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Dietary supplement

Betaine HCL + Pepsin Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nutricost

Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Minor
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Minor

Betaine HCL + Pepsin is a dietary supplement by Nutricost with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), bloating and gas, indigestion.Based on those ingredients, 36 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated minor. The ingredients most likely to interact are Betaine Hydrochloride. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost

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

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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains two active ingredients. Betaine hydrochloride is a compound that increases stomach acidity — it's meant to support digestion in people whose stomach acid may be low.

Pepsin is a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins in your stomach as part of the normal digestion process. The capsule also contains three inactive ingredients: hypromellose (a capsule material), stearic acid (a binder), and silicon dioxide (an anti-caking agent).

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

The label doesn't state a purpose we can grade — see each ingredient's own graded uses on its monograph instead.

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

The evidence we hold does not establish how well either ingredient works for any condition. Betaine hydrochloride has been studied for dyspepsia (indigestion), hypothyroidism, diarrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, food allergies, and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), but the data rates all of these as insufficient reliable evidence to rate.

We hold no effectiveness data for pepsin in this product. If you're considering it for a specific reason, that's worth discussing with your doctor or pharmacist, since the evidence isn't solid yet.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Betaine Hydrochloride Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases)

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 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Betaine hydrochloride can irritate your stomach and is not safe if you have ulcers, gastritis, or true acid reflux — the extra acid will make those worse. It may also cause heartburn.

Pepsin is generally well tolerated for most adults, though it can occasionally cause digestive upset or allergic reactions; in rare cases, occupational exposure to pepsin has triggered allergic rhinitis or asthma in sensitive people. For pregnancy: the safety data advises against betaine hydrochloride during pregnancy, and pepsin safety has not been established, so it's best avoided unless your doctor prescribes it.

During breastfeeding, betaine hydrochloride should be avoided, and pepsin is not recommended without medical advice because safety data is limited.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Betaine Hydrochloride Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases)

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 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Betaine Hydrochloride.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Minor.
  • For scale: 36 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.

Before you take this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on a proton pump inhibitor (like omeprazole), an H2-blocker (like famotidine), or any antacid. Betaine hydrochloride raises stomach acid, which will reduce how well those medications work.

No interactions are documented for pepsin in our data.

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 is designed to support stomach acid and digestion, but the evidence we hold doesn't yet show how well it works for any condition. If you take any medication that reduces stomach acid — PPIs, H2-blockers, or antacids — this supplement will work against it and should not be started without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

If you have a history of ulcers, gastritis, or acid reflux, this isn't a good fit. Talk it over with your own healthcare provider before you begin.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 16, 2022.

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 Betaine HCL + Pepsin, straight from the product label.

Brand Nutricost
Barcode (UPC) 702669936163
Net contents 240 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 16, 2022
DSLD ID 269322
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
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 Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost, 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 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
240
UPC/BARCODE
702669936163
IngredientAmount% DV
Betaine Hydrochloride650 mg--
Pepsin140 mg--

Other ingredients: Hypromellose, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommended Use: As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule daily with 8-12 oz of water or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Precautions

Warning: For healthy individuals 18 years and older.

Consult a healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing.

Storage

Notice: Store in a cool, dry place.

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.

Formula

Betaine HCL + Pepsin 790 mg per serving

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Quality Guaranteed Nutricost

Third Party Tested

Formulation

Non GMO Gluten Free Product

See for yourself

Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container240 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.

Betaine Hydrochloride

Interacts with
36 drugs
650 mg per serving

Betaine hydrochloride is a supplement used to temporarily increase stomach acid in people who may have low acid levels. Evidence for its benefits is l...

Betaine Hydrochloride monograph & interactions

Pepsin

No known
interactions
140 mg per serving

Proteolytic enzymes are proteins that help break down other proteins, and common examples include bromelain (from pineapple), papain (from papaya), tr...

Pepsin monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Hypromellose, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Betaine HCL + Pepsin?

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
36Drugs
36 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Betaine HCL + Pepsin 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.

Betaine Hydrochloride3 drug types · 36 drugs

Antacids

Betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acidity and could decrease the effects of antacids.
In human research, betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acidity. Antacids are taken to decrease stomach acidity. Theoretically, taking betaine hydrochloride along with antacids might decrease the effects of the antacids.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
H2-Blockers

Betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acidity and could decrease the effects of H2-blockers.
In human research, betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acidity. H2-blockers are used to decrease stomach acidity. Theoretically, taking betaine hydrochloride along with H2-blockers might decrease the effects of H2-blockers.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Proton Pump Inhibitors (Ppis)

Betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acidity and could decrease the effects of PPIs.
In human research, betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acidity. PPIs are used to decrease stomach acidity. Theoretically, taking betaine hydrochloride along with PPIs might decrease the effects of PPIs

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Betaine HCL + Pepsin, from the product label.

Nutricost

See all Nutricost products
Name
Nutricost
Street Address
351 E 1750 N
City
Vineyard
State
UT
ZipCode
84059
Phone Number
(866) 438-3694
Web Address
www.nutricost.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost: Common Questions

Does Betaine HCL + Pepsin by Nutricost interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Betaine HCL + Pepsin has a known interaction with 36 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Betaine HCL + Pepsin contains 2 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 have acid reflux?
No — betaine hydrochloride is not safe for people with true acid reflux. It increases stomach acid, which will make reflux worse. If you have reflux, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before considering any stomach-acid supplement.
Is this safe during pregnancy?
The safety data advises against betaine hydrochloride in pregnancy, and pepsin safety has not been established either. There isn't enough information to know it's safe, so it's best avoided unless your doctor prescribes it. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
What does pepsin do in this product?
Pepsin is a digestive enzyme that helps break down proteins in your stomach as part of normal digestion. It's meant to support the protein-digestion process alongside the betaine hydrochloride.
Can I take this with antacids?
No — betaine hydrochloride increases stomach acid, which directly opposes what antacids do. Taking them together will reduce how well your antacid works. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you use antacids.
Does this product have any fillers?
Yes — it contains three inactive ingredients: hypromellose (capsule material), stearic acid (binder), and silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent). The two active ingredients are betaine hydrochloride and pepsin.
What side effects might I experience?
Betaine hydrochloride may irritate your stomach or cause heartburn, and theoretically could worsen ulcers if you have them. Pepsin is generally well tolerated but can occasionally cause digestive upset or allergic reactions in some people.

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

Not sure if Betaine HCL + Pepsin is safe with your meds?

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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.

Betaine HCL + Pepsin label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Betaine HCL + Pepsin'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 5 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.

Betaine Hydrochloride 2 references
  1. Yago MR, Frymoyer A, Benet LZ, Smelick GS, Frassetto LA, Ding X, Dean B, Salphati L, Budha N, Jin JY, Dresser MJ, Ware JA. The use of betaine HCl to enhance dasatinib absorption in healthy volunteers with rabeprazole-induced hypochlorhydria. AAPS J. 2014 PubMed
  2. Yago MR, Frymoyer AR, Smelick GS, Frassetto LA, Budha NR, Dresser MJ, Ware JA, Benet LZ. Gastric reacidification with betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with rabeprazole-induced hypochlorhydria. Mol Pharm. 2013 Nov 4;10(11):4032-7. PubMed

See these in context on the Betaine Hydrochloride monograph →

Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) 3 references
  1. Weeks JA, Harper RA, Simon RA, Burdick JD. Assessment of sensitization risk of a laundry pre-spotter containing protease. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2011;30(4):272-9. PubMed
  2. Marquès LI, Lara S, Abós T, Bartolomé B. Occupational rhinitis due to pepsin. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16(2):136-7. DOI
  3. Cartier A, Malo JL, Pineau L, Dolovich J. Occupational asthma due to pepsin. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1984;73(5 Pt 1):574-7. PubMed

See these in context on the Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) 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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