Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Stinging Nettles Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson Superior Herbs

Stinging Nettles 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 Nettles 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 Nettles is a dietary supplement by Swanson Superior Herbs with 2 active ingredients. 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 Nettles leaf extract. 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 Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs

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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains 2 active ingredients: nettles leaf extract and nettles root extract. Both come from the stinging nettle plant and have similar effects in your body.

The capsule also contains inactive ingredients—rice flour, gelatin, calcium palmitate, silica, and maltodextrin—which help hold the extract together and form the capsule.

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).

For diabetes, stinging nettle is rated possibly effective based on clinical research showing it might lower blood sugar. For hay fever, anemia, asthma, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH—an enlarged prostate), and gingivitis, there isn't enough reliable evidence yet to say whether it works.

If you're considering this product for one of those conditions, talk with your pharmacist about what the current evidence shows.

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.

Taken by mouth, stinging nettles are generally well tolerated, though constipation or diarrhea can occur in some people. The safety varies by product, so quality matters.

There's not enough safety data during pregnancy—traditional concerns about effects on the uterus mean it's best avoided if you're pregnant. Safety during breastfeeding hasn't been established either, so talk with your doctor before using it while nursing.

Rare cases of liver inflammation have been reported, though usually in products containing multiple ingredients; if you develop belly pain or notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, stop and contact your healthcare provider.

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 take this, check with your pharmacist if you're on warfarin or other blood thinners, diabetes medications, diuretics (water pills), or lithium. All of these interact at Moderate severity with stinging nettles.

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 nettles may help with diabetes symptoms, but they interact with blood thinners, diabetes drugs, diuretics, and lithium—so check your medications first. Generally well tolerated in terms of side effects.

Not for pregnancy or breastfeeding without talking to your doctor.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 24, 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 Stinging Nettles, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson Superior Herbs
Barcode (UPC) 087614142760
Net contents 120 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 24, 2018
DSLD ID 177457
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 Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs, 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
087614142760
IngredientAmount% DV
Nettles leaf extract250 mg--
Nettles root extract67.5 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Maltodextrin

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.
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.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take one capsule two to three times per day with water.

General Statements

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

General

SWH276 Rev 0 04 10 17

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

See for yourself

Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs label

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

Stinging Nettles 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 Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule 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.

Nettles leaf extract

Interacts with
164 drugs
250 mg per serving Form: Silicic Acid

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

Nettles leaf extract monograph & interactions

Nettles root extract

Interacts with
164 drugs
67.5 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...

Nettles root extract monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Stinging Nettles?

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

Nettles leaf extract 164

Individual Drug Interactions

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

1 of the 2 ingredients in Stinging Nettles interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Nettles leaf extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Stinging Nettles 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.

Nettles leaf extract4 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
Nettles leaf extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Stinging Nettles, from the product label.

Swanson Superior Herbs

See all Swanson Superior Herbs 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

Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs: Common Questions

Does Stinging Nettles by Swanson Superior Herbs interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Stinging Nettles 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 Nettles contains 2 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.
Does stinging nettle really lower blood sugar?
Clinical research suggests it might, which is why it's rated possibly effective for diabetes. But it's not a replacement for your diabetes medication—it's something to discuss with your doctor as a possible addition, especially since it can have additive effects with diabetes drugs.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
There isn't enough safety data, and traditional concerns about effects on the uterus mean it's best avoided during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor before using it if you're pregnant or planning to be.
What are the most common side effects?
When taken by mouth, constipation and diarrhea are the most common. Generally, people tolerate it well, but individual experiences vary by product quality.
Is stinging nettle the same as raw nettle leaves?
This product contains extracts of the nettles leaf and root, not raw leaves. Raw stinging nettles can cause itching, rash, and stinging if they touch your skin—that's a different kind of concern than taking the extract in a capsule.
Can I use this if I take diuretics?
Stinging nettles may have their own diuretic effect, so combining them could strengthen that action. Check with your pharmacist to see if a dose adjustment is needed.
Will this help with hay fever or asthma?
The evidence isn't reliable enough to say yet—those uses are rated insufficient evidence. If you're curious, ask your pharmacist what the research currently shows.

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 Nettles label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Stinging Nettles’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 Nettles'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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