113500493
IngredientAmount% DV
Proprietary Blend1.5 mL--
Lemon Balm0 NP--
Mulungu0 NP--
Passionflower0 NP--
Damiana0 NP--
Tayuya0 NP--

Other ingredients: Water, Purified, Ethanol

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Precautions

Warnings: If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.

Consult a physician for use in children under 12 years of age. Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if tamper evident seal is broken or missing.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: 10 to 30 drops in water or juice 3 times daily or as otherwise directed. Shake well before use.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Energique Since 1987

Formulation

Rainforest Botanical

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

See for yourself

Calming Formula by Energique label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Calming Formula by Energique

These are the 5 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.5 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container20 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Proprietary Blend

1.5 mL per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Water, Purified, Ethanol. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Calming Formula by Energique Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Calming Formula?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
927Drugs
350 Moderate 577 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Damiana 86

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Calming Formula with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Passionflower3 drug types · 836 drugs

Cns Depressants

Concomitant use of passion flower with sedative drugs might cause additive effects and side effects.
Research in animals and humans shows that passion flower has sedative effects which can be additive when used with sedative medications like lorazepam.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, passion flower might decrease the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research suggests that passion flower can induce CYP3A4 enzymes, albeit to a much lower degree than rifampin, a known CYP3A4 inducer.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Organic Anion-Transporting Polypeptide Substrates (Oatp)

Theoretically, passion flower might reduce the bioavailability of OATP2B1 and OATP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that the passion flower constituents apigenin and vitexin inhibit OATP2B1 and OATP1A2. This inhibition may be dose-dependent. One specific high-flavonoid passion flower extract (Valverde) seems to inhibit OATP2B1 and OATP1A2, while another extract with a lower flavonoid concentration (Arkocaps) shows less potent inhibition. OATPs are responsible for the uptake of drugs and other compounds into the body; however, the specific activities of OATP2B1 and OATP1A2 are not well characterized.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Lemon Balm2 drug types · 264 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Lemon balm seems to have CNS depressant activity in animals and in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Thyroid Hormone

Theoretically, lemon balm might interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
In vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), preventing TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In animals, lemon balm extract has been shown to decrease levels of circulating TSH and inhibit thyroid secretion.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Damiana1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking damiana with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research shows that taking damiana lowers blood glucose level.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Calming Formula, from the product label.

Energique

See all Energique products
Name
Energique Inc
Street Address
201 Apple Blvd
City
Woodbine
State
IA
ZipCode
51579
Phone Number
800.869.8078
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Calming Formula by Energique: Common Questions

Does Calming Formula by Energique interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Calming Formula has a known interaction with 927 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Calming Formula contains 5 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What is lemon balm supposed to do in this formula?
Lemon balm is possibly effective for stress and cold sores based on available evidence. It also has a history of traditional use for calming and mood support, though it may make you drowsy.
Can I take this while pregnant?
No — lemon balm, passionflower, and damiana all advise against use in pregnancy due to lack of safety data. Talk to your doctor before using this product if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Can I take this while breastfeeding?
The ingredients here don't have enough safety data for breastfeeding. It's best to talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice before using this product while breastfeeding.
Is passionflower effective for anxiety?
Passionflower is rated possibly effective for pre-procedural anxiety (anxiety before medical procedures), but evidence for general anxiety isn't listed in the data we have. It is, however, possibly effective for insomnia.
What are the side effects I should watch for?
The most common side effects are drowsiness, dizziness, and sedation. Rare cases have reported heart rhythm changes, nausea, and vomiting at high doses or in susceptible people. If you feel confused, very drowsy, or notice any heart palpitations, stop and call your doctor.
Is this safe for long-term use?
Long-term safety for these ingredients hasn't been well studied. Lemon balm is generally well tolerated short-term, and passionflower likewise, but we don't have solid data on what happens with extended use. Check with your pharmacist about your timeline.

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

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Calming Formula label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Calming Formula's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 33 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Lemon Balm 12 references
  1. Wolbling RH, Leonhardt K. Local therapy of herpes simplex with dried extract from Melissa officinalis. Phytomedicine 1994;1:25-31.
  2. Akhondzadeh S, Noroozian M, Mohammadi M, et al. Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:863-6. PubMed
  3. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, et al. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2002;72:953-64. PubMed
  4. Albrecht M, Berger W, Laux P, Schmidt U, et al. Psychopharmaka und Verkehrssicherheit. Der Einfluß von Euvegal® - Dragees forte auf die Fahrtüchtigkeit und Kombinationswirkungen mit Alkohol Z Allg Med 1995;71:1215-25.
  5. Herberg, KW. Nebenwirkungen pflanzlicher Beruhigungsmittel/ Leistung und Befinden nach Einnahme einer Baldrian-Hopfen-Kombination. Z.Allg Med 1996;72:234-240.
  6. Soulimani R, Fleurentin J, Mortier F, et al. Neurotropic action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis in the mouse. Planta Med. 1991 Apr;57:105-9.
  7. Sourgens H, Winterhoff H, Gumbinger HG, et al. Antihormonal effects of plant extracts. TSH- and prolactin-suppressing properties of Lithospermum officinale and other plants. Planta Med. 1982 Jun;45:78-86. DOI
  8. Auf'mkolk M, Ingbar JC, Amir SM, et al. Inhibition by certain plant extracts of the binding and adenylate cyclase stimulatory effect of bovine thyrotropin in human thyroid membranes. Endocrinology. 1984 Aug;115:527-34. PubMed
  9. Santini F, Vitti P, Ceccarini G, et al. In vitro assay of thyroid disruptors affecting TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 Oct;26:950-5. PubMed
  10. Alijaniha F, et al. Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;164:378-384. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.007. Epub 2015 Feb 11. PubMed
  11. Araj-Khodaei M, Noorbala AA, Yarani R, et al. A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. with Fluoxetine for the treatment of depression. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):207. PubMed
  12. Kucuk U, Pham M, Raza Raja MH, Saad Shaukat MH, Clark R. Transient complete atrioventricular block associated with herbal supplement use. S D Med 2023;76(7):311-313.

See these in context on the Lemon Balm monograph →

Passion Flower 19 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. Fisher AA, Purcell P, Le Couteur DG. Toxicity of Passiflora incarnata L. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2000;38:63-6.
  4. Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Shayeganpour A, et al. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther 2001;26:363-7. PubMed
  5. Farnsworth N, Bingel A, Cordell G, et al. Potential value of plants as sources of new antifertility agents I. J Pharm Sci 1975;64:535-98. DOI
  6. Mori A, Hasegawa K, Murasaki M, et al. Clinical evaluation of Passiflamin (passiflora extract) on neurosis - multicenter double blind study in comparison with mexazolam. Rinsho Hyoka (Clinical Evaluation) 1993;21:383-440.
  7. Miyasaka LS, Atallah AN, Soares BG. Passiflora for anxiety disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007;(1):CD004518. DOI
  8. Speroni E., Minghetti A. Neuropharmacological activity of extracts from Passiflora incarnata. Planta Med. 1988;54:488-91.
  9. Capasso A., Sorrentino L. Pharmacological studies on the sedative and hypnotic effect of Kava kava and Passiflora extracts combination. Phytomedicine. 2005;12:39-45. PubMed
  10. Carrasco MC, Vallejo JR, Pardo-de-Santayana M, et al. Interactions of Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L. in a patient treated with lorazepam. Phytother Res. 2009 Dec;23:1795-6.
  11. Smith, G. W., Chalmers, T. M., and Nuki, G. Vasculitis associated with herbal preparation containing Passiflora extract. Br J Rheumatol. 1993;32(1):87-88.
  12. Soulimani, R., Younos, C., Jarmouni, S., Bousta, D., Misslin, R., and Mortier, F. Behavioural effects of Passiflora incarnata L. and its indole alkaloid and flavonoid derivatives and maltol in the mouse. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997;57(1):11-20. PubMed
  13. Nojoumi M, Ghaeli P, Salimi S, Sharifi A, Raisi F. Effects of Passion Flower Extract, as an Add-On Treatment to Sertraline, on Reaction Time in Patients ?with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Iran J Psychiatry. 2016;1
  14. Rokhtabnak F, Ghodraty MR, Kholdebarin A, et al. Comparing the Effect of Preoperative Administration of Melatonin and Passiflora incarnata on Postoperative Cognitive Disorders in Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery. Anesth Pain Med. 2016;7(1):e4123 PubMed
  15. Dantas LP, de Oliveira-Ribeiro A, de Almeida-Souza LM, Groppo FC. Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2017;22(1):e95-e101. PubMed
  16. Ozturk Z, Kalayci CC. Pregnancy outcomes in psychiatric patients treated with passiflora incarnata. Complement Ther Med. 2018 Feb;36:30-32. PubMed
  17. da Cunha RS, Amorim KS, Gercina AC, et al. Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial. Clin Oral Investig. 2020. PubMed
  18. Schäfer AM, Gilgen PM, Spirgi C, et al. Constituents of Passiflora incarnata, but Not of Valeriana officinalis, Interact with the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATP)2B1 and OATP1A2. Planta Med. 2021. PubMed
  19. Mazzari ALDA, Lacerda MG, Milton FA, et al. In vitro effects of European and Latin-American medicinal plants in CYP3A4 gene expression, glutathione levels, and P-glycoprotein activity. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:826395. PubMed

See these in context on the Passion Flower monograph →

Damiana 2 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Alarcon-Aquilar FJ, Roman-Ramos R, Perez-Gutierrez S, et al. Study of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of plants used as antidiabetics. J Ethnopharmacol 1998;61:101-10. PubMed

See these in context on the Damiana monograph →

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

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