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Dietary supplement

True Cinnamon Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson

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

True Cinnamon is a dietary supplement by Swanson with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for blood sugar support, high cholesterol, indigestion and gas.Based on those ingredients, 258 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Ceylon Cinnamon. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of True Cinnamon by Swanson

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.

This supplement contains one active ingredient: Ceylon cinnamon, a spice used in traditional medicine for metabolic and respiratory support. The capsule also holds inactive ingredients—gelatin, rice flour, magnesium stearate, and silica—which serve as the capsule shell and binding agents.

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 Ceylon Cinnamon's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: supports blood sugar metabolism and cardiovascular health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Diabetes, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Hypertension, Obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance.
  • The closest evidence on file: Ceylon Cinnamon is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Diabetes (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Ceylon Cinnamon is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Obesity.
  • Also on file: Ceylon Cinnamon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Hypertension, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes).

The evidence for Ceylon cinnamon is limited. For obesity and diabetes, the data shows it is possibly ineffective.

For hay fever (allergic rhinitis), the common cold, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there isn't enough reliable evidence to say whether it works.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Ceylon Cinnamon

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.

Orally, Ceylon cinnamon from food sources is generally well tolerated. At supplement-strength doses, it's less studied; the most common side effects in that range are bloating, indigestion, and nausea.

Rare cases of allergic reactions (itching, rashes, contact dermatitis) and a single report of bleeding after long-term use have been documented. One case involved a patient taking 1 tablespoon daily who had bleeding after surgery.

For pregnancy, the safety data is mixed—some sources rate it likely safe, others likely unsafe, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice. Breastfeeding safety at supplement doses is unknown.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Ceylon Cinnamon

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 — Ceylon Cinnamon.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 258 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.

Check your blood pressure medications and diabetes drugs before taking this product. Ceylon cinnamon may lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and combining it with antihypertensive or antidiabetes drugs could increase the risk of low blood pressure or low blood sugar.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether dose adjustments are needed.

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.

True Cinnamon may be worth considering if you're interested in a traditional spice supplement, but the evidence for its main uses (weight and blood sugar) is weak. If you take blood pressure or diabetes medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it—the supplement could add to your drug's effect and lower your blood pressure or blood sugar too much.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also confirm with their own healthcare provider before taking supplement-strength doses.

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 Jun 16, 2022.

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 True Cinnamon, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson
Barcode (UPC) 087614117522
Net contents 120 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 16, 2022
DSLD ID 267014
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating)
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 True Cinnamon by Swanson, 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
60
UPC/BARCODE
087614117522
IngredientAmount% DV
Ceylon Cinnamon600 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Silica

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

swanson.com or call 1-800-437-4148

Science-Backed Quality Since 1969

Formulation

Supports blood sugar metabolism and cardiovascular health Provides metabolic support Helps support blood sugar levels already with in the normal range

Blood Sugar Support

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take two capsules one to two times per day with meals.

Precautions

Warning: For adults only.

Do not take this product if you are pregnant or nursing. Consult your healthcare provider before using this or any product if you are taking medication or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if seal is broken.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Formula

Featuring Ceylon Cinnamon

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

See for yourself

True Cinnamon by Swanson label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in True Cinnamon by Swanson

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

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Ceylon Cinnamon

Interacts with
258 drugs
600 mg per serving

Ceylon cinnamon is the so-called 'true' cinnamon, valued as a spice and used in traditional medicine for blood sugar, cholesterol, and digestion. Evid...

Ceylon Cinnamon monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

True Cinnamon by Swanson Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against True Cinnamon?

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
258Drugs
258 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in True Cinnamon 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.

Ceylon Cinnamon2 drug types · 258 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, Ceylon cinnamon may have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs.
Ceylon cinnamon may lower blood glucose levels. Dose adjustments might be necessary.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, Ceylon cinnamon might have additive effects with antihypertensive drugs and increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research shows that Ceylon cinnamon extract has vasorelaxant properties and reduces blood pressure in rat models of hypertension, possibly via inhibition of calcium influx through L-type voltage-sensitive channels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for True Cinnamon, from the product label.

Swanson

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

True Cinnamon by Swanson: Common Questions

Does True Cinnamon by Swanson interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, True Cinnamon has a known interaction with 258 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
True Cinnamon 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.
Does Ceylon cinnamon really work for weight loss or blood sugar control?
According to the evidence we hold, Ceylon cinnamon is rated possibly ineffective for both obesity and diabetes. While traditional use and some lab research suggest potential, the clinical data don't yet support it as a reliable treatment for either condition.
What are the side effects I might experience?
Most people tolerate it well. The most common side effects at supplement doses are bloating, indigestion, and nausea. Rarely, allergic reactions like itching or rashes have been reported. If you have a known sensitivity to cinnamon or cinnamaldehyde, avoid it.
Is it safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data is unclear—some sources rate it likely safe in pregnancy, others likely unsafe. For breastfeeding, safety at supplement doses is unknown. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it during pregnancy or while nursing.
What is Ceylon cinnamon, and how is it different from regular cinnamon?
Ceylon cinnamon (also called 'true cinnamon') is one species of cinnamon spice; the product facts focus on this type. It's used in traditional medicine for various health purposes, though clinical evidence is limited.
Can I take this with my blood pressure or diabetes medication?
Not without checking first. Ceylon cinnamon may lower blood pressure and blood sugar on its own, so combining it with your medication could cause blood pressure or blood sugar to drop too low. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before adding this supplement.

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

Not sure if True Cinnamon is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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.

True Cinnamon label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

True Cinnamon'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 22 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.

Ceylon Cinnamon 22 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Choi HK, Jung GW, Moon KH, et al. Clinical study of SS-Cream in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation. Urology 2000;55:257-61. PubMed
  4. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
  5. Anderson RA, Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, et al. Isolation and Characterization of Polyphenol Type-A Polymers from Cinnamon with Insulin-like Biological Activity. J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:65-70. PubMed
  6. Jarvill-Taylor KJ, Anderson RA, Graves DJ. A hydroxychalcone derived from cinnamon functions as a mimetic for insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. J Am Coll Nutr 2001;20:327-36. PubMed
  7. Onderoglu S, Sozer S, Erbil KM, et al. The evaluation of long-term effcts of cinnamon bark and olive leaf on toxicity induced by streptozotocin administration to rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999;51:1305-12.
  8. Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. Contact Dermatitis 1996;35:157-62. PubMed
  9. Ranasinghe P, Jayawardena R, Galappaththy P, et al. Response to Akilen et al. Efficacy and safety of 'true' cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) as a pharmaceutical agent in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabet Med 2013 Apr;30(4):506-7.
  10. Oliveira JdA, da Silva IC, Trindade LA, et al. Safety and tolerability of essential oil from Cinnamomum zeylanicum blume leaves with action on oral candidosis and its effect on the physical properties of the acylic resin. Evid Based Complement Alternat Me
  11. Ranasinghe P, Pigera S, Premakumara GA, et al. Medicinal properties of 'true' cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med 2013;13:275. PubMed
  12. Ranasinghe P, Galappaththy P. Health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a summary of the current evidence. Ceylon Med J 2016;61(1):1-5. PubMed
  13. Nyadjeu P, Dongmo A, Nguelefack TB, Kamanyi A. Antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum stem bark aqueous extracts. J Complement Integr Med 2011;8.
  14. Wansi SL, Nyadjeu P, Ngamga D, et al. Blood pressure lowering effect of the ethanol extract from the stembark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (lauraceae) in rats. Pharmacol online 2007;3:166-76.
  15. Admani S, Hill H, Jacob SE. Cinnamon Sugar Scrub Dermatitis: "Natural" Is Not Always Best. Pediatr Dermatol. 2017;34(1):e42-e43. PubMed
  16. Isaac-Renton M, Li MK, Parsons LM. Cinnamon spice and everything not nice: many features of intraoral allergy to cinnamic aldehyde. Dermatitis. 2015;26(3):116-21. PubMed
  17. Vandersall A, Katta R. Eyelid dermatitis as a manifestation of systemic contact dermatitis to cinnamon. Dermatitis. 2015 Jul-Aug;26(4):189. PubMed
  18. Brancheau D, Patel B, Zughaib M. Do cinnamon supplements cause acute hepatitis? Am J Case Rep 2015;16:250-4. PubMed
  19. Ranasinghe P, Jayawardena R, Pigera S, et al. Evaluation of pharmacodynamic properties and safety of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) in healthy adults: a phase I clinical trial. BMC Complement Altern Med 2017;17(1):550. PubMed
  20. Zareie A, Sahebkar A, Khorvash F, Bagherniya M, Hasanzadeh A, Askari G. Effect of cinnamon on migraine attacks and inflammatory markers: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res 2020;34(11):2945-52. PubMed
  21. Zobeiri M, Parvizi F, Shahpiri Z, et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness of cinnamon oil soft capsule in patients with functional dyspepsia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021;2021:6634115. PubMed
  22. Chase C, Doyle A, John SS, Laurent T, Griffith S. Post-operative haemorrhage secondary to cinnamon use. A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 2022;95:107179. PubMed

See these in context on the Ceylon Cinnamon 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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