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Dietary supplement

Agar Agar Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Terra

Agar Agar label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Minor
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Oct 7, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Agar Agar 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: Minor

Agar Agar is a dietary supplement by Herbal Terra with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for constipation, weight loss, vegetarian gelatin substitute.Based on those ingredients, 2,022 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated minor. The ingredients most likely to interact are wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Agar Agar by Herbal Terra

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Agar Agar by Herbal Terra — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Agar Agar by Herbal Terra

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

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Herbal Terra's Agar Agar contains one active ingredient: a wildcrafted agar powder in liquid extract form. Agar is a gelatinous fiber derived from seaweed that absorbs water and forms a thick gel.

The product also includes menstruum, which is an inactive extraction solvent used to prepare the liquid.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
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
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Agar product and its label doesn't state a use — see Agar's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for agar's effectiveness is currently insufficient to rate. The data we hold shows no reliable evidence that it helps with diabetes, obesity, or neonatal jaundice — the uses this product might be marketed for.

More research would be needed to establish whether agar actually works for these purposes at supplement doses.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Agar

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 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Agar is generally well tolerated as a food, but supplement doses carry some caution. The main safety concern is mechanical: because agar forms a very thick gel, it can cause blockage in your digestive tract if you don't drink plenty of water with it.

Rarely, phytobezoars (concentrated fiber clumps) and esophageal or bowel obstruction have been reported, especially when agar is taken without enough fluid. A full safety evaluation of supplement doses hasn't been completed, so treat this as a product where less data exists than for some other supplements.

Food amounts of agar are likely fine, but concentrated supplement doses should only be used if your doctor approves.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Agar

Meds to double-check

Minor interactions only
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Minor only

Only Minor-severity interactions are documented for these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Agar.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Minor.
  • For scale: 2,023 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.

Oral medications are the main concern with agar. Because agar forms a thick gel that can reduce medication and nutrient absorption, you should double-check any drugs you take by mouth — especially those where absorption matters (like heart medications, antibiotics, or hormone treatments).

Use the medication checker below with your specific prescriptions before you start.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Only minor medication interactions are documented, and safety information is well characterized.

This product works as a gel-forming fiber, but we don't have strong evidence it helps with diabetes, weight, or other specific health goals. The bigger issue is that it may reduce how well your body absorbs your medications — so if you take any oral drugs, check them against the tool on this page first.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting, and always drink plenty of water if you do take it.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2020.

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 Agar Agar, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Terra
Barcode (UPC) 7429523560540
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2020
DSLD ID 234517
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
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 Agar Agar by Herbal Terra, 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:
1 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
7429523560540
IngredientAmount% DV
wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract970 mg--

Other ingredients: Menstruum

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.
Formulation

Origin of plant material: Japan.

Manufactured in the USA in an FDA registered facility

Alcohol free

Dried herb/menstruum ratio: 1:3 Expertly extracted Laboratory tested 330 mg/1 mL Premium product Alcohol-free liquid herbal extract

Non GMO

No artificial ingredients, GMO, gluten, color additives, fillers, preservatives or binders. Natural Gluten Free

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Direction Shake well before use. Adults take up to 30 drops (1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) in 3-4 fl. oz of juice or water up to 4 times a day. We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking this or any other herbal supplements.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

Notice This product has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Precautions

Caution May have contraindications.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult a physician before using during pregnancy, if nursing, or if you are on any medications.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry, dark place.

Formula

Gelidiella acerosa

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Made in USA Made in an FDA registered facility Natural Gluten Free

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

See for yourself

Agar Agar by Herbal Terra label

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

Agar Agar 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 Agar Agar by Herbal Terra

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract

Interacts with
2,022 drugs
970 mg per serving

Agar is a plant-based gel made from red seaweed that is widely used as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin and as a source of dietary fiber. It is som...

Wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Menstruum. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Agar Agar by Herbal Terra Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Agar Agar?

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
2,022Drugs
2,022 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract 2,022

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Agar Agar interact with 2,022 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Agar Agar interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Agar Agar with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract1 drug type · 2,022 drugs

Oral Drugs

Agar forms a thick gel, which may disrupt the absorption of nutrients and medications. Animal research suggests that consuming a diet consisting of 5% to 10% agar alters the absorption of nutrients from the diet. In one study, consuming a diet composed of 10% agar reduced the absorption of all evaluated minerals. Theoretically, agar may also impair the absorption of oral drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
wildcrafted Agar Agar dried powder liquid extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Agar Agar, from the product label.

Herbal Terra

See all Herbal Terra products
Name
Herbal Terra
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Agar Agar by Herbal Terra: Common Questions

Does Agar Agar by Herbal Terra interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Agar Agar has a known interaction with 2,022 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Agar Agar contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism 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.
Will agar interfere with my medications?
Agar can reduce how well your body absorbs oral medications by forming a thick gel in your digestive tract. We have documented interactions affecting over 2,000 medications. Use the checker on this page to search your specific drugs, and talk with your pharmacist about spacing out doses if needed.
What are the side effects of agar?
No adverse effects have been reported in normal use, but a complete safety study hasn't been done. The main risk is mechanical: bowel blockage or phytobezoars (fiber clumps) have rarely occurred, especially when agar is taken without enough water. Always drink plenty of water with this product.
Does agar actually help with weight loss or blood sugar?
We don't have reliable evidence that agar works for obesity or diabetes at supplement doses. The evidence is insufficient to rate these uses, so more research would be needed to know if it truly helps.
Is agar safe at food amounts versus supplement doses?
Food amounts of agar are likely fine. Supplement doses carry more caution — there's less safety data on concentrated doses, so only use them if your doctor approves. Either way, drink plenty of water to avoid blockage.
Can I take agar while pregnant or breastfeeding?
We don't have safety information on file for agar in pregnancy or lactation. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice on whether it's right for you at this time.

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.

Agar Agar label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Agar Agar’s Ingredients

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

Herb & supplement monograph

Agar

Interacts with 2,022 drugs

Agar is a plant-based gel made from red seaweed that is widely used as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin and as a source of dietary fiber. It is sometimes taken as a bulk-forming laxative...

Read the full Agar monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Agar Agar'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 13 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.

Agar 13 references
  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. Kondo H, Osada A. Influence of dietary fiber on the bioavailability of zinc in rats. Biomed Environ Sci. 1996 Sept;9(2-3):204-8.
  4. Romagnoli, C., Polidori, G., Foschini, M., Cataldi, L., De, Turris P., Tortorolo, G., and Mastrangelo, R. Agar in the management of hyperbilirubinaemia in the premature baby. Arch.Dis.Child 1975;50(3):202-204. PubMed
  5. Windorfer, A., Jr., Kunzer, W., Bolze, H., Ascher, K., Wilcken, F., and Hoehne, K. Studies on the effect of orally administered agar on the serum bilirubin level of premature infants and mature newborns. Acta Paediatr.Scand. 1975;64(5):699-702. PubMed
  6. Maeda, H., Yamamoto, R., Hirao, K., and Tochikubo, O. Effects of agar (kanten) diet on obese patients with impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes.Metab 2005;7(1):40-46.
  7. Osada, T., Shibuya, T., Kodani, T., Beppu, K., Sakamoto, N., Nagahara, A., Ohkusa, T., Ogihara, T., and Watanabe, S. Obstructing small bowel bezoars due to an agar diet: diagnosis using double balloon enteroscopy. Intern.Med 2008;47(7):617-620. PubMed
  8. Kemper, K., Horwitz, R. I., and McCarthy, P. Decreased neonatal serum bilirubin with plain agar: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics 1988;82(4):631-638. DOI
  9. Meloni, T., Costa, S., Corti, R., and Cutillo, S. Agar in control of hyperbilirubinemia of full-term newborn infants with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency. Biol.Neonate 1978;34(5-6):295-298. PubMed
  10. Maurer, H. M., Shumway, C. N., Draper, D. A., and Hossaini, A. A. Controlled trial comparing agar, intermittent phototherapy, and continuous phototherapy for reducing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. J Pediatr. 1973;82(1):73-76.
  11. Caglayan, S., Candemir, H., Aksit, S., Kansoy, S., Asik, S., and Yaprak, I. Superiority of oral agar and phototherapy combination in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatrics 1993;92(1):86-89. DOI
  12. Harmuth-Hoene, A. E. and Schelenz, R. Effect of dietary fiber on mineral absorption in growing rats. J Nutr 1980;110(9):1774-1784. PubMed
  13. Abdel-Aziz Ali SMA, Mansour Galal S, Sror SM, Hussein O, Abd-El-Haseeb Ahmed AO, Hamed EA. Efficacy of oral agar in management of indirect hyperbilirubinemia in full-term neonates. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2020:1-6. PubMed

See these in context on the Agar monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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