Drug & supplement interaction

Marshmallow + Alendronate

Alendronate brand names: Fosamax, Binosto.

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

Marshmallow has a minor interaction with Alendronate. Theoretically, mucilage in marshmallow might impair absorption of oral drugs.

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

Marshmallow and Alendronate

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

Minor

ORAL DRUGS

Why this applies to Alendronate

Alendronate falls under ORAL DRUGS — the group Marshmallow interacts with.

Theoretically, mucilage in marshmallow might impair absorption of oral drugs.
Marshmallow contains mucilage which can affect oral drug absorption. To avoid changes in absorption, take marshmallow 30-60 minutes after oral medications.
Severity Minor 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 thing about alendronate (Fosamax): your body only absorbs a tiny fraction of it to begin with, and that absorption is incredibly easy to block. That's why the directions are so strict, take it first thing in the morning with plain water on an empty stomach, and don't eat, drink, or take anything else for at least 30 minutes. Even coffee or juice can wipe out its effect.

Marshmallow root's slippery mucilage fiber could, in theory, coat your stomach and trap the alendronate so less gets absorbed. That would mean weaker bone protection over time. This is a theoretical concern based on how the herb works, not proven harm. To be safe, take alendronate by itself in the morning and save marshmallow for later in the day. Check with your pharmacist if you're unsure.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Monographs on the medicinal uses of plant drugs. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Co-op Phytother, 1997.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 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

Marshmallow Also Interacts With Other Medications

Marshmallow has 1 moderate, 2,038 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Alendronate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1 Minor 2,038 No known interaction 791 (incl. Alendronate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Marshmallow

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Marshmallow or Alendronate

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Marshmallow or Alendronate, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Alendronate

This page covers Marshmallow only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Alendronate page lists 25 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Calcium (moderate), Coffee (moderate), Coffee Charcoal (moderate) and Dolomite (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 15 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Alendronate page

“Picture the typical Fosamax (alendronate) patient: someone taking a weekly tablet for thinning bones who also takes calcium and other mineral supplements, exactly what fills this list. Nearly all 25 ingredients on file work the same way, binding the drug in the gut or coating it with fiber so less gets absorbed, and a dose that never r…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Alendronate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,622 real supplement products containing Marshmallow, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Marshmallow. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Alendronate too, on top of Marshmallow — 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 Marshmallow and Alendronate 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 Marshmallow
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Alendronate
Top 25%

#375 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 Marshmallow

What is Marshmallow?

Marshmallow
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Dry mouth and throat irritation
  • Digestive upset and heartburn
  • Skin irritation
  • Soothing inflamed tissue

Marshmallow root is a traditional herb rich in soothing, gel-like fibers called mucilage, which is why it has long been used for coughs, sore throats, and stomach irritation. Evidence for these uses is mostly traditional and preliminary, but it is generally considered gentle and well-tolerated for short-term use. As with any supplement, check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines.

Read the full Marshmallow monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Alendronate

What Is Alendronate Used For?

Brand names: Fosamax, Binosto

Alendronate tablets (including Alendronate, Alendronate Sodium, and Fosamax) are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, treat osteoporosis in men, treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (bone loss caused by long-term steroid use) in men and women, and treat Paget's disease of bone. Binosto effervescent tablet is specifically indicated for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and increasing bone mass in men with osteoporosis.

Alendronate Sodium oral solution is indicated for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and increasing bone mass in men with osteoporosis. Alendronate helps build bone mass and reduce the risk of fractures, including hip and spinal fractures.

See full Alendronate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Marshmallow

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

0Major
1Moderate
2,038Minor
790No known interaction
1 Moderate 2,038 Minor 790 No interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

Minor

2,038 interactions

Showing 60 of 2,038 minor interactions — see all 2,038 on the Marshmallow page.

No interaction 790 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 790 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Marshmallow list.

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

Can you take Marshmallow with Alendronate?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Marshmallow and Alendronate interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Alendronate and Marshmallow?

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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.