Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Bilberry Max-V Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Douglas Laboratories

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Bilberry Max-V is a dietary supplement by Douglas Laboratories with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eye and vision health, antioxidant support, diarrhea and digestive upset.Based on those ingredients, 275 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bilberry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories

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.

Bilberry Max-V contains 2 active ingredients: bilberry fruit and bilberry herbal extract. Both are concentrated forms of the same plant — a berry that's been studied for eye and brain health support.

The supplement is made up mainly of these actives, with a few inactive ingredients (cellulose, silica, and vegetable stearate) that help hold the capsule together.

Does it work?

Leans against
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
Leans against

The strongest graded evidence we hold for the stated purpose leans against a benefit.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Eye and vision health support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Asthenopia (eye strain), Cataracts, Diabetic retinopathy, Dry eye, Glaucoma — and 4 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Bilberry is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Night vision (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bilberry is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Cataracts, Diabetic retinopathy, Dry eye, and more.

The evidence for bilberry is mixed and limited. For night vision, the data suggests it's possibly ineffective — studies haven't shown it works for that purpose.

For other uses listed here — brain aging, age-related macular degeneration, hardened arteries, high cholesterol, and chronic leg swelling — we don't hold enough reliable evidence to say whether bilberry helps or doesn't. If you're considering this for a specific condition, talk with your doctor about what the research actually shows.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bilberry

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.

Bilberry fruit itself is well tolerated when eaten as food, but the safety data for concentrated supplement doses over the long term is limited. The most common side effects are dark-colored stools (sometimes dark green or black), bloating, and mild stomach discomfort — these were temporary in most studies.

A small number of trial participants also saw some staining of the tongue or teeth. Because long-term safety data for this supplement form isn't well established, the caution is to use food amounts rather than concentrated supplements when possible.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bilberry

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bilberry.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 275 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 taking Bilberry Max-V, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs — bilberry may increase bleeding risk. Also double-check if you're on diabetes medication, as bilberry might lower blood sugar further.

If you take erlotinib (Tarceva) or other drugs metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP2E1, confirm it's okay to add this supplement.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with graded evidence leaning against its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Bilberry Max-V might interest someone looking for general antioxidant support, but the evidence for specific health claims is sparse. If you take blood thinners, diabetes medication, or certain cancer drugs, you need to check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting.

Talk it over with your own healthcare provider to see if this product makes sense for you.

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 25, 2012.

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 Bilberry Max-V, straight from the product label.

Brand Douglas Laboratories
Barcode (UPC) 310539773062
Net contents 60 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 25, 2012
DSLD ID 9552
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
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 Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories, 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 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
310539773062
IngredientAmount% DV
Bilberry160 mg--
Bilberry Herbal Extract80 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Silica, Vegetable 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.
Formula

25% anthocyanosides

General Statements

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) of the Ericaceae family, was made popular by British night combat pilots in World War II, who ate bilberry jam regularly. This extract is standardized at 25% anthocyanosides, calculated as anthocyanidins.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Usage: As a dietary supplement, adults take 1 capsule 3 times daily between meals, or as advised by your healthcare professional. If digestive irritation occurs, take with meals.

Precautions

Stop use and consult your health care professional if allergic reactions occur.

Note: If pregnant or nursing, consult your health care professional before using this product.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Tamper resistant package, do not use if outer seal is missing.

Storage

For optimal storage conditions, store in a cool, dry place. (59(0)-77(0)F/15(0)-25(0)C) (35-65% relative humidity)

General

Formula #77306

FDA Statement of Identity

Standardized Herbal Extract Supplement

See for yourself

Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories

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

Serving size1 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 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.

Bilberry

Interacts with
275 drugs
160 mg per serving

Bilberry is a blueberry-like fruit rich in antioxidant plant compounds called anthocyanins, and it has a long history of traditional use for eye healt...

Bilberry monograph & interactions

Bilberry Herbal Extract

Interacts with
275 drugs
80 mg per serving Form: anthocyanosides

Bilberry is a blueberry-like fruit rich in antioxidant plant compounds called anthocyanins, and it has a long history of traditional use for eye healt...

Bilberry Herbal Extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Silica, Vegetable Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bilberry Max-V?

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
275Drugs
275 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Bilberry 275

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Bilberry Max-V 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.

Bilberry4 drug types · 275 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro, animal, and clinical research suggest that anthocyanidin extracts from bilberry can inhibit platelet aggregation.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, bilberry leaf or fruit extract may increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that bilberry leaf extract might have blood glucose-lowering activity. Also, one small clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that taking bilberry fruit extract 470 mg as a single dose prior to an oral glucose tolerance test lowers plasma glucose levels when compared with placebo.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2E1 (Cyp2E1) Substrates

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.
Animal research shows that exposure to small concentrations of bilberry extract in drinking water for around one month increased CYP2E1 activity by 31%. However, exposure over a 2-month period did not increase CYP2E1 activity. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Erlotinib (Tarceva)

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might reduce the efficacy of erlotinib.
In vitro research suggests that bilberry fruit extract and its constituents, delphinidin and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, inhibit the activity of erlotinib. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Bilberry Max-V, from the product label.

Douglas Laboratories

See all Douglas Laboratories products
Name
Douglas Laboratories
Street Address
600 Boyce Road
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
ZipCode
15205
Phone Number
1.800.245.4440
Web Address
www.douglaslabs.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories: Common Questions

Does Bilberry Max-V by Douglas Laboratories interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bilberry Max-V has a known interaction with 275 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Bilberry Max-V 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'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
According to the safety data we hold, bilberry is likely safe during pregnancy and lactation. That said, every pregnancy is different — talk with your doctor or midwife before starting any new supplement.
Will this actually help my eyesight?
The evidence suggests bilberry is possibly ineffective for night vision. For age-related macular degeneration and other eye conditions, we don't have enough reliable data to say whether it helps. If you're concerned about vision, discuss it with your eye doctor.
What are the most common side effects?
Dark-colored stools, bloating, and mild stomach discomfort are the main ones reported in trials. A small number of people also noticed some staining of the tongue or teeth, but these effects were temporary.
Does this supplement work for lowering cholesterol or blood sugar?
We don't have enough reliable evidence to say whether it helps with cholesterol. For blood sugar, animal research hints it might lower it, which is actually why it could be risky if you're already taking diabetes medication — talk with your doctor before combining them.
What's in this capsule besides the bilberry?
The inactive ingredients are cellulose, silica, and vegetable stearate — these are just fillers and binders to make the capsule. The active ingredient is the bilberry itself.

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

Not sure if Bilberry Max-V is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.

Bilberry Max-V label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Bilberry Max-V'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 14 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.

Bilberry 14 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
  2. Morazzoni P, Magistretti MJ. Activity of Myrtocyan, an anthosyanoside complex from Vaccinium myrtillus (VMA), on platelet aggregation and adhesiveness. Fitoterapia 1990;61:13-21.
  3. Erlund, I., Koli, R., Alfthan, G., Marniemi, J., Puukka, P., Mustonen, P., Mattila, P., and Jula, A. Favorable effects of berry consumption on platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87(2):323-331. PubMed
  4. Hawrelak, J. A. and Myers, S. P. Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(10):1065-1071. PubMed
  5. Morazzoni P and Magistretti MJ. Effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on prostacyclin-like activity in rat arterial issue. Fitoterapia 1986;57:11-14.
  6. Pulliero G, Montin S, Bettini V, and et al. Ex vivo study of the inhibitory effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on human platelet aggregation. Fitoterapia 1989;60:69-75.
  7. Bottecchia D. Preliminary report on the inhibitory effect of vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on platelet aggregation and clot retraction. Fitoterapia 1987;48:3-8.
  8. Fdez, M., Zaragoza, F., and Alvarez, P. In vitro platelet aggregation effects of anthocyanosides of vaccinium myrtilus L. Anales de la Real Academia de Farmacia 1983;49:79-90.
  9. Biedermann L, Mwinyi J, Scharl M, Frei P, Zeitz J, Kullak-Ublick GA, et al. Bilberry ingestion improves disease activity in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis-an open pilot study. 2013 May;7(4):271-9. PubMed
  10. Hoggard N, Cruickshank M, Moar KM, Bestwick C, Holst J, Russell W, et al. A single supplement of a standardized bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract (36% wet weight anthocyanins) modifies glycaemic response in individuals with type 2 diabetes control
  11. Aichinger G, Pahlke G, Nagel LJ, Berger W, Marko D. Bilberry extract, its major phenolic compounds, and soy isoflavone genistein antagonize the cytostatic drug erlotinib in human epithelial cells. Food Funct 2016;7(8):3628-36.
  12. Prokop J, Lněničková K, Cibicek N, et al. Effect of bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2019;129:382-90. PubMed
  13. Chan SW, Chu TTW, Choi SW, Benzie IFF, Tomlinson B. Impact of short-term bilberry supplementation on glycemic control, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and antioxidant status in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Phytother Res 2021. Online ahead o PubMed
  14. Bøhn SK, Myhrstad MCW, Thoresen M, et al. Bilberry/red grape juice decreases plasma biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage in aged men with subjective memory impairment -a randomized clinical trial. BMC Nutr 2021;7(1):75. PubMed

See these in context on the Bilberry 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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