Drug & supplement interaction

Gum Arabic + Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin brand names: Nitrostat, Nitrogard SR, Sustachron, Nitro-Bid, Sustachron ER Buccal, and others.

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

Gum Arabic has a moderate interaction with Nitroglycerin. Theoretically, gum arabic can alter the absorption of oral drugs due to its fiber content.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Gum Arabic and Nitroglycerin

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

Moderate

ORAL DRUGS

Why this applies to Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin falls under ORAL DRUGS — the group Gum Arabic interacts with.

Theoretically, gum arabic can alter the absorption of oral drugs due to its fiber content.
Gum arabic has been used as a suspending osmotic agent in drug formulations. It might improve bioavailability of water-insoluble drugs like naproxen, but reduce absorption of polar drugs like amoxicillin. To avoid changes in absorption, take gum arabic 30-60 minutes after oral medications.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction 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.

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

Here's the practical angle for you. Gum arabic is a soluble fiber, and like other fibers it can grab onto pills in your stomach and gut, which may slow or lower how much of an oral medication you absorb. This is mainly a concern with swallowed nitroglycerin tablets or capsules, such as the extended-release products. It's a theoretical worry based on fiber in general, not strong proof with nitroglycerin specifically.

If too little gets absorbed, your nitroglycerin might not prevent angina as well, so you could notice chest pressure or discomfort returning. A simple fix is timing: take your nitroglycerin first, then wait about 30 to 60 minutes before the gum arabic. Important: this does not apply to under-the-tongue tablets or sprays you use during an attack. Run your routine by your pharmacist to be safe.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Eltayeb IB, Awad AI, Elderbi MA, Shadad SA. Effect of gum arabic on the absorption of a single oral dose of amoxicillin in healthy Sudanese volunteers. J Antimicrob Chemother 2004;54:577-8. PubMed
  2. Beneke CE, Viljoen AM, Hamman JH. Polymeric plant-derived excipients in drug delivery. Molecules. 2009;14(7):2602-20. 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

Gum Arabic Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gum Arabic has 2,021 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Nitroglycerin 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. Nitroglycerin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gum Arabic

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Nitroglycerin

This page covers Gum Arabic only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nitroglycerin page lists 26 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Mistletoe (major), Coleus (major), Hawthorn (major) and N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) (major).

By severity: 5 major · 11 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nitroglycerin page

“Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitro-Bid) exists to open blood vessels quickly during angina, so a supplement that also drops blood pressure, or one that fights the drug's effect, is not a small matter, and this list warrants real care before you add to it. The most serious entries pull in two directions.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nitroglycerin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3 real supplement products containing Gum Arabic, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Gum Arabic. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Nitroglycerin too, on top of Gum Arabic — 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 Gum Arabic and Nitroglycerin 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 Gum Arabic
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Nitroglycerin
Top 10%

#208 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 Gum Arabic

What is Gum Arabic?

Gum Arabic
  • Digestive and gut health
  • Source of soluble fiber
  • Constipation or bowel regularity
  • Prebiotic support
  • Cholesterol support
  • Blood sugar support

Gum arabic is a soluble dietary fiber from the acacia tree that is widely used as a safe food additive and is sometimes taken as a supplement for digestive health and as a prebiotic. Early studies suggest possible benefits for gut bacteria, cholesterol, and blood sugar, but the evidence is limited, and high doses can cause gas and bloating. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it as a supplement.

Read the full Gum Arabic monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Nitroglycerin Topical

What Is Nitroglycerin Topical Used For?

Brand names: Nitrostat, Nitrogard SR, Sustachron, Nitro-Bid, Sustachron ER Buccal, Nitroglyn, Nitro Time, Nitrong, Nitrogard, Nitrocine Timecaps, Nitroquick, Rectiv, Gonitro

Rectiv (nitroglycerin ointment 0.4%, applied rectally) is specifically indicated to treat moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissure — a small tear in the lining of the anal canal.

Nitro-Bid (nitroglycerin ointment, applied to the skin) has been used to reduce exercise-related angina (chest pain brought on by physical activity). These are distinct products with separate uses; they are not interchangeable.

See full Nitroglycerin Topical drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gum Arabic

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Gum Arabic — 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 Gum Arabic page.

No interaction 808 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Gum Arabic 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 Gum Arabic list.

See the full Gum Arabic interactions page
See every supplement checked against Nitroglycerin, 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
Gum Arabic monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Nitroglycerin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Nitroglycerin, ranked by severity Nitroglycerin Topical 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 Gum Arabic and Nitroglycerin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gum Arabic with Nitroglycerin?
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 Gum Arabic and Nitroglycerin 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 Nitroglycerin and Gum Arabic?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.