Drug & supplement interaction

Guggul + Castor Oil (OTC drug)

Castor Oil (OTC drug) brand name: Purge.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug) in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Castor Oil (OTC drug) states a food rule worth keeping to.

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Interaction report

Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug)

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Castor Oil (OTC drug) and Guggul in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Guggul safety at a glance

Guggul overall Use caution May cause digestive upset and skin reactions; use under guidance of a healthcare provider.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Guggul gum resin appears to stimulate menstrual flow and the uterus. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Castor Oil (OTC drug) and Guggul? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Castor Oil (OTC drug)

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Castor Oil (OTC drug) is filed under 2 classifications — stimulant laxatives, oral drugs. Guggul has documented interactions with 9 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), contraceptive drugs (moderate) and cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates (moderate) — and none of Castor Oil (OTC drug)’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Guggul Does Interact With Other Medications

Guggul has 759 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Castor Oil (OTC drug) isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 759 No known interaction 2,071 (incl. Castor Oil (OTC drug))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Guggul

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

What to actually watch for

What Guggul Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Castor Oil (OTC drug). It is the side-effect record for Guggul on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Guggul, this list is the first place to look. 2 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Severe muscle breakdown Worth acting on Additional detail

    “There is one case of rhabdomyolysis reported in a patient who took guggul 300 mg three times daily. The patient developed hemoglobinuria within 2 weeks of starting guggul in addition to increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and myoglobinemia. The patient did not have any muscular symptoms.”

    Guggul · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in muscle breakdown.

    1 source cited
    1. 13029. Bianchi A, Cantu P, Firenzuoli F, et al. Rhabdomyolysis caused by Commiphora mukul, a natural lipid-lowering agent. Ann Pharmacother 2004;38:1222-5.
  • An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, guggul can cause hypersensitivity reactions including rash and pruritus. In a small clinical study, two adults with hyperlipidemia developed a hypersensitivity rash, one with facial edema, within minutes of oral administration of a methanolic extract of guggul, together with Terminalia extract.”

    Guggul · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    5 sources cited
    1. 10371. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:765-72.
    2. 54457. Gelfand, J. M., Crawford, G. H., Brod, B. A., and Szazpary, P. O. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2005;52(3 Pt 1):533-534. PubMed
    3. 105741. Donato F, Raffetti E, Toninelli G, Festa A, Scarcella C, Castellano M; TRIGU Project Working Group. Guggulu and Triphala for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolaemia: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Trial. Complement Med Res 2021;28(3):216-22 PubMed
    4. 54464. Kolonte, A., Guillot, B., and Raison-Peyron, N. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul extract contained in an anticellulite gel-cream. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(4):226-227. PubMed
    5. 54467. Salavert, M., Amarger, S., Le Bouedec, M. C., Roger, H., Souteyrand, P., and D'incan, M. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul in a slimming cream. Contact Dermatitis 2007;56(5):286-287. PubMed

    “Orally, guggul can cause hypersensitivity reactions including rash and pruritus. Guggul can also cause nonallergic adverse skin reactions. The risk of skin reactions appears to be dose-dependent. In one study, the incidence of skin reactions was 3% with a dosage of 1000 mg three times daily, compared with 15% with a dosage of 2000 mg three times daily.”

    Guggul · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    6 sources cited
    1. 10371. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:765-72.
    2. 54457. Gelfand, J. M., Crawford, G. H., Brod, B. A., and Szazpary, P. O. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2005;52(3 Pt 1):533-534. PubMed
    3. 13662. Gelfand JM, Crawford GH, Brod BA, Szazpary PO. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:533-4 PubMed
    4. 54464. Kolonte, A., Guillot, B., and Raison-Peyron, N. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul extract contained in an anticellulite gel-cream. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(4):226-227. PubMed
    5. 54467. Salavert, M., Amarger, S., Le Bouedec, M. C., Roger, H., Souteyrand, P., and D'incan, M. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul in a slimming cream. Contact Dermatitis 2007;56(5):286-287. PubMed
    6. 105751. Mehdi Z, Fatemeh P, Roja R, et al. Efficacy and safety of Hemoheal cream in patients with hemorrhoids: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial. J Tradit Chin Med 2021;41(2):301-307.
  • Bloating or gas / Diarrhea / Vomiting Additional detail

    “Orally, guggul can cause nausea, vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, belching, bloating, hiccups, and mild gastrointestinal discomfort.”

    Guggul · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    6 sources cited
    1. 3267. Singh RB, Niaz MA, Ghosh S. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1994;8:659-64. PubMed
    2. 8155. Agarwal RC, Singh SP, Saran RK, et al. Clinical trial of gugulipid – a new hypolipidemic agent of plant origin in primary hyperlipidemia. Ind J Med Res 1986;84:626-34.
    3. 8158. Malhotra SC, Ahuja MM, Sundaram KR. Long term clinical studies on the hypolipidaemic effect of Commiphora mukul (Guggulu) and clofibrate. Indian J Med Res 1977;65:390-5.
    4. 10371. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:765-72.
    5. 52033. Nohr, L. A., Rasmussen, L. B., and Straand, J. Resin from the mukul myrrh tree, guggul, can it be used for treating hypercholesterolemia? A randomized, controlled study. Complement Ther.Med. 2009;17(1):16-22. PubMed
    6. 54492. Malhotra SC, Ahuja MM. Comparative hypolipidaemic effectiveness of gum guggulu (Commiphora mukul) fraction 'A', ethyl-P-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate and Ciba-13437-Su. Indian J Med Res 1971;59:1621-1632.
  • Stomach upset Additional detail

    Recorded for Guggul in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bloating or gas / Diarrhea / Vomiting above.

  • Itching / Swelling Additional detail

    Recorded for Guggul in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under An allergic reaction above.

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Recorded for Guggul in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Severe muscle breakdown above.

  • Headache Additional detail

    Recorded for Guggul in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Severe muscle breakdown above.

Showing the 10 most notable of 11 recorded effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Guggul — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Castor Oil (OTC drug) to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Castor Oil (OTC drug).

Special populations

Guggul in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using. Guggul gum resin appears to stimulate menstrual flow and the uterus.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Castor Oil (OTC drug) Products Have a Food Rule — Guggul Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Castor Oil (OTC drug) says to take it on an empty stomach. Most supplements — Guggul included — are taken with a meal, so the easy mistake is swallowing both together at breakfast. Where that rule applies, keep Castor Oil (OTC drug) on its own and move Guggul to a meal later in the day.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Castor Oil (OTC drug) products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Directions Preferably taken on an empty stomach.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Castor Oil (OTC drug) — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's.

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Castor Oil (OTC drug)

This page covers Guggul only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Castor Oil (OTC drug) page lists 46 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Jalap (major), Oleander (major), Alder Buckthorn (moderate) and Aloe (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 34 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Castor Oil (OTC drug) page

“Castor oil, the classic over-the-counter purgative, deserves real care around supplements. Most of what's flagged against it are herbal laxatives in their own right, and doubling up can drain enough fluid and potassium to cause genuine harm, in some cases making plants that contain heart-active compounds, oleander chief among them, far…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Castor Oil (OTC drug) interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 955 real supplement products containing Guggul, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Guggul. Even though Guggul itself has no known interaction with Castor Oil (OTC drug), another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug) 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 Guggul
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Castor Oil (OTC drug)
Top 25%

#459 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Guggul reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified October 4, 2026. The Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug) records this page draws on were last updated October 6, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Guggul

What is Guggul?

Guggul
  • High cholesterol
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Weight management
  • Acne
  • Skin conditions

Guggul is a gum resin from the Commiphora wightii tree, long used in Ayurvedic medicine for cholesterol, joint, and skin problems. Modern studies are mixed and often low-quality, and it can cause stomach upset and skin rashes. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Commiphora wightii · Burseraceae · Gum resin (oleoresin) from the stem · Capsules, tablets, standardized extracts (guggulipid), powders

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Guggul is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Guggul record says about it on its own.

Guggul: dosing

There is no single established, proven dose for guggul. Products vary widely in strength, and many are standardized to a percentage of guggulsterones. Do not assume that taking more will work better, since higher amounts may increase the chance of side effects.

From our Guggul monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Guggul monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Guggul

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

0Major
759Moderate
0Minor
2,070No known interaction
759 Moderate 2,070 No interaction
Moderate

759 interactions

Showing 60 of 759 moderate interactions — see all 759 on the Guggul page.

No interaction 2,070 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,070 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Guggul list.

See the full Guggul interactions page
See every supplement checked against Castor Oil (OTC drug), ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Guggul References

The 21 references that drive our Guggul monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Dalvi SS, Nayak VK, Pohujani SM, et al. Effect of gugulipid on bioavailability of diltiazem and propranolol. J Assoc Phys India 1994;42:454-5.
  3. Singh RB, Niaz MA, Ghosh S. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1994;8:659-64. PubMed
  4. Tripathi YB, Tripathi P, Malhotra OP, Tripathi SN. Thyroid stimulatory action of (Z)-guggulsterone: mechanism of action. Planta Med 1988;54:271-7.
  5. Agarwal RC, Singh SP, Saran RK, et al. Clinical trial of gugulipid – a new hypolipidemic agent of plant origin in primary hyperlipidemia. Ind J Med Res 1986;84:626-34.
  6. Malhotra SC, Ahuja MM, Sundaram KR. Long term clinical studies on the hypolipidaemic effect of Commiphora mukul (Guggulu) and clofibrate. Indian J Med Res 1977;65:390-5.
  7. Mester L, Mester M, Nityanand S. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by "guggulu" steroids. Planta Med 1979;37:367-9. PubMed
  8. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:765-72.
  9. Brobst DE, Ding X, Creech KL, et al. Guggulsterone activates multiple nuclear receptors and induces CYP3A gene expression through the pregnane X receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2004;310:528-35. PubMed
  10. Bianchi A, Cantu P, Firenzuoli F, et al. Rhabdomyolysis caused by Commiphora mukul, a natural lipid-lowering agent. Ann Pharmacother 2004;38:1222-5.
  11. Gelfand JM, Crawford GH, Brod BA, Szazpary PO. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:533-4 PubMed
  12. Nohr, L. A., Rasmussen, L. B., and Straand, J. Resin from the mukul myrrh tree, guggul, can it be used for treating hypercholesterolemia? A randomized, controlled study. Complement Ther.Med. 2009;17(1):16-22. PubMed
  13. Gelfand, J. M., Crawford, G. H., Brod, B. A., and Szazpary, P. O. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2005;52(3 Pt 1):533-534. PubMed
  14. Kolonte, A., Guillot, B., and Raison-Peyron, N. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul extract contained in an anticellulite gel-cream. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(4):226-227. PubMed
  15. Salavert, M., Amarger, S., Le Bouedec, M. C., Roger, H., Souteyrand, P., and D'incan, M. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul in a slimming cream. Contact Dermatitis 2007;56(5):286-287. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug) Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Guggul with Castor Oil (OTC drug)?
We do not list a known interaction between Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug). That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Should I take Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug) at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Castor Oil (OTC drug) says to take it on an empty stomach, and supplements are usually taken with a meal — so taking them together at breakfast is the easy mistake. Where that applies, keep Castor Oil (OTC drug) on its own and move Guggul to a meal later in the day. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient, so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Guggul and Castor Oil (OTC drug) combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Castor Oil (OTC drug) is filed under 2 classifications, and Guggul has documented interactions with 9 drug classes — none of Castor Oil (OTC drug)'s classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Guggul interact with any other medications?
Yes. Guggul has 759 documented drug interactions in our database — Castor Oil (OTC drug) is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Castor Oil (OTC drug) interact with any supplements?
Yes. Castor Oil (OTC drug) has documented interactions with 46 supplements in our database — Guggul is not one of them. The Castor Oil (OTC drug) interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Guggul monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Castor Oil (OTC drug) supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Castor Oil (OTC drug), ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 21 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Castor Oil (OTC drug) and Guggul?

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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.