Drug & supplement interaction

Zedoary + Colesevelam

Colesevelam brand names: WelChol, Lodalis.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Zedoary and Colesevelam 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Colesevelam states a food rule worth keeping to.

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Interaction report

Zedoary and Colesevelam

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 Colesevelam and Zedoary 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.

Zedoary safety at a glance

Zedoary overall Use caution Generally used in food amounts, but human safety data for supplement doses is limited.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally. Zedoary is thought to have abortifacient effects; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid No reliable safety information during breastfeeding, so it is best avoided.

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 Colesevelam and Zedoary? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Colesevelam

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Colesevelam is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Zedoary has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates (moderate) — and none of Colesevelam’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

Zedoary Does Interact With Other Medications

Zedoary has 643 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Colesevelam isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 643 No known interaction 2,187 (incl. Colesevelam)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Zedoary

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

What to actually watch for

What Colesevelam’s Own FDA Label Lists

This is not an interaction — none of it involves Zedoary. These are the most notable effects listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Colesevelam’s own FDA label, for the medication by itself. Knowing the drug’s own list makes it easier to work out the likely cause if something new turns up while you take both. 10 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • A bowel blockage Worth acting on
  • Trouble swallowing Worth acting on
  • Low blood sugar Worth acting on
  • A slow heartbeat Worth acting on
  • A heart attack Worth acting on
  • Pancreatitis Worth acting on
  • High blood sugar Worth acting on
  • Seizures Worth acting on
  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on
  • A higher chance of infection Worth acting on

Showing the 10 most notable of 24 label-listed effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

From the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Colesevelam. Read the label on DailyMed › Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 2,014 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Colesevelam that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Zedoary’s licensed record lists no adverse effects our clinical vocabulary could match, so there is no Zedoary side to compare — that is a limit of the record, not a statement that Zedoary has no side effects.

Special populations

Zedoary in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally. Zedoary is thought to have abortifacient effects; avoid using.

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

How to take them

Some Colesevelam Products Have a Food Rule — Zedoary Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Colesevelam says to take it with food. If you take Zedoary on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Colesevelam with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Colesevelam products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Colesevelam hydrochloride should be taken as follows ( 2.2 , 2.4 ): Tablets Take 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Colesevelam — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Colesevelam Is Prescribed For, and What Zedoary Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Colesevelam is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Zedoary is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Colesevelam is prescribed for: Colesevelam is used alongside diet and exercise to reduce high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). It is also approved to lower LDL cholesterol in boys and girls aged 10–17 who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) — an inherited condition that causes very high cholesterol — when diet and lifestyle changes alone haven't worked. Colesevelam tablets and oral suspension (Welchol and colesevelam hydrochloride products) are also used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to diet and exercise. Colesevelam is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Zedoary has been studied for:

  • Hypercholesterolemia studied, not established Zedoary has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Zedoary for hypercholesterolemia

    Taking 200 mL of tea prepared with 0.5 gram, 1 gram, or 1.5 grams of zedoary root powder twice daily between meals for 2 months reduces total cholesterol by 9%, 14% and 17% respectively in non-obese men aged 25-40 years with mild hypercholesterolemia. The highest dose also seems to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 6.8%.

    1 source cited
    1. 99637. Tariq S, Imran M, Mushtaq Z, Asghar N. Phytopreventive antihypercholesterolemic and antilipidemic perspectives of zedoary (Curcuma Zedoaria Roscoe) herbal tea. Lipids Health Dis 2016;15:39. doi: 10.1186/s12944-016-0210-y.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Colesevelam on your own; if you are taking Zedoary for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Zedoary or Colesevelam

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Zedoary or Colesevelam, 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 Colesevelam

This page covers Zedoary only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Colesevelam 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.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Colesevelam page

“Colesevelam (WelChol, Lodalis) lowers cholesterol by binding bile acids in your gut, and every one of the 17 supplements on this list can interfere with how oral medicines are absorbed in that same territory. I would treat this list with genuine care, and the place to start is activated charcoal, the only major-rated entry.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Colesevelam interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 83 real supplement products containing Zedoary, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Zedoary. Even though Zedoary itself has no known interaction with Colesevelam, 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 Zedoary and Colesevelam 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 Zedoary
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Colesevelam
Steady interest

#1,988 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 Zedoary reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Zedoary and Colesevelam 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 Zedoary

What is Zedoary?

  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Menstrual discomfort
  • Inflammation and pain
  • Traditional flavoring and tonic

Zedoary is a ginger-family root used in traditional Asian and Indian medicine, mostly for digestion and as a spice. Scientific evidence in humans is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy.

Curcuma zedoaria · Zingiberaceae · Rhizome (root) and essential oil · Dried powder, capsules, tinctures, essential oil, tea

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

Zedoary: dosing

There is no standardized, well-established dose for zedoary. The right amount depends on the form (powder, capsule, tincture, or oil) and the product's strength.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed them.

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

Read the full Zedoary monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Colesevelam

What Is Colesevelam Used For?

Brand names: WelChol, Lodalis

Colesevelam is used alongside diet and exercise to reduce high LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). It is also approved to lower LDL cholesterol in boys and girls aged 10–17 who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) — an inherited condition that causes very high cholesterol — when diet and lifestyle changes alone haven't worked.

Colesevelam tablets and oral suspension (Welchol and colesevelam hydrochloride products) are also used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as an add-on to diet and exercise. Colesevelam is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Colesevelam

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (2,014 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Diarrhea 241 reports
Dyspnea 172 reports
Cough 169 reports
Muscle spasms 163 reports
Nasopharyngitis 150 reports
See full Colesevelam drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Zedoary

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

0Major
643Moderate
0Minor
2,186No known interaction
643 Moderate 2,186 No interaction
Moderate

643 interactions

Showing 60 of 643 moderate interactions — see all 643 on the Zedoary page.

No interaction 2,186 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,186 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Zedoary list.

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

Zedoary References

The 5 references that drive our Zedoary 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. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Tariq S, Imran M, Mushtaq Z, Asghar N. Phytopreventive antihypercholesterolemic and antilipidemic perspectives of zedoary (Curcuma Zedoaria Roscoe) herbal tea. Lipids Health Dis 2016;15:39. doi: 10.1186/s12944-016-0210-y.
  4. Rodseeda C, Yamanont P, Pinthong D, Korprasertthaworn P. Inhibitory effects of Thai herbal extracts on the cytochrome P450 3A-mediated the metabolism of gefitinib, lapatinib and sorafenib. Toxicol Rep 2022;9:1846-1852. PubMed
  5. Niu LQ, Xiao L, Cai QH, et al. Comparative effectiveness of Chinese herbal injections treating for rotavirus enteritis in children: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Integr Med Res 2023;12(2):100944. PubMed

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 Zedoary and Colesevelam Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Zedoary with Colesevelam?
We do not list a known interaction between Zedoary and Colesevelam. 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.
Should I take Zedoary and Colesevelam at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Colesevelam says to take it with food. If you take Zedoary on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Colesevelam with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Colesevelam products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Are Zedoary and Colesevelam used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Zedoary in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Colesevelam is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Zedoary and Colesevelam combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Colesevelam is filed under 1 classification, and Zedoary has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Colesevelam'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 Zedoary interact with any other medications?
Yes. Zedoary has 643 documented drug interactions in our database — Colesevelam 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 Colesevelam interact with any supplements?
Yes. Colesevelam has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Zedoary is not one of them. The Colesevelam 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

Zedoary monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Colesevelam drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Colesevelam supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Colesevelam, 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 5 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Colesevelam and Zedoary?

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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.