Drug & supplement interaction

Pectin + Chlortetracycline

Chlortetracycline brand name: Aureomycin.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Pectin has a moderate interaction with Chlortetracycline. Theoretically, pectin might reduce the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics, potentially decreasing their effectiveness.

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

Pectin and Chlortetracycline

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

Moderate

TETRACYCLINE ANTIBIOTICS

Why this applies to Chlortetracycline

Chlortetracycline falls under TETRACYCLINE ANTIBIOTICS — the group Pectin interacts with.

Theoretically, pectin might reduce the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics, potentially decreasing their effectiveness.
A small clinical study shows that taking tetracycline with bismuth subsalicylate in a kaolin-pectin suspension reduces the absorption of tetracycline by about 34%. It is unclear if these effects are due to pectin, kaolin, bismuth subsalicylate, or the combination.
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 gist with chlortetracycline (Aureomycin): pectin is a gel-forming soluble fiber, and like other fibers and binders, it may grab onto the antibiotic in your gut before your body can absorb it. The concern is that less drug gets into your bloodstream, which could mean the antibiotic doesn't work as well at clearing your infection. Chlortetracycline isn't a prodrug, so this is simply a case of reduced absorption, not a stronger effect.

Honestly, the evidence here is on the soft side. One small study showed about a 34% drop in tetracycline absorption, but that was a mix of kaolin, pectin, and bismuth, so we can't pin it all on pectin. To be safe, separating your fiber supplement from your antibiotic by a couple of hours is a reasonable move. Check with your pharmacist on timing before changing anything.

References
  1. Albert KS, Welch RD, DeSante KA, et al. Decreased tetracycline bioavailability caused by a bismuth subsalicylate antidiarrheal mixture. J Pharm Sci 1979;68:586-8. 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

Pectin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Pectin has 22 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Chlortetracycline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Pectin

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Chlortetracycline

This page covers Pectin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Chlortetracycline page lists 161 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Oleander (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 134 moderate · 20 minor.

Open the Chlortetracycline interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,927 real supplement products containing Pectin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Pectin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Chlortetracycline too, on top of Pectin — 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 Pectin and Chlortetracycline 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 Pectin
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Chlortetracycline
Steady interest

#2,200 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 Pectin

What is Pectin?

  • Diarrhea relief
  • Constipation and digestive health
  • Cholesterol support
  • Blood sugar support
  • Appetite and weight management

Pectin is a natural soluble fiber found in fruits like apples and citrus, and it is widely used in foods and as a fiber supplement. It may modestly help with cholesterol, blood sugar, and digestive regularity, but evidence for many supplement claims is limited. It is generally well tolerated, though it can cause gas and bloating, especially when first starting.

Read the full Pectin monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Pectin

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

0Major
22Moderate
0Minor
2,807No known interaction
Moderate

22 interactions

No interaction 2,807 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Pectin and Chlortetracycline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Pectin with Chlortetracycline?
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 Pectin and Chlortetracycline 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

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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.