Drug & supplement interaction

Glucomannan + Ganciclovir

Ganciclovir brand names: Cytovene, Cytovene Injection.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Glucomannan has a moderate interaction with Ganciclovir. Theoretically, glucomannan may decrease absorption of drugs taken orally.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Glucomannan and Ganciclovir

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ORAL DRUGS

Why this applies to Ganciclovir

Ganciclovir falls under ORAL DRUGS — the group Glucomannan interacts with.

Theoretically, glucomannan may decrease absorption of drugs taken orally.
Due to its viscosity and bulking effects, there is concern that glucomannan can decrease the absorption of oral drugs. A small clinical study in healthy volunteers shows that taking glyburide 2.5 mg plus glucomannan 3.9 grams with breakfast reduces plasma levels of glyburide when compared with breakfast and glyburide alone. In addition, animal research demonstrates this effect on amoxicillin, but shows increased absorption of metronidazole. This mouse model also demonstrates that metronidazole elimination is prolonged, but amoxicillin elimination is enhanced by 38%; glucomannan may also affect the distribution of some drugs. To avoid changes in absorption, take glucomannan 30-60 minutes after taking oral drugs.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the concern with combining glucomannan and the oral form of ganciclovir (Cytovene capsules). Glucomannan is a soluble fiber that turns into a thick gel in your gut. That gel can physically slow down or block how well a pill alongside it gets absorbed. With ganciclovir, the worry is that you'd absorb less of your dose, which could leave you with weaker protection against your CMV infection. That matters a lot here, since ganciclovir is keeping a serious eye or organ-threatening virus in check.

This is mostly theoretical and based on small or animal studies, not direct ganciclovir research, so don't panic. A simple fix is timing: take your ganciclovir first, then wait about 30 to 60 minutes before the glucomannan. Please run this by your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Shima K, Tanaka A, Ikegami H, et al. Effect of dietary fiber, glucomannan, on absorption of sulfonylurea in man. Horm Metab Res 1983;15:1-3. PubMed
  2. Zhang Y, Aldamarany WAS, Song G, et al. Influence of konjac glucomannan and its derivatives on the oral pharmacokinetics of antimicrobial agent in antibiotics cocktails: Keep vigilant on dietary fiber supplement. Int J Biol Macromol 2023;251:126306. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Glucomannan Also Interacts With Other Medications

Glucomannan has 2,021 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Ganciclovir one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 2,021 No known interaction 809 (incl. Ganciclovir)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Glucomannan

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Glucomannan. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ganciclovir

This page covers Glucomannan only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ganciclovir page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Guar Gum (moderate) and Gum Arabic (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ganciclovir page

“Everything on this list threatens ganciclovir (Cytovene) the same way, by getting between the pill and your bloodstream. Ganciclovir fights cytomegalovirus in people whose immune systems are weakened, so a dose that only partly absorbs can let the virus regain ground and grow resistant.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ganciclovir interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Glucomannan as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 467 real supplement products containing Glucomannan, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Glucomannan. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ganciclovir too, on top of Glucomannan — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Glucomannan and Ganciclovir Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Glucomannan
Top 25%

#276 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ganciclovir
Top half

#1,231 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Glucomannan

What is Glucomannan?

Glucomannan
  • Weight loss and appetite control
  • Constipation
  • High cholesterol
  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive health

Glucomannan is a soluble fiber from the konjac root that swells into a gel in your stomach, which may help with mild weight loss, constipation, and modestly lowering cholesterol. It is generally well tolerated when taken with plenty of water, but it must be taken carefully because it can swell and cause choking or blockage if not swallowed properly. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you have a health condition or take medicines.

Read the full Glucomannan monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ganciclovir

What Is Ganciclovir Used For?

Brand names: Cytovene, Cytovene Injection

Ganciclovir injection (sold as Cytovene and generic products) is used in adults to treat CMV retinitis — a serious eye infection caused by cytomegalovirus — in people with weakened immune systems, including those with AIDS. It is also used to prevent CMV disease in adult transplant recipients who are at risk.

Zirgan (ganciclovir ophthalmic gel) is used to treat acute herpetic keratitis — a painful corneal ulcer caused by the herpes simplex virus — in adults and children aged 2 years and older.

See full Ganciclovir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Glucomannan

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Glucomannan — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
2,021Moderate
0Minor
808No known interaction
2,021 Moderate 808 No interaction
Moderate

2,021 interactions

Showing 60 of 2,021 moderate interactions — see all 2,021 on the Glucomannan page.

No interaction 808 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Glucomannan against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 808 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Glucomannan list.

See the full Glucomannan interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ganciclovir, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

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

Keep exploring
Glucomannan monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ganciclovir supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ganciclovir, ranked by severity Ganciclovir drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Glucomannan and Ganciclovir Together: Common Questions

Can you take Glucomannan with Ganciclovir?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Glucomannan and Ganciclovir interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

Still Have a Question About Ganciclovir and Glucomannan?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.