Drug & supplement interaction

Manna + Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein

Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein brand name: Doxidan (Canadian).

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

Manna has a moderate interaction with Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein. Theoretically, manna might increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte loss when taken with stimulant laxatives.

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

Manna and Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein

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

Moderate

STIMULANT LAXATIVES

Why this applies to Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein

Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein falls under STIMULANT LAXATIVES — the group Manna interacts with.

Theoretically, manna might increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte loss when taken with stimulant laxatives.
Due to the osmotic laxative effects of manna, concomitant use with stimulant laxatives might compound fluid and electrolyte loss.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

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 simple version: your Doxidan combo already works to get things moving (docusate softens stool, and phenolphthalein stimulates the bowel). Manna is its own mild laxative that pulls extra water into your gut. Stacking two laxatives can mean too much of a good thing.

The worry isn't that one cancels the other out. Instead, the concern is added water and salt loss. Together they could lead to loose stools, cramping, dehydration, and low electrolytes like potassium, which can leave you weak, dizzy, or lightheaded. Honestly, this is a theoretical caution based on how they work, not proven harm. Still, taking two laxatives at once usually isn't needed, so check with your pharmacist before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

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

Manna Also Interacts With Other Medications

Manna has 98 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 98 No known interaction 2,732 (incl. Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Manna

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein

This page covers Manna only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein 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 Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein page

“Anyone taking Doxidan (docusate calcium with phenolphthalein) is already on a stimulant laxative, and many herbal constipation remedies work exactly the same way. That overlap is why this list earns real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 27 real supplement products containing Manna, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Manna. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein too, on top of Manna — 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 Manna and Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein 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 Manna
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein
Top half

#773 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 Manna

What is Manna?

Manna
  • Gentle constipation relief
  • Mild laxative for children and elderly
  • Natural sweetener
  • Occasional bowel softening

Manna is the dried, sweet sap of the flowering ash tree (Fraxinus ornus) and is best known as a gentle, mild laxative because it contains a sugar alcohol called mannitol. It is generally considered mild and is sometimes used for occasional constipation, but high-quality modern studies are limited, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Manna monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Manna

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

0Major
98Moderate
0Minor
2,731No known interaction
98 Moderate 2,731 No interaction
Moderate

98 interactions

Showing 60 of 98 moderate interactions — see all 98 on the Manna page.

No interaction 2,731 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,731 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Manna list.

See the full Manna interactions page
See every supplement checked against Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein, 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
Manna monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Manna and Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein Together: Common Questions

Can you take Manna with Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein?
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 Manna and Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein 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 Docusate Calcium, Phenolphthalein and Manna?

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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.