Horny Goat Weed Side Effects and Cautions.

The short answer: NIH's LiverTox database calls horny goat weed generally well tolerated. The horny goat weed side effects it records are abdominal discomfort and nausea, with rare rashes and allergic reactions. Dose deserves more of your attention. Our Horny Goat Weed & Maca Capsules hold 1,000 mg of Epimedium extract, standardized to 100 mg of icariins, per 2-capsule serving. LiverTox describes typical capsules as 250 or 500 mg.

Key takeaways

• LiverTox, an NIH liver-injury database, calls horny goat weed generally well tolerated, with abdominal discomfort and nausea as its minor side effects.
• A fast heartbeat and dizziness showed up in one short trial of a blend with Epimedium, so they can't be pinned on the herb alone.
• A 1,000 mg Epimedium extract sits well above the 250 or 500 mg capsules LiverTox calls usual.
• Epimedium appears in many libido formulas, so add up every label before starting another.
• Skip Epimedium if you're pregnant or nursing, and ask a healthcare provider first if you take any medicine.

We sell three formulas that contain Epimedium, the capsule above included, so every caution on this page hits our labels before anyone else's. If a caution below applies to you, it applies to all three, so skip them or check with your provider first, as that caution says.

Which horny goat weed side effects are on the federal record?

LiverTox lists abdominal discomfort and nausea as horny goat weed's minor side effects, plus rare allergic-type reactions, skin rashes and allergic skin irritation.

Horny goat weed is the common name for Epimedium, a genus of low-growing, leathery-leaved plants long used as a tonic in traditional medicine. Supplements use the leaves and stems. Labels may also say barrenwort or yin yang huo.

The LiverTox entry on horny goat weed also summarizes a few studies in its reference notes. In a 6-month trial of a six-ingredient formula that included Epimedium, reported side effects included upper-stomach discomfort and rash. In a 2-week trial of a five-ingredient product, they included a fast heartbeat, dizziness and facial numbness. Both were blends, so neither result traces back to Epimedium by itself.

One case in that list hits close to home. A man developed a painful rash 4 days after starting a remedy that contained ginkgo and horny goat weed. Our Tribulus & Ginseng Women's Libido Capsules contain both herbs. One case proves little, but a rash on any Epimedium product is a reason to stop.

Other websites list more effects, but the federal sources we read don't, so we've left them out.

Can Epimedium cause a racing heart or dizziness?

In the federal sources we read, Epimedium's link to a fast heartbeat and dizziness comes from one short trial of a five-ingredient blend, not from the herb alone.

Whatever the cause, act on the symptom. A racing or irregular heartbeat, chest discomfort, fainting or trouble breathing after any supplement calls for urgent medical care. Milder dizziness is a reason to stop the product, skip driving until it passes and mention it to your provider. If you take a prescription medicine that affects your heart rate, ask your pharmacist before trying Epimedium.

Is horny goat weed hard on your liver?

Horny goat weed doesn't appear to be hard on the liver. LiverTox rates it an "unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury," a likelihood score of E.

Small trials of the herb haven't reported raised liver enzymes, the blood markers doctors check for liver stress. The large registries of supplement-related liver injury that LiverTox reviewed don't list it.

LiverTox does mention rare liver problems in people taking multi-ingredient products that contained Epimedium, though it says the link to the herb wasn't always clear. If you feel unwell in a way you can't explain while taking any supplement, stop and tell your provider.

Is 1,000 mg of Epimedium with 100 mg of icariins a strong dose?

Yes, 1,000 mg of Epimedium extract per serving is on the strong side next to LiverTox's description of typical horny goat weed capsules: 250 or 500 mg, once daily.

Our 2-capsule serving is 2 to 4 times that single capsule. LiverTox doesn't say whether those capsules hold ground herb or extract, so the comparison is rough.

Extract matters because it concentrates the plant. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) says in its botanical supplements background fact sheet that the same amount of a plant might be in a cup of tea or an even smaller amount of extract.

The "100 mg of icariins" on our panel means the extract is standardized to 10% icariins. Icariin is one of the flavonoids LiverTox names among the plant's likely active compounds. ODS says standardizing means measuring marker chemicals so batches match, and that U.S. law gives the term no legal definition. So that number describes concentration, not safety.

The federal sources we read don't describe icariin side effects apart from the herb, so the Epimedium record is the best stand-in. LiverTox's reference notes summarize a review describing icaritin, another Epimedium flavonoid, as appearing to have estrogen-like activity. If a provider has told you to avoid estrogen-like herbs, ask first. Our guide to what icariin is covers the compound itself.

No NIH source we read sets an upper limit for Epimedium or icariin, so the label's "Do not exceed recommended dose" line is the ceiling. The honest limit of our formula: it isn't built for a gentle first try, and its label offers no smaller serving.

From our shop: Horny Goat Weed & Maca Capsules — 1,000 mg of Epimedium extract (100 mg of icariins) and 62.5 mg of maca per 2-capsule serving, in a gluten-free, lactose-free gelatin capsule.

What adds up when you stack Epimedium formulas?

Two things add up fastest when you stack Epimedium formulas: the Epimedium itself, and zinc, which our two tribulus labels list at 26 to 30 mg per serving.

All three of our Epimedium formulas list the same species, Epimedium sagittatum. Our Tribulus, Zinc & Magnesium Capsules carry it as a smaller row, and the women's formula folds it into a proprietary blend.

On a Supplement Facts panel, the ingredients inside a blend are listed from heaviest to lightest. Epimedium powder comes first among 14 ingredients sharing 802 mg, so it weighs at least an equal share, about 57 mg.

Now stack them. The 1,000 mg capsules plus the tribulus capsules come to 1,050 mg of listed Epimedium a day at label directions. They also double up on longjack (1 mg plus 50 mg) and on saw palmetto (10 mg plus 50 mg), which our saw palmetto safety guide covers. Pairing the 1,000 mg capsules with the women's blend repeats Epimedium, maca, Asian ginseng, muira puama and L-phenylalanine, with the women's amounts hidden inside its 802 mg blend. That pair also doubles up on L-arginine (20 mg plus 100 mg).

Zinc is the row with a firm federal line. The tribulus capsules list 30 mg per serving (273% DV), and the women's capsules list 26 mg (236% DV). The ODS zinc fact sheet caps adult intake at 40 mg a day, and that ceiling covers food, drinks, supplements and medicines combined.

That ceiling fills fast. After the tribulus capsules' 30 mg, your meals can add only about 10 mg, while ODS recommends 11 mg a day for adult men.

Taken together at label directions, the two tribulus formulas list 56 mg of zinc, over the 40 mg limit before you eat anything, so don't combine them. A multivitamin with zinc can also push either one past 40 mg on supplements alone.

ODS lists nausea, dizziness, headaches, upset stomach and vomiting as signs of too much zinc, several of which overlap with the side effects people blame on Epimedium. If a libido stack leaves you queasy, total the zinc before you blame the herb.

Why does FDA warn about sexual enhancement supplements?

FDA warns that some products sold for sexual enhancement are contaminated with hidden drug ingredients, and it tells shoppers to be especially wary of them.

This is the side effect no label lists. FDA's page on avoiding products contaminated with hidden ingredients says such products can contain prescription drug ingredients, banned substances or harmful chemicals missing from the label. Using them, it warns, could lead to serious side effects.

FDA's advice:

• Search the product name in FDA's health fraud database before you buy. FDA adds, "If a product is not on the list, that does not mean it is safe."
• Be skeptical of claims that sound too good to be true, and of piles of rave reviews.
• Talk to a healthcare professional before trying a new product.

That advice covers us too, so check our product names the way you'd check anyone's. If something unexpected happens on any libido product, keep the bottle, since FDA lets you report a suspicious product for testing. Our guide on whether libido supplements are safe looks at the whole category.

How do you take our Epimedium formulas by the label?

Our Horny Goat Weed & Maca Capsules label says to take 2 capsules once a day and not to exceed that dose; it gives no timing or food instructions.

Each bottle holds 60 capsules, or 30 servings, in a gelatin shell. Pick a time you'll remember and keep it to one serving.

The other two labels read differently:

• Tribulus, Zinc & Magnesium Capsules: 3 capsules before bedtime. Its warning says not to use it if pregnant or lactating.
• Tribulus & Ginseng Women's Libido Capsules: 2 capsules daily with water.

Take one Epimedium formula at a time unless a provider has looked over the combined panels. If you miss a day, don't double the next serving. If a side effect shows up, stop and bring the bottle to your provider.

From our shop: Tribulus & Ginseng Women's Libido Capsules — an 802 mg herbal blend led by Epimedium powder, plus 100 mg of L-arginine and 26 mg of zinc (236% DV), in each 2-capsule serving.

When is horny goat weed the wrong supplement for you?

Horny goat weed is the wrong pick when maca is what you're after, when another label already supplies Epimedium, or when a change you've noticed is new and unexplained.

First, the maca case. Our 1,000 mg Epimedium capsules carry just 62.5 mg of maca per serving. Our Organic Maca Root Capsules list 1,000 mg of black, 250 mg of red and 250 mg of yellow maca root per 2-capsule serving, with no Epimedium. Our guide to maca root benefits for women and men covers that root on its own.

Second, one Epimedium product is plenty. If a formula you already take lists Epimedium, a second bottle adds dose without adding anything new.

Third, if your libido or stamina has changed recently and you don't know why, start with a clinician, not a bottle.

If you'd rather avoid gelatin, both tribulus formulas use vegetable capsules. You'll find all three in our Targeted Support collection.

Who should skip Epimedium or check with a healthcare provider first?

Skip Epimedium if you're pregnant or nursing, and check with a healthcare provider first if you're under 18, take any medicine, face surgery or manage a medical condition.

• Pregnant or nursing: skip it. The tribulus label says not to use it at all while pregnant or lactating.
• Under 18: the horny goat weed and women's labels ask you to consult a physician first; check with one before any of these formulas.
• Taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine: bring the Supplement Facts panel to your pharmacist.
• Surgery or a dental procedure coming up: tell the team every supplement you take.
• Managing a medical condition: our labels ask you to consult a physician first.
• Told to avoid estrogen-like herbs: ask first, given the icaritin note above.
• Told to limit phenylalanine: our 1,000 mg Epimedium capsules list 30 mg of L-phenylalanine, and the women's blend includes an unstated amount.
• Already taking zinc: total it against the 40 mg adult limit before adding either tribulus formula, and never pair the two, since together they list 56 mg.
• Had a rash or other reaction to an Epimedium product before: leave it alone unless a clinician says otherwise.

FAQ: horny goat weed safety

Is it safe to take horny goat weed every day?

No one can give a firm yes for long-term daily horny goat weed use. LiverTox calls the herb generally well tolerated, but the trials in its notes were small and ran from 2 weeks to 6 months. Our capsule label's direction is 2 capsules once a day, with a warning not to exceed that dose. If you plan to take it for months, tell your provider.

Can women take horny goat weed?

Horny goat weed isn't a men-only herb, and our women's libido blend lists Epimedium powder first among its 14 ingredients. Women who are pregnant or nursing should skip it. Anyone told to avoid estrogen-like herbs should ask a provider first, because LiverTox's notes cite a review describing estrogen-like activity in an Epimedium compound.

Does horny goat weed interact with medications?

Horny goat weed's LiverTox entry doesn't list specific drug interactions, but no listing isn't the same as no risk. Formulas that carry it also hold other herbs and sometimes zinc, which ODS says might reduce how much of some antibiotics your body absorbs. Show your pharmacist the whole Supplement Facts panel along with your medicine list.

What happens if you take too much horny goat weed?

No federal source we read describes a horny goat weed overdose or sets an upper limit, which is why the label's "do not exceed" line matters. If you've taken extra and notice a racing heart, faintness or trouble breathing, get emergency care. For milder effects like nausea, stop the product and call your provider or pharmacist.

Can you trust horny goat weed reviews?

Only partly: horny goat weed reviews can't tell you whether a product suits your body or your medicines. A stack of glowing ones can even be a warning sign, since FDA tells shoppers to beware of products with multiple rave reviews touting their effectiveness. Read the Supplement Facts panel instead, and have a pharmacist who knows your medicines check it.

Sources

• Horny Goat Weed, LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf, National Institutes of Health)
• Botanical Dietary Supplements: Background Information for Consumers (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements)
• Zinc: Fact Sheet for Consumers (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements)
• Avoiding Products Contaminated with Hidden Ingredients (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

If this left you looking for somewhere to start, read horny goat weed capsules with 1,000 mg of Epimedium extract — its amounts per serving are listed on the page. For the practical questions this raises, how dosing, sourcing and subscriptions work is answered in one place.