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Dietary supplement

Stinging Nettle 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by GNC Herbal Plus

Stinging Nettle 500 mg label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Stinging Nettle 500 mg against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Stinging Nettle 500 mg is a dietary supplement by GNC Herbal Plus with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for enlarged prostate (bph) symptoms, seasonal allergies, joint pain and arthritis.Based on those ingredients, 164 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Nettle leaves powder. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

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.

This product contains one active ingredient: nettle leaves powder at 500 mg per capsule. The capsule itself is made of gelatin, an inactive ingredient.

Stinging nettle has been used traditionally for joint and urinary health, and research suggests it may affect blood sugar and fluid balance in the body.

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

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Stinging Nettle's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Stinging Nettle for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Diabetes — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for stinging nettle is mixed. It's rated possibly effective for diabetes based on clinical research showing it may lower blood sugar.

For hay fever, anemia, asthma, prostate health, and gum inflammation, the evidence isn't established enough for us to rate it — the data we hold shows insufficient reliable evidence for those uses.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Stinging Nettle

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.

Stinging nettle is generally well tolerated by most adults at the directed dose. The most common side effects are constipation or diarrhea.

If you touch the raw plant, you may get itching, rash, or stinging; direct contact with fresh leaves can cause more severe reactions, including swelling of the mouth and throat. There is not enough safety data during pregnancy, and traditional concerns about effects on the uterus mean you should avoid it during pregnancy.

Safety during breastfeeding has not been established, so avoid it until you talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Rare case reports of liver injury have been reported with herbal products containing stinging nettle plus other ingredients, though causation is unclear.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Stinging Nettle

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 — Stinging Nettle.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications; lithium.
  • For scale: 164 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 you start, check with your pharmacist if you take warfarin or other blood thinners, antidiabetes drugs, diuretics (water pills), or lithium. These are the main medication types where stinging nettle can interfere or cause additive effects.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Stinging nettle may be worth considering if you have diabetes and want an additional approach to blood sugar, but you'll need to talk with your pharmacist or doctor first — especially if you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, water pills, or lithium. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, skip it for now.

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 Aug 24, 2016.

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 Stinging Nettle 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand GNC Herbal Plus
Barcode (UPC) 048107129125
Net contents 100 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 24, 2016
DSLD ID 63956
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar 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 Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus, 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:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
048107129125
IngredientAmount% DV
Nettle leaves powder500 mg--

Other ingredients: 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.
Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

Warning: Consult your physician prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery.

This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

General Statements

Whole Herb

Material verified by TLC. Conforms to USP <2091> for weight. Meets USP <2040> disintegration.

General

CODE 193828 JOG

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one capsule daily.

Formulation

No Sugar, no Starch, no Artificial Colors, no Artificial Flavors, Sodium free, no Wheat, no Gluten, no Corn, no Soy, no Dairy, Yeast free.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus label

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

Stinging Nettle 500 mg label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus

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

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Nettle leaves powder

Interacts with
164 drugs
500 mg per serving

Stinging nettle is a common plant used as food and in traditional medicine, most often for prostate symptoms, allergies, and joint pain. The evidence...

Nettle leaves powder monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Stinging Nettle 500 mg?

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
164Drugs
164 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Nettle leaves powder 164

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Stinging Nettle 500 mg interact with 164 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Stinging Nettle 500 mg interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Nettle leaves powder

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Stinging Nettle 500 mg 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.

Nettle leaves powder4 drug types · 164 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, stinging nettle might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs.
Clinical research shows that stinging nettle might decrease blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Diuretic Drugs

Theoretically, combining stinging nettle with diuretic drugs may have additive effects.
Animal research suggests that the above ground parts and roots of stinging nettle may have a diuretic effect.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, stinging nettle might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium.
Animal research suggests that stinging nettle has diuretic and natriuretic properties, which could alter the excretion of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

There is some concern that stinging nettle might decrease the effects of anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin.
Stinging nettle contains a significant amount of vitamin K. When taken in large quantities, this might interfere with the activity of warfarin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Nettle leaves powder full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Stinging Nettle 500 mg, from the product label.

GNC Herbal Plus

See all GNC Herbal Plus products
Name
General Nutrition Corporation
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
ZipCode
15222
Phone Number
1-888-462-2548
Web Address
gnc.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus: Common Questions

Does Stinging Nettle 500 mg by GNC Herbal Plus interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Stinging Nettle 500 mg has a known interaction with 164 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Stinging Nettle 500 mg 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.
What is stinging nettle actually used for?
Research shows it may help lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. For hay fever, anemia, asthma, prostate enlargement, and gum inflammation, there isn't enough reliable evidence yet to confirm it works for those conditions.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — there isn't enough safety data for breastfeeding, and there are traditional concerns about stinging nettle's effects on the uterus during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor before considering it.
What are the side effects?
Taken by mouth, the most common are constipation or diarrhea. If you touch the raw plant, you may get itching or rash. Rarely, direct contact with fresh leaves can cause mouth or throat swelling.
Can I take this with blood thinners like warfarin?
You need to talk with your pharmacist first. Stinging nettle is high in vitamin K, which can reduce how warfarin works — especially if you take large doses — and that raises your clot risk.
Is this safe if I take diabetes medication?
Check with your pharmacist. Stinging nettle may lower blood sugar on its own, so combined with diabetes drugs you could develop low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
What if I take a water pill or lithium?
Tell your pharmacist before starting. Stinging nettle may add to a water pill's effect on fluid and electrolytes, and it might reduce how your body clears lithium, potentially raising it to unsafe levels.

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.

Stinging Nettle 500 mg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Stinging Nettle 500 mg’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Stinging Nettle

Interacts with 164 drugs

Stinging nettle is a common plant used as food and in traditional medicine, most often for prostate symptoms, allergies, and joint pain. The evidence is mixed and mostly preliminary, so it i...

Read the full Stinging Nettle monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Stinging Nettle 500 mg'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 23 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.

Stinging Nettle 23 references
  1. Monographs on the medicinal uses of plant drugs. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Co-op Phytother, 1997.
  2. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  3. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  4. Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.
  5. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  6. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  7. Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med 1990;56:44-7.
  8. Vontobel HP, Herzog R, Rutishauser G, Kres H. [Results of a double-blind study on the effectiveness of ERU (extractum radicis Urticae) capsules in conservative treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia]. (Abstract). Urologe A 1985;24:49-51.
  9. Randall C, Randall H, Dobbs F, et al. Randomized controlled trial of nettle sting for treatment of base-of-thumb pain. J R Soc Med 2000;93:305-9. PubMed
  10. Caliskaner Z, Karaayvaz M, Ozturk S. Misuse of a herb: stinging nettle (Urtica urens) induced severe tongue oedema. Complement Ther Med 2004;12:57-8. PubMed
  11. Krzeski, T., Kazon, M., Borkowski, A., Witeska, A., and Kuczera, J. Combined extracts of Urtica dioica and Pygeum africanum in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: double-blind comparison of two doses. Clin Ther 1993;15(6):1011-1020.
  12. Randall, C., Meethan, K., Randall, H., and Dobbs, F. Nettle sting of Urtica dioica for joint pain--an exploratory study of this complementary therapy. Complement Ther Med 1999;7(3):126-131. PubMed
  13. Tahri, A., Yamani, S., Legssyer, A., Aziz, M., Mekhfi, H., Bnouham, M., and Ziyyat, A. Acute diuretic, natriuretic and hypotensive effects of a continuous perfusion of aqueous extract of Urtica dioica in the rat. J Ethnopharmacol 2000;73(1-2):95-100. PubMed
  14. Sahin, M., Yilmaz, H., Gursoy, A., Demirel, A. N., Tutuncu, N. B., and Guvener, N. D. Gynaecomastia in a man and hyperoestrogenism in a woman due to ingestion of nettle (Urtica dioica). N.Z.Med.J. 2007;120(1265):U2803.
  15. Randall, C., Dickens, A., White, A., Sanders, H., Fox, M., and Campbell, J. Nettle sting for chronic knee pain: a randomised controlled pilot study. Complement Ther.Med. 2008;16(2):66-72. PubMed
  16. Rayburn, K., Fleischbein, E., Song, J., Allen, B., Kundert, M., Leiter, C., and Bush, T. Stinging nettle cream for osteoarthritis. Altern.Ther.Health Med. 2009;15(4):60-61.
  17. Oliver, F., Amon, E. U., Breathnach, A., Francis, D. M., Sarathchandra, P., Black, A. K., and Greaves, M. W. Contact urticaria due to the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)-- histological, ultrastructural and pharmacological studies. Clin Exp Dermato PubMed
  18. Kulze, A. and Greaves, M. Contact urticaria caused by stinging nettles. Br.J Dermatol. 1988;119(2):269-270. PubMed
  19. Patten G. Medicinal plant review: Urtica. Aust J Med Herbalism 1993;5(1):5-13.
  20. Maor D, Little M. Skin contact with a stinging tree requiring intensive care unit admission. Contact Dermatitis. 2017 Nov;77(5):335-37. PubMed
  21. Easton L, Vaid S, Nagel AK, Venci JV, Fortuna RJ. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): An Unusual Case of Galactorrhea. Am J Case Rep 2021;22:e933999. PubMed
  22. Niazi B, Ahmed K, Ahmed M, Ali S, Song K, Elias S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury from Herbal Liver Detoxification Tea. Case Rep Gastroenterol 2022;16(3):612-617. PubMed
  23. Nnamani I, Tolu-Akinnawo O, Dufera RR, Akintunde A, Maliakkal B. Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi/Giloy)-Induced Liver Injury: A Case Review. Cureus 2023;15(5):e39793. PubMed

See these in context on the Stinging Nettle 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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