Drug & supplement interaction

Laminaria + Docusate

Docusate brand name: Colace.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Laminaria and Docusate 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.

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Interaction report

Laminaria and Docusate

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 Docusate and Laminaria 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.

Laminaria safety at a glance

Laminaria overall Use caution Generally safe as food, but supplements can deliver very high, variable amounts of iodine that may affect the thyroid.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used intravaginally for cervical ripening; there is an increased risk of parental and neonatal infection. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally because of potential toxicity. Read the full breastfeeding detail

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 Docusate and Laminaria? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Docusate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Docusate is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Laminaria has documented interactions with 6 drug classes — the most serious being ace inhibitors (aceis) (moderate), amiodarone (cordarone) (moderate) and antithyroid drugs (moderate) — and none of Docusate’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

Laminaria Does Interact With Other Medications

Laminaria has 69 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Docusate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 69 No known interaction 2,761 (incl. Docusate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Laminaria

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

What to actually watch for

What Laminaria Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Docusate. It is the side-effect record for Laminaria on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Laminaria, this list is the first place to look. 5 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • A change in thyroid levels Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, laminaria can affect levels of certain thyroid hormones, and might cause hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, or exacerbate existing hyperthyroidism.”

    Laminaria · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hyperthyroidism.

    2 sources cited
    1. 9556. Eliason BC. Transient hyperthyroidism in a patient taking dietary supplements containing kelp. J Am Board Fam Pract 1998;11:478-80. PubMed
    2. 94046. Miyai K, Tokushige T, Kondo M; Iodine Research Group. Suppression of thyroid function during ingestion of seaweed "Kombu" (Laminaria japonoca) in normal Japanese adults. Endocr J. 2008 Dec;55(6):1103-8. Epub 2008 Aug 9.
  • Memory problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Laminaria concentrates arsenic from the ocean. In one case, use of an oral laminaria supplement for several months resulted in symptoms of arsenic poisoning including headache, weakness, fatigue, worsening memory loss, rash, nail damage, diarrhea, and vomiting. Urinary arsenic levels were elevated.”

    Laminaria · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arsenic poisoning.

    3 sources cited
    1. 15588. Amster E, Tiwary A, Schenker MB. Case report: potential arsenic toxicosis secondary to herbal kelp supplement. Environ Health Perspect 2007;115:606-8. PubMed
    2. 645. Pye KG, Kelsey SM, House IM, et al. Severe dyserythropoeisis and autoimmune thrombocytopenia associated with ingestion of kelp supplement. Lancet 1992;339:1540.
    3. 10275. Norman JA, Pickford CJ, Sanders TW, Waller M. Human intake of arsenic and iodine from seaweed-based food supplements and health foods available in the UK. Food Addit Contam 1988;5:103-9.. PubMed
  • A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, iodine-reduced laminaria seems to be well tolerated, while other laminaria formulations may contain excess amounts of iodine, as well as arsenic.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Intravaginally: Cervical bleeding and pelvic cramps.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Arsenic poisoning.

    Intravaginally: Rupture of cervical wall, fetal hypoxia, and fetal death. Anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals.”

    Laminaria · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arsenic poisoning.

  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Intravaginally, laminaria used for cervical ripening can cause pelvic cramps and cervical bleeding. Uterine contractions associated with laminaria use have been implicated in fetal hypoxia and subsequent intrauterine death (6). Use of endocervical laminaria tents has been associated with possible rupture of the cervical wall and subsequent neonatal and parental infection (6,8945).”

    Laminaria · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bleeding.

    2 sources cited
    1. 8945. Kazzi GM, Bottoms SF, Rosen MG. Efficacy and safety of Laminaria digitata for preinduction ripening of the cervix. Obstet Gynecol 1982;60:440-3..
    2. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  • A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail

    Recorded for Laminaria in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

  • Acne Additional detail

    “Orally, laminaria has been linked to a report of induced or exacerbated acne.”

    Laminaria · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in acne.

    1 source cited
    1. 9555. Harrell BL, Rudolph AH. Letter: Kelp diet: A cause of acneform eruption. Arch Dermatol 1976;112:560.
  • Tiredness / Diarrhea / A skin rash / Vomiting Additional detail

    Recorded for Laminaria in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Memory problems 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 Laminaria — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Docusate 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 Docusate.

Special populations

Laminaria in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used intravaginally for cervical ripening; there is an increased risk of parental and neonatal infection.

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used intravaginally to induce labor; use has been associated with endometriosis, neonatal sepsis, fetal hypoxia, and intrauterine death.

Pregnancy Unsafe

When used orally due to potential hormonal effects; avoid using.

Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally because of potential toxicity.

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Docusate

This page covers Laminaria only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Docusate 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), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

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

Open the Docusate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 229 real supplement products containing Laminaria, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Laminaria. Even though Laminaria itself has no known interaction with Docusate, 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 Laminaria and Docusate 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 Laminaria
Steady interest

#1,011 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Docusate
Top 5%

#34 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 Laminaria reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Laminaria and Docusate records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Laminaria

What is Laminaria?

  • Source of dietary iodine
  • Thyroid support
  • Cervical dilation (medical procedure)
  • Weight management
  • Digestive and detox supplements
  • General nutrition (vitamins and minerals)

Laminaria is a type of brown seaweed (kelp) that is very rich in iodine and is also used in medical settings as a natural cervical dilator. Because its iodine content can be high and variable, supplements may upset thyroid function, so it should be used cautiously and under professional guidance. Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using kelp products, especially if you have a thyroid condition.

Laminaria spp. · Laminariaceae · Whole thallus (dried seaweed/kelp); processed stems used for cervical dilators · Dried seaweed (food), powder, capsules, tablets, and medical cervical dilator sticks

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

Laminaria: dosing

There is no well-established standard supplement dose for Laminaria, and because iodine content varies so much between products, a "safe" amount is hard to define. The main safety limit to keep in mind is total daily iodine intake, which can be easy to exceed with kelp supplements.If you choose to use a kelp product, follow the directions on the label and pick a brand that lists its iodine content and is tested for heavy metals. Do not assume more is better. Medical Laminaria dilators are not dosed by the patient; they are placed and managed entirely by a healthcare professional.

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

Read the full Laminaria monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Stool Softeners

What Is Stool Softeners Used For?

Brand name: Colace

  • Stool softeners are used on a short-term basis to relieve constipation by people who should avoid straining during bowel movements because of heart conditions, hemorrhoids, and other problems. They work by softening stools to make them easier to pass.

See full Stool Softeners drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Laminaria

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

0Major
69Moderate
0Minor
2,760No known interaction
69 Moderate 2,760 No interaction
Moderate

69 interactions

Showing 60 of 69 moderate interactions — see all 69 on the Laminaria page.

No interaction 2,760 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,760 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Laminaria list.

See the full Laminaria interactions page
See every supplement checked against Docusate, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Laminaria References

The 9 references that drive our Laminaria 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. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Pye KG, Kelsey SM, House IM, et al. Severe dyserythropoeisis and autoimmune thrombocytopenia associated with ingestion of kelp supplement. Lancet 1992;339:1540.
  4. Kazzi GM, Bottoms SF, Rosen MG. Efficacy and safety of Laminaria digitata for preinduction ripening of the cervix. Obstet Gynecol 1982;60:440-3..
  5. Harrell BL, Rudolph AH. Letter: Kelp diet: A cause of acneform eruption. Arch Dermatol 1976;112:560.
  6. Eliason BC. Transient hyperthyroidism in a patient taking dietary supplements containing kelp. J Am Board Fam Pract 1998;11:478-80. PubMed
  7. Norman JA, Pickford CJ, Sanders TW, Waller M. Human intake of arsenic and iodine from seaweed-based food supplements and health foods available in the UK. Food Addit Contam 1988;5:103-9.. PubMed
  8. Amster E, Tiwary A, Schenker MB. Case report: potential arsenic toxicosis secondary to herbal kelp supplement. Environ Health Perspect 2007;115:606-8. PubMed
  9. Miyai K, Tokushige T, Kondo M; Iodine Research Group. Suppression of thyroid function during ingestion of seaweed "Kombu" (Laminaria japonoca) in normal Japanese adults. Endocr J. 2008 Dec;55(6):1103-8. Epub 2008 Aug 9.

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 Laminaria and Docusate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Laminaria with Docusate?
We do not list a known interaction between Laminaria and Docusate. 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.
How was the Laminaria and Docusate combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Docusate is filed under 1 classification, and Laminaria has documented interactions with 6 drug classes — none of Docusate'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 Laminaria interact with any other medications?
Yes. Laminaria has 69 documented drug interactions in our database — Docusate 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 Docusate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Docusate has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Laminaria is not one of them. The Docusate 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

Laminaria monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Stool Softeners drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Docusate supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Docusate, 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 9 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Docusate and Laminaria?

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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.