Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Applied Nutrition

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse label
See full label image
Tablet Or Pill Category: Botanical With Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse is a dietary supplement by Applied Nutrition with 5 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for bone health and osteoporosis prevention, dietary calcium deficiency, heartburn relief (calcium carbonate antacids).Based on those ingredients, 2,225 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Slippery Elm powder, Ginger powder, Cascara Sagrada powder. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 11, 2026

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 10 active ingredients.
  • “Acai Cleanse Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (837 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.
  • “Cleansing Flush Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (605 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains 10 active and inactive ingredients, with calcium as a mineral and a blend of botanical extracts. The acai, cranberry, lychee, mangosteen, pomegranate, and blueberry powders provide antioxidant compounds typical of a cleanse-style supplement.

Cascara sagrada is a stimulant laxative meant to promote bowel movement. Slippery elm and ginger round out the formula with mucilage and anti-inflammatory compounds respectively.

The product also contains inactive ingredients—microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, gum arabic, and magnesium stearate—which are binders, flow agents, and capsule materials.

Does it work?

Strong evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Strong

Clinical evidence supports at least one of this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: digestive system cleanse and weight loss support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Constipation, Bowel preparation, Diarrhea, Dyspepsia, bloating, digestive flushing — and 1 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Calcium is rated "Effective" for Dyspepsia (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Cascara Sagrada is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Bowel preparation.
  • Also on file: Cascara Sagrada is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation.

Evidence for the fruit and botanical extracts in this cleanse is limited. Acai, lychee extract, mangosteen, and pomegranate have been rated insufficient reliable evidence for the aging skin, sexual function, cholesterol, and weight loss claims often made about them.

Cranberry is possibly effective for urinary tract infections, but the product is marketed as a cleanse, not a UTI treatment. Pomegranate shows possibly effective evidence for high blood pressure, though the product is not formulated as a blood pressure aid.

Ginger has possibly effective evidence for pregnancy-related nausea and osteoarthritis, neither of which is the cleanse product's stated purpose. Blueberry lacks reliable evidence for the conditions often attributed to it.

Cascara sagrada is rated insufficient reliable evidence for constipation relief and possibly ineffective for bowel prep. Overall, the 'cleanse' mechanism and benefit are not supported by the data we hold.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Calcium Acai Cranberry Lychee Mangosteen Pomegranate Blueberry Cascara Sagrada

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 9 of the 10 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 10 of 10.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 10 of 10.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Calcium is generally well tolerated at recommended doses, though high amounts carry rare risks including kidney stones and a theoretical concern about very high intake (over 1,500–2,000 mg daily) and prostate cancer risk; some research also raises questions about cardiovascular risk at high intakes, though this remains debated. Acai, as a food, is generally well tolerated; concentrated supplements are not well studied.

Cranberry is well tolerated orally in typical amounts, though large doses can cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset. Lychee carries allergy risk (urticaria, swelling, anaphylaxis) and has been linked in retrospective studies to a serious brain condition (hypoglycemic encephalopathy) in malnourished children, though the link is disputed.

Mangosteen extract up to 560 mg daily has caused mild tiredness, headache, dizziness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, cough, and nasal congestion in some users. Pomegranate fruit and juice are generally well tolerated; extract is less studied.

Cascara sagrada can cause abdominal cramping and, with long-term use, carries serious risks including low potassium, muscle wasting, and rare liver damage. Ginger is generally well tolerated in typical amounts but doses over 5 grams daily raise side-effect risk.

Slippery elm can cause allergic contact dermatitis and urticaria. Blueberry is well tolerated as food; freeze-dried forms caused gastrointestinal upset in 26% of trial participants within one week.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Calcium Acai Cranberry Lychee Mangosteen Pomegranate Blueberry Cascara Sagrada

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 10 of the 10 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Pomegranate, Cascara Sagrada, Calcium, Cranberry, Ginger, among others.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs; diabetes medications; heart-rhythm medications; lithium.
  • For scale: 2,226 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your pharmacist before taking this product if you use blood thinners or anticoagulants (warfarin, phenprocoumon) — ginger, pomegranate, mangosteen, and cascara all carry bleeding risk. HIV medications (dolutegravir, elvitegravir, raltegravir) and the antibiotic ceftriaxone have Major interactions with calcium.

Thyroid medication (levothyroxine), heart and blood pressure drugs (diltiazem, nifedipine, losartan, ACE inhibitors), diabetes medications, and diuretics or corticosteroids all require careful timing or monitoring. Slippery elm may slow absorption of any oral medication.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with clinical evidence supporting its stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This is a multi-ingredient supplement blending botanical extracts with a stimulant laxative and calcium. If you take medications for HIV, blood clotting, blood pressure, thyroid function, heart rhythm, or diabetes, you need to check your specific drugs before starting—interactions are substantial.

The 'cleanse' benefit itself is not proven. Talk to your pharmacist before use, especially if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or on any prescription medication.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 10 of 10 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 22, 2016.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse, straight from the product label.

Brand Applied Nutrition
Barcode (UPC) 710363574925
Net contents 20 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 22, 2016
DSLD ID 64011
Product type Botanical With Nutrients
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Tablet(s)
Servings per container
10
UPC/BARCODE
710363574925
IngredientAmount% DV
Calcium88 mg9%
Acai Cleanse Blend837 mg--
Acai (Assai Palm) (Euterpe oleracea) extract0 NP--
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) powder0 NP--
Litchi (Lychee) extract0 NP--
Mangosteen powder0 NP--
Pomegranate powder0 NP--
Cascara Sagrada powder0 NP--
Slippery Elm powder0 NP--
Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) powder0 NP--
Cleansing Flush Blend605 mg--
Ginger powder0 NP--

Other ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Gum Arabic, Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Questions: Consumer Affairs [email protected] Diet & Exercise Plan available online at www.AppliedNutrition.com/deplan To join our Wellness Club and receive tips on how to improve your health, please visit us at: www.AppliedNutrition.com/wellness1

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FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Brand IP Statement(s)

5-Day Acai Beery Cleanse is scientifically formulated to cleanse your digestive tract and eliminate excess matter that could be clogging your system.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: (Adult) Take two (2) tablets in the morning prior to breakfast and two (2) tablets in the evening, prior to bedtime. Drink at least 8 oz (a full glass) of water with each two tablets. Do not exceed four (4) tablets per day. If stools are loose reduce tablets intake from four (4) to three (3) per day.

Taking a break of 30 or more days between use cycles will help maintain natural regularity.

Precautions

Usage Warnings: Do not use if safety seal is broken.

Check with your doctor before using this product if you are using medication, including diuretics, heart medications and corticosteroids, or have any medical conditions.

Notice: This product contains Cascara Sagrada. Read and follow the directions carefully. Do not use if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain because Cascara Sagrada may worsen these conditions and be harmful to your health.

Consult with your physician if you have frequent diarrhea or if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Note: This product is not intended to be used without breaks. Cascara Sagrada belongs to a family of plants containing compounds with laxative effects. Can lead to dehydration and electrolyte loss. With long-term use without breaks, this ingredients may interfere with diagnostic imaging procedures of the colon.

Not intended for long-term use.

Warning: (State of California Prop 65) This product contains chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Do not use if you have an intestinal obstruction, hemorrhoids or other intestinal disorder. Do not use if you are taking any other productive concurrently that has laxative effects.

Do not use if you may become pregnant, are pregnant or nursing.

Do not exceed recommended daily intake.

Not intended for use by persons under 18. Keep out of reach of children.

Formula

Notice: This product contains Cascara Sagrada.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General

4089-BOX-05/15 AN077492 Ver.06

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition

These are the 5 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Servings per container10 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Calcium

Interacts with
168 drugs
88 mg per serving Form: Calcium Carbonate

Calcium is an essential mineral your body needs for strong bones, nerve signaling, and muscle function, and supplements can help fill gaps when diet f...

Calcium monograph & interactions

Acai Cleanse Blend

Interacts with
86 drugs
837 mg per serving

Acai is a nutritious Amazonian berry rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, and it is fine to enjoy as a food. However, strong human evidence is lacki...

Acai Cleanse Blend monograph & interactions

Cleansing Flush Blend

605 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Gum Arabic, Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
2,225Drugs
7 Major 2,150 Moderate 68 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Slippery Elm powder 2,022
Ginger powder 1,007
Cascara Sagrada powder 745
Calcium 168
Acai Cleanse Blend 86

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse interact with 2,225 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

5 of the 5 ingredients in 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Slippery Elm powder Ginger powder Cascara Sagrada powder Calcium Acai Cleanse Blend

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Slippery Elm powder1 drug type · 2,022 drugs

Oral Drugs

Theoretically, slippery elm may slow the absorption and reduce serum levels of oral drugs.
Slippery elm inner bark contains mucilage, which may interfere with the absorption of orally administered drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Slippery Elm powder full monograph & interactions

Ginger powder14 drug types · 1,007 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Ginger may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. However, research is conflicting.
Laboratory research suggests that ginger inhibits thromboxane synthetase and decreases platelet aggregation. However, this has not been demonstrated unequivocally in humans, with mixed results from clinical trials. Theoretically, excessive amounts of ginger might increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking ginger with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal and human research suggests that ginger might increase insulin levels and/or decrease blood glucose levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Ginger might increase or decrease the levels of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research and some case reports suggest that ginger inhibits CYP3A4 activity. Three case reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) adverse drug reaction database describe increased toxicity in patients taking ginger and cancer medications that are CYP3A4 substrates (imatinib, dabrafenib, and crizotinib). However, the causality of this interaction is unclear due to the presence of multiple interacting drugs and routes of administration.
Conversely, other in vitro research suggests that ginger induces CYP3A4 activity, leading to reduced levels of CYP3A4 substrates. However, this interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Losartan (Cozaar)

Theoretically, ginger might increase levels of losartan and the risk of hypotension.
In animal research, ginger increased the levels and hypotensive effects of a single dose of losartan. It is not clear if ginger alters the concentration or effects of losartan when taken continuously. Additionally, this interaction has not been shown in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Nifedipine (Procardia)

Ginger may have antiplatelet effects and increase the risk of bleeding if used with nifedipine.
Clinical research shows that combined treatment with ginger 1 gram plus nifedipine 10 mg significantly inhibits platelet aggregation when compared to nifedipine or ginger alone.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
P-Glycoprotein Substrates

Ginger might increase the absorption and blood levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates.
In vitro research and case reports suggest that ginger inhibits drug efflux by P-gp, potentially increasing absorption and serum levels of P-gp substrates. Two case reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) adverse drug reaction database describe increased toxicity in patients taking ginger and cancer medications that are P-gp substrates (trametinib, crizotinib). However, the causality of this interaction is unclear due to the presence of multiple interacting drugs and routes of administration.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenprocoumon (Marcoumar, Others)

Ginger might increase the risk of bleeding with phenprocoumon.
Phenprocoumon, a warfarin-related anticoagulant, might increase the international normalized ratio (INR) when taken with ginger. There is one case report of a 76-year-old woman with a stable INR on phenprocoumon that increased to greater than 10 when she began consuming dried ginger and ginger tea.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Ginger might increase the risk of bleeding with warfarin.
Laboratory research suggests that ginger might inhibit thromboxane synthetase and decrease platelet aggregation. In one case report, ginger increased the INR when taken with phenprocoumon, which has similar pharmacological effects as warfarin. In another case report, ginger increased the INR when taken with a combination of warfarin, hydrochlorothiazide, and acetaminophen. A longitudinal analysis suggests that taking ginger increases the risk of bleeding in patients taking warfarin for at least 4 months. However, research in healthy people suggests that ginger has no effect on INR, or the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of warfarin. Until more is known, monitor INRs closely in patients taking large amounts of ginger.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Calcium Channel Blockers

Theoretically, taking ginger with calcium channel blockers might increase the risk of hypotension.
Some animal and in vitro research suggests that ginger has hypotensive and calcium channel-blocking effects. Another animal study shows that concomitant administration of ginger and the calcium channel blocker amlodipine leads to greater reductions in blood pressure when compared with amlodipine alone.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

Theoretically, when taken prior to cyclosporine, ginger might decrease cyclosporine levels.
In an animal model, ginger juice taken 2 hours prior to cyclosporine administration reduced the maximum concentration and area under the curve of cyclosporine by 51% and 40%, respectively. This effect was not observed when ginger juice and cyclosporine were administered at the same time.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, ginger might increase the levels of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that ginger inhibits CYP1A2 activity. However, this interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2B6 (Cyp2B6) Substrates

Theoretically, ginger might increase the levels of CYP2B6 substrates.
In vitro research shows that ginger inhibits CYP2B6 activity. However, this interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

Theoretically, ginger might increase the levels of CYP2C9 substrates.
In vitro research shows that ginger inhibits CYP2C9 activity. However, this interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Metronidazole (Flagyl)

Theoretically, ginger might increase levels of metronidazole.
In an animal model, ginger increased the absorption and plasma half-life of metronidazole. In addition, the elimination rate and clearance of metronidazole was significantly reduced.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Ginger powder full monograph & interactions

Cascara Sagrada powder6 drug types · 745 drugs

Corticosteroids

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might increase the risk of hypokalemia when taken with corticosteroids.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects, and long-term use has been associated with hypokalemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might cause hypokalemia, potentially increasing the risk of digoxin toxicity.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects, and long-term use has been associated with hypokalemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Diuretic Drugs

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might increase the risk of hypokalemia when taken with diuretic drugs.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects, and long-term use has been associated with hypokalemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Stimulant Laxatives

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might have additive adverse effects when taken with stimulant laxatives.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects and might compound fluid and electrolyte losses when taken with stimulant laxatives.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects. In some people, cascara sagrada can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin, increase international normalized ratio (INR), and increase the risk of bleeding.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might decrease the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research suggests that cascara sagrada can induce CYP3A4 enzymes, albeit to a much lower degree than rifampin, a known CYP3A4 inducer.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cascara Sagrada powder full monograph & interactions

Calcium18 drug types · 168 drugs

Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)

Co-administration of intravenous calcium and ceftriaxone can result in precipitation of a ceftriaxone-calcium salt in the lungs and kidneys.
Avoid administering intravenous calcium in any form, such as parenteral nutrition or Lactated Ringers, within 48 hours of intravenous ceftriaxone. Case reports in neonates show that administering intravenous ceftriaxone and calcium can result in precipitation of a ceftriaxone-calcium salt in the lungs and kidneys. In several cases, neonates have died as a result of this interaction. So far there are no reports in adults; however, there is still concern that this interaction might occur in adults.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Dolutegravir (Tivicay)

Calcium seems to reduce levels of dolutegravir.
Advise patients to take dolutegravir either 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking calcium supplements. Pharmacokinetic research suggests that taking calcium carbonate 1200 mg concomitantly with dolutegravir 50 mg reduces plasma levels of dolutegravir by almost 40%. Calcium appears to decrease levels of dolutegravir through chelation.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Elvitegravir (Vitekta)

Calcium seems to reduce levels of elvitegravir.
Advise patients to take elvitegravir either 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking calcium supplements. Pharmacokinetic research suggests that taking calcium along with elvitegravir can reduce blood levels of elvitegravir through chelation.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Aluminum

Calcium citrate might increase aluminum absorption and toxicity. Other types of calcium do not increase aluminum absorption.
Calcium citrate can increase the absorption of aluminum when taken with aluminum hydroxide. The increase in aluminum levels may become toxic, particularly in individuals with kidney disease. However, the effect of calcium citrate on aluminum absorption is due to the citrate anion rather than calcium cation. Calcium acetate does not appear to increase aluminum absorption.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide (Biktarvy)

Calcium might decrease levels of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide by reducing its absorption when taken in a fasting state.
Advise patients that bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide and calcium can be taken together if taken with food. However, if taken on an empty stomach, bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide should not be taken with, or 2 hours after, calcium containing products.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Bisphosphonates

Calcium reduces the absorption of bisphosphonates.
Advise patients to take bisphosphonates at least 30 minutes before calcium, but preferably at a different time of day. Calcium supplements decrease absorption of bisphosphonates.

Likelihood Probable Evidence C
Calcipotriene (Dovonex)

Taking calcipotriene with calcium might increase the risk for hypercalcemia.
Calcipotriene is a vitamin D analog used topically for psoriasis. It can be absorbed in sufficient amounts to cause systemic effects, including hypercalcemia. Theoretically, combining calcipotriene with calcium supplements might increase the risk of hypercalcemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Using intravenous calcium with digoxin might increase the risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
Hypercalcemia increases the risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmias with digoxin. However, one retrospective analysis of clinical data suggests that intravenous calcium does not increase the risk of dysrhythmias or mortality in patients receiving digoxin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Others)

Theoretically, calcium may reduce the therapeutic effects of diltiazem.
Hypercalcemia can reduce the effectiveness of verapamil in atrial fibrillation. Theoretically, calcium might increase this risk of hypercalcemia and reduce the effectiveness of diltiazem.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Others)

Calcium seems to reduce the absorption and effectiveness of levothyroxine.
Advise patients to take levothyroxine and calcium supplements at least 4 hours apart. Calcium reduces levothyroxine absorption, probably by forming insoluble complexes. Calcium carbonate supplements reduce effectiveness of levothyroxine in patients with hypothyroidism.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Lithium

Theoretically, concomitant use of calcium and lithium may increase this risk of hypercalcemia.
Clinical research suggests that long-term use of lithium may cause hypercalcemia in 10% to 60% of patients. Theoretically, concomitant use of lithium and calcium supplements may further increase this risk.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Quinolone Antibiotics

Calcium seems to reduce the absorption of quinolone antibiotics.
Advise patients to take oral quinolones at least 2 hours before or 4-6 hours after calcium supplements or calcium-fortified foods. Taking calcium at the same time as oral quinolones can reduce quinolone absorption. Calcium binds to quinolones in the gut.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Raltegravir (Isentress)

Calcium may reduce levels of raltegravir.
Pharmacokinetic research shows that taking a single dose of calcium carbonate 3000 mg along with raltegravir 400 mg twice daily modestly decreases the mean area under the curve of raltegravir, but the decrease does not necessitate a dose adjustment of raltegravir. However, a case of elevated HIV-1 RNA levels and documented resistance to raltegravir has been reported for a patient taking calcium carbonate 1 gram three times daily plus vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 400 IU three times daily in combination with raltegravir 400 mg twice daily for 11 months. It is thought that calcium reduced raltegravir levels by chelation, leading to treatment failure.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Sotalol (Betapace)

Calcium seems to reduce the absorption of sotalol.
Advise patients to separate doses by at least 2 hours before or 4-6 hours after calcium. Calcium appears to reduce the absorption of sotalol, probably by forming insoluble complexes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Tetracycline Antibiotics

Calcium seems to reduce the absorption of tetracycline antibiotics.
Advise patients to take oral tetracyclines at least 2 hours before, or 4-6 hours after calcium supplements. Taking calcium at the same time as oral tetracyclines can reduce tetracycline absorption. Calcium binds to tetracyclines in the gut.

Likelihood Probable Evidence C
Thiazide Diuretics

Taking calcium along with thiazides might increase the risk of hypercalcemia and renal failure.
Thiazides reduce calcium excretion by the kidneys. Using thiazides along with moderately large amounts of calcium carbonate increases the risk of milk-alkali syndrome (hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, renal failure). Patients may need to have their serum calcium levels and/or parathyroid function monitored regularly.

Likelihood Probable Evidence C
Verapamil (Calan, Others)

Theoretically, calcium may reduce the therapeutic effects of verapamil.
Hypercalcemia can reduce the effectiveness of verapamil in atrial fibrillation. Theoretically, use of calcium supplements may increase this risk of hypercalcemia and reduce the effectiveness of verapamil.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Calcium Channel Blockers

Intravenous calcium may decrease the effects of calcium channel blockers; oral calcium is unlikely to have this effect.
Intravenous calcium is used to decrease the effects of calcium channel blockers in the management of overdose. Intravenous calcium gluconate has been used before intravenous verapamil (Isoptin) to prevent or reduce the hypotensive effects without affecting the antiarrhythmic effects. But there is no evidence that dietary or supplemental calcium when taken orally interacts with calcium channel blockers.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
Calcium full monograph & interactions

Acai Cleanse Blend1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking acai with antidiabetes drugs might interfere with glycemic control.
Preliminary clinical research in healthy adults has shown that taking acai may increase or decrease levels of fasting blood glucose.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Acai Cleanse Blend full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse, from the product label.

Applied Nutrition

See all Applied Nutrition products
Name
Applied Nutrition
Street Address
P.O. Box 66457
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
ZipCode
90066
Web Address
www.AppliedNutrition.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition: Common Questions

Does 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse by Applied Nutrition interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse has a known interaction with 2,225 medications, including 7 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse contains 5 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
Several ingredients lack pregnancy safety data: lychee, mangosteen, and slippery elm have no or insufficient information; cascara sagrada (the laxative) is generally not recommended in pregnancy. Calcium is safe within recommended amounts, cranberry and pomegranate are likely safe in food amounts, blueberry is likely safe, and ginger is possibly to likely safe. Talk with your doctor before starting any cleanse product during pregnancy.
Can I take this while breastfeeding?
Calcium, cranberry, and blueberry are likely safe during breastfeeding. Acai, lychee, mangosteen, and slippery elm have insufficient data or are advised against. Cascara sagrada is possibly unsafe because active compounds may pass into breast milk. Ginger is likely safe, and pomegranate is possibly safe. Check with your provider before use.
What does the 'cleanse' actually do?
The product combines fruit and botanical extracts with cascara sagrada, a stimulant laxative that promotes bowel movement. The cleanse effect relies primarily on the laxative—the fruit extracts themselves don't have documented cleansing or detoxification properties in the data we hold.
Does this help with constipation?
Cascara sagrada is a stimulant laxative and is meant to promote bowel movement, but evidence for it as a constipation remedy is rated insufficient. It's intended for short-term use only, as long-term use carries risks including low potassium and muscle wasting.
What are the most common side effects?
Gastrointestinal effects dominate: mild abdominal cramping and discomfort from cascara sagrada, diarrhea and constipation from blueberry, and diarrhea and flatulence from pomegranate. Ginger can cause heartburn, burping, and throat irritation. Cranberry may cause diarrhea and nausea in larger doses.
Does this product have any fillers?
Yes. The product contains six inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, gum arabic, and magnesium stearate. These are standard binders and flow agents.

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

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind 5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Calcium

Interacts with 168 drugs

Calcium is an essential mineral your body needs for strong bones, nerve signaling, and muscle function, and supplements can help fill gaps when diet falls short. Most people do best getting...

Read the full Calcium monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Acai

Interacts with 86 drugs

Acai is a nutritious Amazonian berry rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, and it is fine to enjoy as a food. However, strong human evidence is lacking for the bold health claims often atta...

Read the full Acai monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Cranberry

Interacts with 712 drugs

Cranberry is best known for helping to prevent repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in some people, and the evidence here is moderate but mixed. It is not a reliable treatment for an act...

Read the full Cranberry monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Lychee

Interacts with 207 drugs

Lychee is a sweet tropical fruit that is nutritious and a source of vitamin C and antioxidant plant compounds. While the fruit is a healthy food for most people, supplement-strength extracts...

Read the full Lychee monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Mangosteen

Interacts with 125 drugs

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit whose rind is rich in plant compounds called xanthones that act as antioxidants. While it is popular in juices and supplements for inflammation, immune support...

Read the full Mangosteen monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Pomegranate

Interacts with 922 drugs

Pomegranate is a nutrient-rich fruit that is high in antioxidants and is widely enjoyed as food and juice. Early research suggests it may support heart health and blood pressure, but the evi...

Read the full Pomegranate monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Blueberry

Interacts with 88 drugs

Blueberries are a nutritious fruit rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins, and eating them as part of a balanced diet is healthy and safe for most people. Concentrated supplements are mark...

Read the full Blueberry monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Cascara Sagrada

Interacts with 745 drugs

Cascara sagrada is a stimulant laxative made from the aged bark of a Pacific Northwest tree, used mainly for short-term relief of constipation. Because it can cause cramping, dehydration, an...

Read the full Cascara Sagrada monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Slippery Elm

Interacts with 2,022 drugs

Slippery elm is a traditional herbal remedy made from the inner bark of a North American elm tree, used mainly to soothe sore throats and irritated digestive tracts. Its mucilage can coat an...

Read the full Slippery Elm monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Ginger

Interacts with 1,007 drugs

Ginger is a widely used culinary spice with a long history in traditional medicine, and it has the strongest evidence for helping with nausea and vomiting, including from motion sickness, pr...

Read the full Ginger monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

5-Day Acai Berry Cleanse's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 225 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Calcium 62 references
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  14. Moser LR, Smythe MA, Tisdale JE. The use of calcium salts in the prevention and management of verapamil-induced hypotension. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:622-9. PubMed
  15. Singh N, Singh PN, Hershman JM. Effect of calcium carbonate on the absorption of levothyroxine. JAMA 2000;283:2822-5. PubMed
  16. Kahela P, Anttila M, Tikkanen R, Sundquist H. Effect of food, food constituents and fluid volume on the bioavailability of sotalol. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 1979;44:7-12.. PubMed
  17. Pletz MW, Petzold P, Allen A, et al. Effect of calcium carbonate on bioavailability of orally administered gemifloxacin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003;47:2158-60.. PubMed
  18. Bar-Or D, Yoel G. Calcium and calciferol antagonize effect of verapamil in atrial fibrillation. Br Med J 1981;282:1585-6.
  19. Decktor DL, Robinson M, Maton PN, et al. Effects of aluminum/magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate on esophageal and gastric pH in subjects with heartburn. Am J Ther 1995;2:546-52. PubMed
  20. Simoneau G. Absence of rebound effect with calcium carbonate. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 1996;21:351-7. PubMed
  21. Peters ML, Leonard M, Licata AA. Role of alendronate and risedronate in preventing and treating osteoporosis. Cleve Clin J Med 2001;68:945-51. PubMed
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  23. Gueguen L, Pointillart A. The bioavailability of dietary calcium. J Am Coll Nutr 2000;19:119s-136s. PubMed
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  25. Bania TC, Blaufeux B, Hughes S, et al. Calcium and digoxin vs. calcium alone for severe verapamil toxicity. Acad Emerg Med 2000;7:1089-96. PubMed
  26. Tseng M, Breslow RA, Graubard BI, Ziegler RG. Dairy, calcium, and vitamin D intakes and prostate cancer risk in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Epidemiologic Follow-up Study cohort. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:1147-54. PubMed
  27. Weingarten MA, Zalmanovici A, Yaphe J. Dietary calcium supplementation for preventing colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(1):CD003548. PubMed
  28. Tavani A, Bertuccio P, Bosetti C, et al. Dietary intake of calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus and the risk of prostate cancer. Eur Urol 2005;48:27-33. PubMed
  29. Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. A prospective study of calcium intake and incident and fatal prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15:203-10. PubMed
  30. Rocephin (ceftriaxone) and calcium interaction. Pharmacist's Letter / Prescriber's Letter 2007;23(10):231005.
  31. Bolland MJ, Barber PA, Doughty RN, et al. Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised control trial. BMJ 2008;336:262-6.
  32. Bolland MJ, Avenell A, Baron JA, et al. Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis. BMJ 2010;341:c3691. PubMed
  33. Calcium supplementation and vascular events. Pharmacist's Letter / Prescriber's Letter 2008;24(3):240306.
  34. Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Institute of Medicine, November 30, 2010. Available at: http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D/Vitamin%20D%20and%20Calcium%202010%20Repo
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  36. Bradley JS, Wassel RT, Lee L, et al. Intravenous ceftriaxone and calcium in the neonate: assessing the risk for cardiopulmonary adverse events. Pediatrics. 2009;123(4):e609-13. PubMed
  37. Kays MB, Overholser BR, Mueller BA, et al. Effects of sevelamer hydrochloride and calcium acetate on the oral bioavailability of ciprofloxacin. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(6):1253-9. PubMed
  38. Neuhofel, A. L., Wilton, J. H., Victory, J. M., Hejmanowsk, L. G., and Amsden, G. W. Lack of bioequivalence of ciprofloxacin when administered with calcium-fortified orange juice: a new twist on an old interaction. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;42(4):461-466. DOI
  39. Dickinson, H. O., Nicolson, D. J., Cook, J. V., Campbell, F., Beyer, F. R., Ford, G. A., and Mason, J. Calcium supplementation for the management of primary hypertension in adults. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2006;(2):CD004639. PubMed
  40. Jones, B. J. and Twomey, P. J. Requesting patterns for serum calcium concentration in patients on long-term lithium therapy. Int J Clin Pract. 2009;63(1):170-172. PubMed
  41. Levine, M., Nikkanen, H., and Pallin, D. J. The effects of intravenous calcium in patients with digoxin toxicity. J Emerg.Med. 2011;40(1):41-46. PubMed
  42. Castelo-Branco, C., Ciria-Recasens, M., Cancelo-Hidalgo, M. J., Palacios, S., Haya-Palazuelos, J., Carbonell-Abello, J., Blanch-Rubio, J., Martinez-Zapata, M. J., Manasanch, J., and Perez-Edo, L. Efficacy of ossein-hydroxyapatite complex compared with ca
  43. Li K, Kaaks R, Linseisen J, Rohrmann S. Associations of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction and stroke risk and overall cardiovascular mortality in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation i
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  46. Lewis JR, Radavelli-Bagatini S, Rejnmark L, et al. The effects of calcium supplementation on verified coronary heart disease hospitalization and death in postmenopausal women: a collaborative meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Bone Miner Res PubMed
  47. Jalloh MA, Gregory PJ, Hein D, et al. Dietary supplement interactions with antiretrovirals: a systematic review. Int J STD AIDS. 2017 Jan;28(1):4-15. PubMed
  48. Lappe J, Watson P, Travers-Gustafson D, Recker R, Garland C, Gorham E, Baggerly K, McDonnell SL. Effect of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Cancer Incidence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017 Mar 28;317(12):1234-1243. PubMed
  49. Grove ML, Cook D. Calcium and heart attacks. Doesn't apply to most calcium prescriptions. BMJ. 2010;341:c5003. PubMed
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  51. Roberts JL, Kiser JJ, Hindman JT, Meditz AL. Virologic failure with a raltegravir-containing antiretroviral regimen and concomitant calcium administration. Pharmacotherapy 2011;31(10):298e-302e. DOI
  52. Vitekta [package insert]. Foster City, CA: Gilead Sciences, Inc.; 2014.
  53. Storan ER, O'Gorman SM, Murphy A, Laing M. Case Report of Calciphylaxis Secondary to Calcium and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Supplementation. J Cutan Med Surg. 2017;21(2):162-163. DOI
  54. Jenkins DJA, Spence JD, Giovannucci EL, et al. Supplemental vitamins and minerals for CVD prevention and treatment. J Am Coll Cardiol 2018;71(22):2570-84. PubMed
  55. Borkenhagen JF, Connor EL, Stafstrom CE. Neonatal hypocalcemic seizures due to excessive maternal calcium ingestion. Pediatr Neurol 2013;48(6):469-71. PubMed
  56. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016 (http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/maternal_perinatal_health/ anc-positive-pregnancy-experience/en/).
  57. Aune D, Navarro Rosenblatt DA, Chan DS, et al. Dairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(1):87-117. PubMed
  58. Lan T, Park Y, Colditz GA, et al. Adolescent dairy product and calcium intake in relation to later prostate cancer risk and mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Cancer Causes Control. 2020;31(10):891-904. PubMed
  59. Zhang Y, Li Y, Liu J, et al. Association of Vitamin D or Calcium Supplementation with Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis. J Nutr Health Aging 2021;25(2):263-270. PubMed
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  61. Hetaimish B. Neonatal Calcinosis Cutis After Treatment of Hypocalcemia with Calcium Gluconate: A Report of 2 Cases. Am J Case Rep 2024;25:e943397. PubMed
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See these in context on the Calcium monograph →

Acai 2 references
  1. Udani JK, Singh BB, Singh VJ, Barrett ML. Effects of acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry preparation on metabolic parameters in a healthy overweight population: a pilot study. Nutr J 2011;10:45.
  2. de Liz S, Cardoso AL, Copetti CLK, et al. Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) juices improved HDL-c levels and antioxidant defense of healthy adults in a 4-week randomized cross-over study. Clin Nutr. 2020;39(12):3629-3636. PubMed

See these in context on the Acai monograph →

Cranberry 33 references
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  2. Greenblatt DJ, von Moltke LL, Perloff ES, et al. Interaction of flurbiprofen with cranberry juice, grape juice, tea, and fluconazole: in vitro and clinical studies. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2006;79:125-33. PubMed
  3. Hodek P, Trefil P, Stiborova M. Flavonoids-potent and versatile biologically active compounds interacting with cytochromes P450. Chem Biol Interact 2002;139:1-21.. PubMed
  4. Grant P. Warfarin and cranberry juice: An interaction? J Heart Valve Dis 2004;13:25-6.
  5. Suvarna R, Pirmohamed M, Henderson L. Possible interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice. BMJ 2003;327:1454. PubMed
  6. Li Z, Seeram NP, Carpenter CL, et al. Cranberry does not affect prothrombin time in male subjects on warfarin. J Am Diet Assoc 2006;106:2057-61. PubMed
  7. Lilja JJ, Backman JT, Neuvonen PJ. Effects of daily ingestion of cranberry juice on the pharmacokinetics of warfarin, tizanidine, and midazolam - probes of CYP2C9, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. Clin Pharmacol The 2007:81:833-9. PubMed
  8. Wing DA, Rumney PJ, Preslicka CW, Chung JH. Daily cranberry juice for the prevention of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy: a randomized, controlled pilot study. J Urol 2008;180:1367-72. PubMed
  9. Mohammed Abdul MI, Jiang X, Williams KM, et al. Pharmacodynamic interaction of warfarin with cranberry but not with garlic in healthy subjects. Br J Pharmacol 2008;154:1691-700. PubMed
  10. McMurdo MET, Argo I, Phillips G, et al. Cranberry or trimethoprim for the prevention of recurrently urinary tract infections? A randomized controlled trial in older women. J Antimicrob Chemother 2009;63:389-95.
  11. Mergenhagen KA, Sherman O. Elevated International Normalized Ratio after concurrent ingestion of cranberry sauce and warfarin. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2008;65:2113-6. PubMed
  12. Ansell J, McDonough M, Zhao Y, et al. The absence of an interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice: a randomized, double-blind trial. J Clin Pharmacol 2009;49:824-30. PubMed
  13. Haber SL, Cauthon KA, Raney EC. Cranberry and warfarin interaction: a case report and review of the literature. Consult Pharm 2012;27:58-65. PubMed
  14. Hamann GL, Campbell JD, George CM. Warfarin-cranberry juice interaction. Ann Pharmacother 2011;45:e17. PubMed
  15. Roberts D, Flanagan P. Case report: Cranberry juice and warfarin. Home Healthc Nurse 2011;29:92-7.
  16. Garcia-Calatayud, S., Larreina Cordoba, J. J., and Lozano De La Torre MJ. [Severe cranberry juice poisoning]. An.Esp.Pediatr. 2002;56(1):72-73.
  17. Patel, D. A., Gillespie, B., Sobel, J. D., Leaman, D., Nyirjesy, P., Weitz, M. V., and Foxman, B. Risk factors for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in women receiving maintenance antifungal therapy: results of a prospective cohort study. Am J Obstet.Gy PubMed
  18. Isele, H. [Fatal bleeding under warfarin plus cranberry juice. Is it due to salicylic acid?]. MMW.Fortschr.Med 3-11-2004;146(11):13.
  19. Linsenmeyer, T. A., Harrison, B., Oakley, A., Kirshblum, S., Stock, J. A., and Millis, S. R. Evaluation of cranberry supplement for reduction of urinary tract infections in individuals with neurogenic bladders secondary to spinal cord injury. A prospecti
  20. McMurdo, M. E., Bissett, L. Y., Price, R. J., Phillips, G., and Crombie, I. K. Does ingestion of cranberry juice reduce symptomatic urinary tract infections in older people in hospital? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Age Ageing 2005;34(3):256- PubMed
  21. Sylvan, L. and Justice, N. P. Possible interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice. Am Fam.Physician 9-15-2005;72(6):1000.
  22. Niklasson, A. and Andren, L. [Interaction between Waran and cranberry juice]. Lakartidningen 3-15-2006;103(11):853-854.
  23. Rindone, J. P. and Murphy, T. W. Warfarin-cranberry juice interaction resulting in profound hypoprothrombinemia and bleeding. Am J Ther 2006;13(3):283-284. PubMed
  24. Uesawa, Y. and Mohri, K. Effects of cranberry juice on nifedipine pharmacokinetics in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2006;58(8):1067-1072. PubMed
  25. Valentova, K., Stejskal, D., Bednar, P., Vostalova, J., Cihalik, C., Vecerova, R., Koukalova, D., Kolar, M., Reichenbach, R., Sknouril, L., Ulrichova, J., and Simanek, V. Biosafety, antioxidant status, and metabolites in urine after consumption of dried
  26. Royer, D. J., George, J. N., and Terrell, D. R. Thrombocytopenia as an adverse effect of complementary and alternative medicines, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, foods, and beverages. Eur J Haematol 2010;84(5):421-429. PubMed
  27. Stapleton, A. E., Dziura, J., Hooton, T. M., Cox, M. E., Yarova-Yarovaya, Y., Chen, S., and Gupta, K. Recurrent urinary tract infection and urinary Escherichia coli in women ingesting cranberry juice daily: a randomized controlled trial. Mayo.Clin.Proc. PubMed
  28. Doad GJ, Kabange W. Cranberry juice, atorvastatin and back pain. J Med Assoc Ga 2014;103(1):14.
  29. Griffiths AP, Beddall A, Pegler S. Fatal haemopericardium and gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to possible interaction of cranberry juice with warfarin. J R Soc Promot Health 2008;128(6):324-6. PubMed
  30. Mellen CK, Ford M, Rindone JP. Effect of high-dose cranberry juice on the pharmacodynamics of warfarin in patients. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2010;70(1):139-42. PubMed
  31. Ushijima K, Tsuruoka S, Tsuda H, Hasegawa G, Obi Y, Kaneda T, Takahashi M, Maekawa T, Sasaki T, Koshimizu TA, Fujimura A. Cranberry juice suppressed the diclofenac metabolism by human liver microsomes, but not in healthy human subjects. Br J Clin Pharmaco PubMed
  32. Ngo N, Brantley SJ, Carrizosa DR, et al. The warfarin-cranberry juice interaction revisited: A systematic in vitro-in vivo evaluation. J Exp Pharmacol. 2010;2010(2):83-91.
  33. Williams G, Stothart CI, Hahn D, Stephens JH, Craig JC, Hodson EM. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023;11(11):CD001321. PubMed

See these in context on the Cranberry monograph →

Lychee 12 references
  1. Niggemann B, Reibel S, Hipler C, Wahn U. Anaphylactic reaction to lychee in a 12-year-old girl: cross-reactivity to latex? Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2002;13(1):64-7. PubMed
  2. Giannattasio M, Serafini M, Guarrera P, et al. Contact urticaria from litchi fruit (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(1):67.
  3. Raap U, Schaefer T, Kapp A, Wedi B. Exotic food allergy: anaphylactic reaction to lychee. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2007;17(3):199-201.
  4. Guo JW. Effects of Litchi seed on enhancing insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic-insulin resistant rats. Chinese J New Drugs 2003;12:526-9.
  5. Zhao M, Yang B, Wang J, et al. Immunomodulatory and anticancer activities of flavonoids extracted from litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn) pericarp. Int Immunopharmacol 2007;7(2):162-6. PubMed
  6. John TJ, Das M. Outbreaks of Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur, India: Are These Caused by Toxins in Litchi Fruit?: The Point. Indian Pediatr. 2016;53(5):399.
  7. John TJ. Exploration of Association between Litchi Consumption and Seasonal Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome: Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist's Viewpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2017;54(4):323-325. DOI
  8. Mathew JL. Exploration of Association between Litchi Consumption and Seasonal Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome: Evidence-based Medicine Viewpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2017;54(4):319-323. PubMed
  9. Shrivastava A, Kumar A, Thomas JD, et al. Association of acute toxic encephalopathy with litchi consumption in an outbreak in Muzaffarpur, India, 2014: a case-control study. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(4):e458-e466.
  10. Spencer PS, Palmer VS, Mazumder R. Probable toxic cause for suspected lychee-linked viral encephalitis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015;21(5):904-5. DOI
  11. Valsecchi R, Leghissa P. Contact allergy due to lychee. Acta Derm Venereol. 2013;93(1):90-1. PubMed
  12. Vashishtha VM. Outbreaks of Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur, India: Are These Caused by Toxins in Litchi Fruit?: The Counterpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2016 May 8;53(5):399-402.

See these in context on the Lychee monograph →

Mangosteen 6 references
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  2. Wong LP, Klemmer PJ. Severe lactic acidosis associated with juice of the mangosteen fruit Garcinia mangostana. Am J Kidney Dis 2008;51:829-33. PubMed
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  4. Chairungsrilerd, N., Furukawa, K., Tadano, T., Kisara, K., and Ohizumi, Y. Effect of gamma-mangostin through the inhibition of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine2A receptors in 5-fluoro-alpha-methyltryptamine-induced head-twitch responses of mice. Br J Pharmacol. 1998
  5. Suthammarak W, Numpraphrut P, Charoensakdi R, et al. Antioxidant-enhancing property of the polar fraction of mangosteen pericarp extract and evaluation of its safety in humans. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2016;2016:1293036. PubMed
  6. Bae M, Han SY, Kim ES, et al. Effect of Water Extract of Mangosteen Pericarp on Donepezil Pharmacokinetics in Mice. Molecules 2021;26(17):5246. PubMed

See these in context on the Mangosteen monograph →

Pomegranate 27 references
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  7. Hidaka M, Okumura M, Fujita K, et al. Effects of pomegranate juice on human cytochrome p450 3A (CYP3A) and carbamazepine pharmacokinetics in rats. Drug Metab Dispos 2005;33:644-8. PubMed
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  13. Farkas D, Greenblatt DJ. Influence of fruit juices on drug disposition: discrepancies between in vitro and clinical studies. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2008;4:381-93.
  14. Nagata M, Hidaka M, Sekiya H, et al. Effects of pomegranate juice on human cytochrome P450 2C9 and tolbutamide pharmacokinetics in rats. Drug Metab Dispos 2007;35:302-5. PubMed
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  17. Misaka S, Nakamura R, Uchida S, et al. Effect of 2 weeks' consumption of pomegranate juice on the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of midazolam: an open-label, randomized, single-center, 2-period crossover study in healthy Japanese volunteers. Clin Ther PubMed
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  21. Wright, H. and Pipkin F. B. Pomegranates (Punica granatum), kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) and blood pressure: a pilot study. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2008;67(8):1.
  22. Sohrab G, Sotoodeh G, Siasi F, et al. Effect of pomegranate juice consumption on blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients. Iranian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2008;9:399-405, 470.
  23. Enrique E, Utz M, De Mateo JA, et al. Allergy to lipid transfer proteins: cross-reactivity among pomegranate, hazelnut, and peanut. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2006;96(1):122-3. PubMed
  24. Hanley MJ, Masse G, Harmatz JS, et al. Pomegranate juice and pomegranate extract do not impair oral clearance of flurbiprofen in human volunteers: divergence from in vitro results. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2012;92(5):651-7. PubMed
  25. Paller CJ, Ye X, Wozniak PJ, et al. A randomized phase II study of pomegranate extract for men with rising PSA following initial therapy for localized prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2013;16(1):50-5. PubMed
  26. Park SJ, Yeo CW, Shim EJ, et al. Pomegranate juice does not affect the disposition of simvastatin in healthy subjects. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2016;41(4):339-44. PubMed
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See these in context on the Pomegranate monograph →

Cascara Sagrada 9 references
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  2. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
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See these in context on the Cascara Sagrada monograph →

Slippery Elm 3 references
  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. Czarnecki D, Nixon R, Bekhor P, and et al. Delayed prolonged contact urticaria from the elm tree. Contact Dermatitis 1993;28:196-197. PubMed

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Blueberry 7 references
  1. Cignarella A, Nastasi M, Cavalli E, Puglisi L. Novel lipid-lowering properties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves, a traditional antidiabetic treatment, in several models of rat dyslipidaemia: a comparison with ciprofibrate. Thromb Res 1996;84:311-22. PubMed
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  3. Martineau, L. C., Couture, A., Spoor, D., Benhaddou-Andaloussi, A., Harris, C., Meddah, B., Leduc, C., Burt, A., Vuong, T., Mai, Le P., Prentki, M., Bennett, S. A., Arnason, J. T., and Haddad, P. S. Anti-diabetic properties of the Canadian lowbush bluebe
  4. Vuong, T., Martineau, L. C., Ramassamy, C., Matar, C., and Haddad, P. S. Fermented Canadian lowbush blueberry juice stimulates glucose uptake and AMP-activated protein kinase in insulin-sensitive cultured muscle cells and adipocytes. Can J Physiol Pharma
  5. Hanley MJ, Masse G, Harmatz JS, Cancalon PF, Dolnikowski GG, Court MH, Greenblatt DJ. Effect of blueberry juice on clearance of buspirone and flurbiprofen in human volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Apr;75(4):1041-52. PubMed
  6. Basu A, Du M, Leyva MJ, et al. Blueberries decrease cardiovascular risk factors in obese men and women with metabolic syndrome. J Nutr 2010;140(9):1582-7. PubMed
  7. Basu A, Feng D, Planinic P, Ebersole JL, Lyons TJ, Alexander JM. Dietary blueberry and soluble fiber supplementation reduces risk of gestational diabetes in women with obesity in a randomized controlled trial. J Nutr 2021;151(5):1128-38. PubMed

See these in context on the Blueberry monograph →

Ginger 64 references
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  2. Jewell D, Young G. Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;(2):CD000145. PubMed
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  4. Backon J. Ginger in preventing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy; a caveat due to its thromboxane synthetase activity and effect on testosterone binding. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1991;42:163-4. PubMed
  5. Srivastava KC. Effect of onion and ginger consumption on platelet thromboxane production in humans. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1989;35:183-5. PubMed
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  8. Portnoi G, Chng LA, Karimi-Tabesh L, et al. Prospective comparative study of the safety and effectiveness of ginger for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;189:1374-7.. PubMed
  9. Wigler I, Grotto I, Caspi D, Yaron M. The effects of Zintona EC (a ginger extract) on symptomatic gonarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2003;11:783-9. PubMed
  10. Ghayur MN, Gilani AH. Ginger lowers blood pressure through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2005;45:74-80. PubMed
  11. Thomson M, Al-Qattan KK, Al-Sawan SM, et al. The use of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) as a potential anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic agent. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2002;67:475-8. PubMed
  12. Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices. Contact Dermatitis 1996;35:157-62. PubMed
  13. Akhani SP, Vishwakarma SL, Goyal RK. Anti-diabetic activity of Zingiber officinale in streptozotocin-induced type I diabetic rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2004;56:101-5.
  14. Kruth P, Brosi E, Fux R, et al. Ginger-associated overanticoagulation by phenprocoumon. Ann Pharmacother 2004;38:257-60. PubMed
  15. Jiang X, Williams KM, Liauw WS, et al. Effect of ginkgo and ginger on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005;59:425-32. PubMed
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  23. Ryan JL, Heckler CE, Roscoe JA, et al. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy-induced nausea: a URCC CCOP study of 576 patients. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20:1479-89. PubMed
  24. Backon J. Ginger as an antiemetic: possible side effects due to its thromboxane synthetase activity. Anaesthesia. 1991;46(8):705-6.. PubMed
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  27. Young HY, Liao JC, Chang YS, et al. Synergistic effect of ginger and nifedipine on human platelet aggregation: a study in hypertensive patients and normal volunteers. Am J Chin Med. 2006;34:545-51. PubMed
  28. Greenway FL, Liu Z, Martin CK, et al. Safety and efficacy of NT, an herbal supplement, in treating human obesity. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006;30:1737-41. PubMed
  29. Shalansky S, Lynd L, Richardson K, et al. Risk of warfarin-related bleeding events and supratherapeutic international normalized ratios associated with complementary and alternative medicine: a longitudinal analysis. Pharmacotherapy. 2007;27:1237-47. PubMed
  30. Lesho EP, Saullo L, Udvari-Nagy S. A 76-year-old woman with erratic anticoagulation. Cleve Clin J Med. 2004;71:651-6. PubMed
  31. Okonta JM, Uboh M, Obonga WO. Herb-Drug Interaction: A Case Study of Effect of Ginger on the Pharmacokinetic of Metronidazole in Rabbit. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (India) 2008;70(230):232. PubMed
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  35. Al-Amin ZM, Thomson M, Al-Qattan KK, et al. Anti-diabetic and hypolipidaemic properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Br J Nutr. 2006;96:660-6.
  36. Islam MS, Choi H. Comparative effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum) investigated in a type 2 diabetes model of rats. J Med Food. 2008;11:152-9.
  37. Cady RK, Goldstein J, Nett R, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger (LipiGesic M) in the treatment of migraine. Headache 2011;51:1078-86.
  38. Futrell, J. M. and Rietschel, R. L. Spice allergy evaluated by results of patch tests. Cutis 1993;52(5):288-290.
  39. Sripramote, M. and Lekhyananda, N. A randomized comparison of ginger and vitamin B6 in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. J Med Assoc.Thai. 2003;86(9):846-853.
  40. Lohsiriwat, S., Rukkiat, M., Chaikomin, R., and Leelakusolvong, S. Effect of ginger on lower esophageal sphincter pressure. J.Med.Assoc.Thai. 2010;93(3):366-372.
  41. Liu, P. H. and Ho, H. L. Ginger and drug bezoar induced small bowel obstruction. J R.Coll.Surg.Edinb. 1983;28(6):397-398.
  42. Maghbooli M, Golipour F, Moghimi Esfandabadi A, Yousefi M. Comparison between the efficacy of ginger and sumatriptan in the ablative treatment of the common migraine. Phytother Res 2014;28(3):412-5. PubMed
  43. Mahluji S, Attari VE, Mobasseri M, Payahoo L, Ostadrahimi A, Golzari SE. Effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on plasma glucose level, HbA1c and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2013;64(6):682-6.
  44. Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Talaei B, Jalali BA, Najarzadeh A, Mozayan MR. The effect of ginger powder supplementation on insulin resistance and glycemic indices in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Complement PubMed
  45. Paramdeep G. Efficacy and tolerability of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in patients of osteoarthritis of knee. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2013;57(2):177-83.
  46. Rahnama P, Montazeri A, Huseini HF, Kianbakht S, Naseri M. Effect of Zingiber officinale R. rhizomes (ginger) on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea: a placebo randomized trial. BMC Complement Altern Med 2012;12:92. PubMed
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  49. Choi JS, Han JY, Ahn HK, et al. Assessment of fetal and neonatal outcomes in the offspring of women who had been treated with dried ginger (Zingiberis rhizoma siccus) for a variety of illnesses during pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;35(2):125-30.
  50. Marx W, McKavanagh D, McCarthy AL, Bird R, Ried K, Chan A, Isenring L. The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on platelet aggregation: A systematic literature review. PLoS One. 2015;10(10):e0141119. PubMed
  51. Crichton M, Marshall S, Marx W, McCarthy AL, Isenring E. Efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in ameliorating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and chemotherapy-related outcomes: A systematic review update and meta-analysis. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2 PubMed
  52. Martins LB, Rodrigues AMDS, Monteze NM, et al. Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. Cephalalgia. 2020;40(1):88-95.
  53. Martins LB, Rodrigues AMDS, Rodrigues DF, Dos Santos LC, Teixeira AL, Ferreira AVM. Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) addition in migraine acute treatment. Cephalalgia. 2019;39(1):68-76.
  54. Ahad A, Raish M, Bin Jardan YA, Alam MA, Al-Mohizea AM, Al-Jenoobi FI. Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber officinale on the antihypertensive activity and pharmacokinetic of losartan in hypertensive rats. Xenobiotica. 2020:1-11.
  55. Okuhira H, Nakatani Y, Furukawa F, Kanazawa N. Anaphylaxis to ginger induced by herbal medicine. Allergol Int. 2020;69(1):159-160. PubMed
  56. Yamprasert R, Chanvimalueng W, Mukkasombut N, Itharat A. Ginger extract versus Loratadine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):116. PubMed
  57. Ebrahimzadeh A, Ebrahimzadeh A, Mirghazanfari SM, Hazrati E, Hadi S, Milajerdi A. The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PubMed
  58. Alam MA, Bin Jardan YA, Alzenaidy B, et al. Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber officinale on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of amlodipine. J Pharm Pharmacol 2021;73(9):1151-60.
  59. Akbarzadeh E, Heydari M, Atarzadeh F, Jaladat AM. Chronic dysuria following ginger (Zingiber officinale) use: a case report. Galen Med J 2018;7:e1086. DOI
  60. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed
  61. Rostamkhani H, Veisi P, Niknafs B, Jafarabadi MA, Ghoreishi Z. The effect of zingiber officinale on prooxidant-antioxidant balance and glycemic control in diabetic patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis: a double-blind randomized control trial. BMC Co PubMed
  62. Husain I, Dale OR, Idrisi M, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction (HDI) Potential of Zingiber officinale and Its Major Phytoconstituents. J Agric Food Chem. 2023;71(19):7521-7534.
  63. Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea And Vomiting Of Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131(1):e15-e30. PubMed
  64. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. PubMed

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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.

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