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Dietary supplement

Nutmeg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

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

Nutmeg is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive upset, diarrhea, sleep and relaxation.Based on those ingredients, 528 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Nutmeg Nut Extract, Dry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm

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

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Hawaii Pharm Nutmeg is a single-ingredient liquid extract made from nutmeg nut. It contains one active ingredient: Nutmeg Nut Extract, Dry.

The liquid form also includes alcohol, water, and glycerin as inactive ingredients to deliver the extract.

Does it work?

Not established
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
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Nutmeg's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: digestive health and sleep support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Diarrhea, digestive upset, relaxation, inflammation.
  • The closest evidence on file: Nutmeg is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Diarrhea (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for nutmeg's effectiveness isn't established in the data we hold. The product facts show insufficient reliable evidence to rate nutmeg for dental caries, diarrhea, or halitosis — the conditions listed.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work; it means the research to support its use for these purposes hasn't been completed or published yet.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Nutmeg

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 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Nutmeg is generally well tolerated when used as a food spice in normal amounts. However, the safety data here is clear: larger doses can be toxic and cause serious poisoning.

The facts advise against medicinal amounts and concentrated supplements due to lack of safety data. At high doses, nutmeg has been linked to serious and rare adverse effects including hallucinations, confusion, dizziness, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.

Topically, it can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive people. For pregnancy, food amounts are likely safe, but there's insufficient data on medicinal doses; for breastfeeding, food amounts appear likely safe.

If you're pregnant or nursing and considering this supplement, talk to your pharmacist or doctor first.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Nutmeg

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?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Nutmeg.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 528 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 take CNS depressants (sedatives, sleep aids, some pain relievers), drugs metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP1A2, anticholinergic medications (like oxybutynin), cholinergic drugs (like donepezil), or phenobarbital. All are Moderate severity interactions documented for nutmeg.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Nutmeg as a food spice is safe for most people. This concentrated liquid extract, though, carries real risks — especially at higher doses — and interacts with several medication types.

If you take CNS depressants, drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, anticholinergic or cholinergic medications, or phenobarbital, check your exact medications with our tool before starting. Talk to your pharmacist about whether a medicinal dose is right for you.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 24, 2023.

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 Nutmeg, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 840253638717
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 24, 2023
DSLD ID 301642
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
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 Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm, 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:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
840253638717
IngredientAmount% DV
Nutmeg Nut Extract, Dry983 mg--

Other ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin

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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Shake well before using. For adults add about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to some juice or water, up to 4 times a day.

Precautions

Warning: We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

Consult your physician before giving to children under 18, during pregnancy, if nursing or taking medications.

May affect the ability to drive and operate machinery. May have contraindications, can cause side effects and adverse reactions. Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children!

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Seals/Symbols

cGMP Made in compliance with cGMP 21 CFR 111 in an FDA registered and inspected facility.

Organic Alcohol Based USA Made in United States of America

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Scan this QR-code to get 15% discount on your next purchase. Limited time deal.

Formula

Myristica fragrans

Organic Alcohol Based

Formulation

Only natural ingredients Purity is laboratory tested and verified

All the raw materials are gluten-free by their nature No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Not tested on animals

Organic Alcohol Based

Made in USA, Hawaii

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

See for yourself

Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Nutmeg Nut Extract, Dry

Interacts with
528 drugs
983 mg per serving

Nutmeg is a popular cooking spice that has long been used in traditional medicine for digestion and other complaints, but there is little solid human...

Nutmeg Nut Extract, Dry monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Nutmeg?

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
528Drugs
528 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

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

Nutmeg Nut Extract, Dry5 drug types · 528 drugs

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of nutmeg and anticholinergic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of either agent.
Animal research suggests that nutmeg extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of nutmeg with other cholinergic drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of cholinergic side effects.
Animal research suggests that nutmeg extract can inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cns Depressants

Theoretically, nutmeg might increase the risk of additive sedation when taken with CNS depressants.
Animal studies suggest that nutmeg extracts and several volatile oils in nutmeg, such as methyleugenol, isoeugenol, safrole, myristicin, trimyristin, 1,8-cineole, and geranyl acetate, have sedative effects. One animal study shows that petroleum ether extracts of nutmeg can potentiate the effects of pentobarbital or phenobarbital. However, evidence from other animal research suggests that the nutmeg constituent myristicin can actually reduce sleeping time in rats pretreated with phenobarbital.

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

Theoretically, nutmeg might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
Animal research suggests that intraperitoneal injections of myristicin, a constituent of nutmeg, can induce CYP1A2.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenobarbital (Luminal)

Theoretically, nutmeg might increase or decrease the effects and adverse effects of phenobarbital.
Some animal research suggests that myristicin, a constituent of nutmeg, can reduce sleeping time in rats pretreated with phenobarbital. However, other animal research suggests that petroleum ether extract of nutmeg can potentiate the effects of phenobarbital.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Nutmeg, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
Street Address
510 Sumner St. Ste. 613
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96817
Phone Number
888-854-2924
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Nutmeg by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Nutmeg has a known interaction with 528 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Nutmeg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism 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.
Is nutmeg safe to use as a spice in cooking?
Yes — nutmeg as a food spice is generally well tolerated. The safety concern is with larger, concentrated medicinal doses, not the pinch you'd add to a recipe.
What happens if I take too much of this extract?
High doses of nutmeg can cause serious poisoning with hallucinations, confusion, dizziness, seizures, and in rare cases, death. The facts are clear: stick to normal food use, not concentrated supplements or medicinal amounts.
Can I use this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Food amounts of nutmeg are likely safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. But there isn't enough data on medicinal doses to know either way — talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
Will this extract actually help with diarrhea, bad breath, or tooth decay?
The evidence isn't established in our data. The product facts show insufficient reliable evidence to rate nutmeg for these uses, so we can't say whether it works.
Can this cause allergic reactions?
Topically, nutmeg can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. If you have known sensitivities to spices or essential oils, be cautious.

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

Not sure if Nutmeg is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

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.

Nutmeg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Nutmeg'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 29 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.

Nutmeg 29 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Sangalli BC, Chiang W. Toxicology of nutmeg abuse. Clin Toxicol 2000;38:671-8. PubMed
  3. Hallstrom H, Thuvander A. Toxicological evaluation of myristicin. Nat Toxins 1997;5:186-92. DOI
  4. Jeong HG, Yun CH. Induction of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes by myristicin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;217:966-71. PubMed
  5. Dinakar HS. Acute psychosis associated with nutmeg toxicity. Med Times 1977;105:63-4.
  6. McKenna A, Nordt SP, Ryan J. Acute nutmeg poisoning. Eur J Emerg Med 2004;11:240-1. PubMed
  7. Panayotopoulos DJ, Chisholm DD. Hallucinogenic effect of nutmeg. Br Med J 1970;1:754. PubMed
  8. Demetriades AK, Wallman PD, McGuiness A, Gavalas MC. Low cost, high risk: accidental nutmeg intoxication. Emerg Med J 2005;22:223-5. PubMed
  9. Forrester MB. Nutmeg intoxication in Texas, 1998-2004. Hum Exp Toxicol 2005;24:563-6. PubMed
  10. Stein U, Greyer H, Hentschel H. Nutmeg (myristicin) poisoning-report on a fatal case and a series of cases recorded by a poison information centre. Forensic Sci Int 2001;118:87-90. PubMed
  11. Venables GS, Evered D, Hall R. Letter: Nutmeg poisoning. Br Med J 1976;1:96. PubMed
  12. Shah AM, Calello DP, Quintero-Solivan J, Osterhoudt KC. The not-so-nice spice: a teenage girl with palpitations and dry mouth. Pediatr Emerg Care 2011;27:1205-7. PubMed
  13. Carstairs SD, Cantrell FL. The spice of life: an analysis of nutmeg exposures in California. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2011;49:177-80. PubMed
  14. Williams EY, West F. The use of nutmeg as a psychotropic drug. Report of two cases. J Natl Med Assoc 1968;60:289-90.
  15. Abernethy MK, Becker LB. Acute nutmeg intoxication. Am J Emerg Med 1992;10:429-30. PubMed
  16. Sell AB, Carlini EA. Anesthetic action of methyleugenol and other eugenol derivatives. Pharmacology. 1976;14(4):367-77. PubMed
  17. Fundarò A, Cassone MC. [Action of essential oils of chamomile, cinnamon, absinthium, mace and origanum on operant conditioning behavior of the rat]. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1980;56(22):2375-80.
  18. Grover JK, Khandkar S, Vats V, Dhunnoo Y, Das D. Pharmacological studies on Myristica fragrans--antidiarrheal, hypnotic, analgesic and hemodynamic (blood pressure) parameters. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2002;24(10):675-80. PubMed
  19. Sherry CJ, Ray LE, Herron RE. The pharmacological effects of the ligroin extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). J Ethnopharmacol. 1982;6(1):61-6.
  20. Mukherjee PK, Kumar V, Houghton PJ. Screening of Indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Phytother Res. 2007;21(12):1142-5. PubMed
  21. Van Gils C, Cox PA. Ethnobotany of nutmeg in the Spice Islands. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;42(2):117-24. PubMed
  22. Barceloux DG. Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.). Dis Mon. 2009;55(6):373-9. PubMed
  23. Futrell JM, Rietschel RL. Spice allergy evaluated by results of patch tests. Cutis. 1993;52(5):288-90.
  24. van den Akker TW, Roesyanto-Mahadi ID, van Toorenenbergen AW, van Joost T. Contact allergy to spices. Contact Dermatitis. 1990;22(5):267-72. PubMed
  25. Beattie RT. Nutmeg as a psychoactive agent. Br J Addict Alcohol Other Drugs. 1968;63(1):105-9. PubMed
  26. Beckerman B, Persaud H. Nutmeg overdose: Spice not so nice. Complement Ther Med. 2019;46:44-46. PubMed
  27. Reynoard J, Torrents R, Domange B, Glaizal M, de Haro L, Simon N. Nutmeg poisoning: Ten years (2008-2018) of experience from the Marseille Poison Control Center. Presse Med. 2019;48(9):994-996. PubMed
  28. Atherton RR. The 'Nutmeg Challenge': a dangerous social media trend. Arch Dis Child. 2020:archdischild-2020-319407. PubMed
  29. Medagoda K. A family with nutmeg poisoning due to a home-made 'Covid treatment syrup'. Natl Med J India 2022;35(3):187. PubMed

See these in context on the Nutmeg 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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