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Dietary supplement

Horny Goat Weed Complex Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson Passion

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Horny Goat Weed Complex is a dietary supplement by Swanson Passion with 4 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for low libido and sexual function, energy and stamina, menopause symptoms.Based on those ingredients, 1,116 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Horny Goat Weed extract, Tribulus terrestris extract, Mucuna pruriens. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Computed from our clinical databases

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion

Four independent checks of what is known — a summary of the available information, not a grade of the product itself.

Evidence for Intended Use
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
Not assessable

The stated purpose hasn't been mapped to our evidence data yet.

Why this rating?
  • We haven't mapped this product's purpose to our evidence data yet — it'll be graded on the next content refresh.
Ingredient Transparency
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 4 of its 4 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.
Known Interaction Concern
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 3 of the 4 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Tribulus, Horny Goat Weed, Cowhage.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications; lithium; Parkinson's medications.
  • For scale: 1,117 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.
Safety Information
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 4 of the 4 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 4 of 4.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 4 of 4.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

HelloPharmacist summaryFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Assessment coverage: 4 of 4 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 25, 2018.

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 Horny Goat Weed Complex, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson Passion
Barcode (UPC) 087614080284
Net contents 60 Capsule(s)
Market status Off market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 25, 2018
DSLD ID 177847
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) 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 Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion, 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:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
087614080284
IngredientAmount% DV
Maca250 mg--
Mucuna pruriens36 mg--
Horny Goat Weed extract500 mg--
Tribulus terrestris extract300 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin

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.
General Statements

Products for more sexual satisfaction

To reorder, call toll free 1-800-437-4148 or visit our website at www.swansonvitamins.com

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Guaranteed purity & potency

Precautions

Do not use if seal is broken.

Keep out of reach of children.

Warning: Not recommended for use with MAO inhibitors. Consult your physician before use if you are being treated for hypertension, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or if taking products containing L-dopa.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take two capsules per day with food and water. For quicker results, take three capsules 60 to 90 minutes before activity.

General

SWP028 Rev 2 09 06 17

See for yourself

Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion

These are the 4 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container30 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.

Maca

No known
interactions
250 mg per serving

Maca is a nutrient-rich Andean root often used for energy, libido, and menopause symptoms. Early studies suggest it may modestly help sexual desire an...

Maca monograph & interactions

Mucuna pruriens

Interacts with
193 drugs
36 mg per serving

Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) is a tropical legume best known as a natural source of L-dopa, the compound the body turns into dopamine. It is most studied...

Mucuna pruriens monograph & interactions

Horny Goat Weed extract

Interacts with
963 drugs
500 mg per serving Form: Icariins

Horny goat weed (Epimedium) is a traditional Chinese herb most often marketed for low libido and erectile problems, but solid human evidence for these...

Horny Goat Weed extract monograph & interactions

Tribulus terrestris extract

Interacts with
259 drugs
300 mg per serving Form: Saponins

Tribulus is a plant supplement most often marketed to boost libido, testosterone, and athletic performance, but the human evidence behind these claims...

Tribulus terrestris extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion Drug Interactions

Horny Goat Weed Complex contains 4 ingredients, and 3 of them have known drug interactions. Altogether they interact with 1,116 medications. Here’s the picture, then you can look up your own drug.

Want to check YOUR meds against Horny Goat Weed Complex?

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
1,116Drugs
17 Major 1,099 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Horny Goat Weed Complex 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.

Horny Goat Weed extract6 drug types · 963 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, horny goat weed might increase the risk of bleeding.
In vitro research and animal research shows that horny goat weed can inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, horny goat weed might increase the risk of hypotension.
Laboratory research suggests that horny goat weed might have hypotensive effects. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, horny goat weed might increase the effects and side effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro, horny goat weed leaf extract inhibits CYP1A2. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2B6 (Cyp2B6) Substrates

Theoretically, horny goat weed might increase the effects and side effects of CYP2B6 substrates.
In vitro, horny goat weed leaf extract inhibits CYP2B6. This effect has not been reported in humans.

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

Theoretically, horny goat weed might increase the effects and side effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro, horny goat weed extract inhibits CYP3A4 and suppresses CYP3A4 mRNA expression. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Estrogens

Theoretically, concomitant use of horny goat weed with estrogens might increase their therapeutic and adverse effects.
In vitro evidence suggests that horny goat weed has estrogenic activity. In clinical research, horny goat weed has been shown to increase blood levels of estrogen in some females.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Tribulus terrestris extract3 drug types · 259 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Taking tribulus with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical research shows that Tribulus can lower blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes who are taking antidiabetes medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, taking tribulus with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research shows that tribulus can lower blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Tribulus has also demonstrated hypotensive effects in pre-hypertensive adults.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, tribulus might increase the levels and clinical effects of lithium.
Tribulus is thought to have diuretic properties. Due to these potential diuretic effects, tribulus might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Mucuna pruriens8 drug types · 193 drugs

Levodopa

Concomitant use can increase the risk of levodopa-related adverse effects.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Some cowhage products have been standardized to contain 75-400 mg of levodopa per dose.

Likelihood Likely Evidence D
Methyldopa (Aldomet)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and methyldopa might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with methyldopa might cause additive hypotension. In addition, methyldopa may inhibit peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa and increase levodopa levels in the central nervous system; avoid using.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and non-selective MAOIs might increase the risk of hypertensive crisis.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with non-selective MAOIs might cause hypertensive crisis. However, this interaction has not been reported with MAO-B selective inhibitors such as selegiline.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Anesthesia

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and anesthesia might increase the risk of arrhythmias.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anesthesia has led to arrhythmias. Other anesthetics have not been implicated. Use other anesthetics in patients taking cowhage or tell patients to stop taking cowhage at least 2 weeks before surgery.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research shows that cowhage might have hypoglycemic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antipsychotic Drugs

Theoretically, use of cowhage might decrease the clinical effects of antipsychotic drugs.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa might counteract the antidopaminergic effects of antipsychotic medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Guanethidine (Ismelin)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and guanethidine might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with guanethidine might cause additive hypotension; avoid using.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Tricyclic Antidepressants (Tcas)

Theoretically, use of TCAs might reduce the levels and clinical effects of cowhage.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of TCAs might reduce the absorption of levodopa. Some case reports describe patients that developed hypertension and dyskinesia when taking both levodopa and TCAs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Horny Goat Weed Complex, from the product label.

Swanson Passion

See all Swanson Passion products
Name
Swanson Health Products
City
Fargo
State
ND
ZipCode
58104
Phone Number
1-800-437-4148
Web Address
www.swansonvitamins.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion: Common Questions

Does Horny Goat Weed Complex by Swanson Passion interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Horny Goat Weed Complex has a known interaction with 1,116 medications, including 17 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Horny Goat Weed Complex contains 4 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.

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

Not sure if Horny Goat Weed Complex is safe with your meds?

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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.

Horny Goat Weed Complex label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Horny Goat Weed Complex'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 34 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.

Maca 1 reference
  1. Valerio, L. G., Jr. and Gonzales, G. F. Toxicological aspects of the South American herbs cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and Maca (Lepidium meyenii) : a critical synopsis. Toxicol.Rev 2005;24(1):11-35. PubMed

See these in context on the Maca monograph →

Cowhage 12 references
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  3. Anon. Epidemiological notes and reports: Mucuna pruriens-associated pruritus--New Jersey. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1985;34:732-3.
  4. HP-200 in Parkinson's Disease study group. An alternative medicine treatment for Parkinson's disease: Results of a multicenter clinical trial. J Alt Comp Med 1995;1:249-55. DOI
  5. Infante ME, Perez AM, Simao MR, et al. Outbreak of acute toxic psychosis attributed to Mucuna pruriens. Lancet 1990;336:1129. PubMed
  6. Vaidya AB, Rajagopalan TG, Mankodi NA, et al. Treatment of Parkinson's disease with the cowhage plant-Mucuna pruriens Bak. Neurol India 1978;26:171-6.
  7. Vadivel V, Janardhanan K. Nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of velvet bean: an under-utilized food legume in south India. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2000;51:279-87. PubMed
  8. Akhtar MS, Qureshi AQ, Iqbal J. Antidiabetic evaluation of Mucuna pruriens, Linn seeds. J Pak Med Assoc 1990;40:147-50.
  9. Prakash, D., Niranjan, A., and Tewari, S. K. Some nutritional properties of the seeds of three Mucuna species. Int.J.Food Sci.Nutr. 2001;52(1):79-82.
  10. Vadivel, V. and Janardhanan, K. Nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of seven South Indian wild legumes. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr 2005;60(2):69-75. PubMed
  11. Creapure (Creatine Monohydrate). Toxicological Datasheet. Degussa BioActives. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/DOCKETS/.../95s-0316-rpt0154-54-Ref-50-vol112.pdf.
  12. Pulikkalpura H, Kurup R, Mathew PJ, Baby S. Levodopa in Mucuna pruriens and its degradation. Sci Rep 2015;5:11078. PubMed

See these in context on the Cowhage monograph →

Horny Goat Weed 11 references
  1. Cirigliano MD, Szapary PO. Horny goat weed for erectile dysfunction. Alt Med Alert 2001;4:19-22.
  2. Partin JF, Pushkin YR. Tachyarrhythmia and hypomania with horny goat weed. Psychosomatics 2004;45:536-7. PubMed
  3. De Naeyer A, Pocock V, Milligan S, De Keukeleire D. Estrogenic activity of a polyphenolic extract of the leaves of Epimedium brevicornum. Fitoterapia 2005;76:35-40. PubMed
  4. Zhang CZ, Wang SX, Zhang Y, et al. In vitro estrogenic activities of Chinese medicinal plants traditionally used for the management of menopausal symptoms. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;98:295-300. PubMed
  5. Yap SP, Shen P, Li J, et al. Molecular and pharmacodynamic properties of estrogenic extracts from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Epimedium. J Ethnopharmacol 2007;113:218-24. PubMed
  6. Yan, F. F., Liu, Y., Liu, Y. F., and Zhao, Y. X. Herba Epimedii water extract elevates estrogen level and improves lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women. Phytother.Res. 2008;22(9):1224-1228. PubMed
  7. Ramanathan VS, Mitropoulos E, Shlopov B, et al. An Enzyte'ing' case of acute hepatitis. J Clin Gastroenterol 2011;45(9):834-5. PubMed
  8. Zhong Q, Shi Z, Zhang L, et al. The potential of Epimedium koreanum Nakai for herb-drug interaction. J Pharm Pharmacol 2017;69(10):1398-408. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12773.
  9. Irfan M, Kwon TH, Lee DH, et al. Antiplatelet and Antithrombotic Effects of Epimedium koreanum Nakai. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. Apr 2021;2021:7071987. PubMed
  10. Tan K, Yang W, Pang L, Hou F. Differences in clinical characteristics among 726 patients with Chinese herbal medicine- or Western medicine-induced liver injury. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022;101(32):e29909. PubMed
  11. Li K, Yu XH, Maskey AR, et al. Cytochrome P450 3A4 suppression by epimedium and active compound kaempferol leads to synergistic anti-inflammatory effect with corticosteroid. Front Pharmacol 2023;13:1042756. PubMed

See these in context on the Horny Goat Weed monograph →

Tribulus 10 references
  1. Sharifi AM, Darabi R, Akbarloo N. Study of antihypertensive mechanism of Tribulus terrestris in 2K1C hypertensive rats: role of tissue ACE activity. Life Sci 2003;73:2963-71. PubMed
  2. Walker D, Bird A, Flora T, O'Sullivan B. Some effects of feeding Tribulus terrestris, Ipomoea lonchophylla and the seed of Abelmoschus ficulneus on fetal development and the outcome of pregnancy in sheep. Reprod Fertil Dev 1992;4:135-44. PubMed
  3. Al-Ali M, Wahbi S, Twaij H, Al-Badr A. Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;85:257-60. PubMed
  4. Tabakova, P., Dimitrov, M., Ognyanov, K., and et al. Clinical study of Tribestan in females with endocrine sterility. Documentation for Registration (unpublished) 1999.
  5. Akhtari E, Raisi F, Keshavarz M, et al. Tribulus terrestris for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Daru 2014;22:40. PubMed
  6. Ryan M, Lazar I, Nadasdy GM, et al. Acute kidney injury and hyperbilirubinemia in a young male after ingestion of Tribulus terrestris. Clin Nephrol 2015;83(3):177-83. PubMed
  7. Postigo S, Lima SM, Yamada SS, et al. Assessment of the effects of Tribulus terrestris on sexual function of menopausal women. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2016;38(3):140-6. PubMed
  8. Talasaz AH, Abbasi MR, Abkhiz S, Dashti-Khavidaki S. Tribulus terrestris-induced severe nephrotoxicity in a young healthy male. Nephrol Dial Tranplant 2010;25(11):3792-3. PubMed
  9. Samani NB, Jokar A, Soveid M, Heydari M, Mosavat SH. Efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extract of Tribulus terrestris on the serum glucose and lipid profile of women with diabetes mellitus: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Evid
  10. Siddiqui MA, Itrat M, Mobeen A, Khan MI. Efficacy of khar-i-khasak (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) in prehypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Complement Integr Med. 2021.

See these in context on the Tribulus 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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