Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 2 of 4 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Black Currant Capsules Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Douglas Laboratories

Softgel Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Black Currant Capsules is a dietary supplement by Douglas Laboratories with 4 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for heart and cholesterol support, skin moisturizing, menstrual cramps.Based on those ingredients, 226 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Safflower Oil, Black Currant Oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Black Currant Capsules 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 6 of its 6 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This softgel supplies black currant oil and safflower oil as its active ingredients, delivering compounds like gamma-linolenic acid and other polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. The capsule itself is made from gelatin, glycerin, and water.

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 product facts don't establish effectiveness for any condition. Safflower oil is rated as having insufficient evidence for unstable angina, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and diabetic kidney damage.

Black currant oil likewise has insufficient evidence for Alzheimer's disease, liver disease, respiratory infections, cough, and eczema. In other words, we don't have reliable data showing this product works for any of these uses.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Safflower Black Currant

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.

Safflower oil in food amounts is generally well tolerated, but concentrated supplements like this one are less studied. High doses carry a caution — there are at least seven case reports linking safflower supplements to acute liver failure, usually in people taking very high amounts for weight loss, though the exact doses and timing aren't always clear.

Black currant oil in food is safe, but the concentrated supplement form hasn't been well studied. In one trial of 2,154 people taking black currant seed oil, a small number reported mild diarrhea within 2-10 days of starting.

Safflower oil in medicinal doses should be avoided in pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus; there isn't enough data on black currant supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding to know either way — talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Safflower Black Currant

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?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Safflower, Black Currant.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 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.

Double-check this product against blood thinners and antiplatelet medications (Moderate severity) — safflower oil can increase bleeding risk, especially at higher doses, and warfarin users are at particular concern. Also check diabetes medications (Moderate) and antipsychotic drugs like phenothiazines (Moderate).

Use the search tool below with your exact medication list.

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. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you take blood thinners, antiplatelet drugs like aspirin, warfarin, or any antipsychotic medication, you need to check with your pharmacist before starting this product. Even at typical doses, the interaction risk is real.

The evidence for what this product actually does isn't established in our data, so be clear on what you're taking it for.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 6 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 23, 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 Black Currant Capsules, straight from the product label.

Brand Douglas Laboratories
Barcode (UPC) 310539016923
Net contents 60 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 23, 2012
DSLD ID 8054
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Dairy Free, Sugar 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 Black Currant Capsules 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 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
310539016923
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories5 {Calories}--
Calories from Fat5 {Calories}--
Total Fat0.5 g1%
Saturated Fat0.04 g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat0.4 g--
Gamma-Linolenic Acid40 mg--
Monounsaturated Fat0.06 g--
Alpha-Linolenic Acid75 mg--
Safflower Oil220 mg--
Black Currant Oil280 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water

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.
FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Formulation

This product contains NO yeast, wheat gluten, soy protein, milk/dairy, corn, sodium, sugar, starch, artificial coloring, preservatives or flavoring.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Usage: As a dietary supplement, adults take 1 softgel daily or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Precautions

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 #7045

See for yourself

Black Currant Capsules by Douglas Laboratories label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Black Currant Capsules by Douglas Laboratories

These are the 4 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule 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.

Gamma-Linolenic Acid

40 mg per serving

Alpha-Linolenic Acid

75 mg per serving

Safflower Oil

Interacts with
208 drugs
220 mg per serving

Safflower is a thistle-like plant used mainly for its seed oil (a common cooking oil) and its colorful flowers. Safflower oil is a reasonable source o...

Safflower Oil monograph & interactions

Black Currant Oil

Interacts with
140 drugs
280 mg per serving

Black currant is a nutritious berry that is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and its seed oil contains the omega-6 fatty acid GLA. While it is enjo...

Black Currant Oil monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Black Currant Capsules by Douglas Laboratories Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Black Currant Capsules?

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.

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226Drugs
226 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Black Currant Capsules 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.

Safflower Oil3 drug types · 208 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

High doses of safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Small clinical studies show that taking safflower oil, approximately 55 grams daily for 2-3 weeks, decreases platelet aggregation. However, taking lower doses of safflower oil, such as 5 grams daily for 4 weeks, does not seem to affect platelet function. In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, safflower oil might alter the effects of antidiabetes drugs.
Some clinical research shows that taking safflower oil 10 grams daily for 3 weeks can increase fasting blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, clinical research in patients with metabolic syndrome with or without impaired glucose tolerance shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 12 weeks reduces fasting glucose levels by around 8 mg/dL. Some clinical research also shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 16 weeks does not affect fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Warfarin

Theoretically, safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Black Currant Oil2 drug types · 140 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, black currant seed oil might increase the risk of bleeding if used in combination with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a constituent of black currant seed oil, appears to have antiplatelet effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenothiazines

Theoretically, black currant seed oil might increase the risk of seizure in patients receiving phenothiazines.
Black currant seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is some concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines, although there is no evidence that black currant seed oil causes seizures. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with GLA, although none experienced an actual seizure. In another report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily, which contains GLA, was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Black Currant Capsules, 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
Web Address
www.douglaslabs.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Black Currant Capsules by Douglas Laboratories: Common Questions

Does Black Currant Capsules by Douglas Laboratories interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Black Currant Capsules has a known interaction with 226 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Black Currant Capsules contains 4 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 on warfarin?
Not without talking to your pharmacist first. Safflower oil in this product carries a documented interaction with warfarin — there's a case report of bleeding complications and elevated INR after high-dose safflower use. Your pharmacist can review your specific dose and situation and advise whether it's safe for you.
Is this safe during pregnancy?
Safflower oil in medicinal amounts should be avoided during pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus. Black currant seed oil doesn't have enough safety data in pregnancy to know either way. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it while pregnant.
What does black currant oil do?
We don't have reliable evidence that it works for the conditions it's commonly used for — including Alzheimer's disease, liver problems, cough, respiratory infections, or eczema. The product facts rate all of these as having insufficient evidence.
Can this cause side effects?
Black currant seed oil caused mild diarrhea in a small number of people in one study, usually starting 2-10 days after they began taking it. There's also a caution about safflower supplements and liver problems — seven case reports of liver failure linked to very high-dose safflower use for weight loss, though the exact doses aren't always clear.
Does safflower oil affect diabetes medications?
Possibly. Some research suggests safflower oil at 10 grams daily can raise fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. If you take diabetes medication, check with your pharmacist before starting this product.

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

Not sure if Black Currant Capsules is safe with your meds?

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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.

Black Currant Capsules label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Black Currant Capsules'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 20 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.

Safflower 14 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Borkman M, Chisholm DJ, Furler SM, et al. Effects of fish oil supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in NIDDM. Diabetes 1989;38:1314-9.. PubMed
  5. Amato, P. and Quercia, R. A. A historical perspective and review of the safety of lipid emulsion in pregnancy. Nutr Clin Pract. 1991;6(5):189-192. PubMed
  6. Demke, D. M., Peters, G. R., Linet, O. I., Metzler, C. M., and Klott, K. A. Effects of a fish oil concentrate in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 1988;70(1-2):73-80. PubMed
  7. Kaji, K., Yoshida, S., Nagata, N., Yamashita, T., Mizukoshi, E., Honda, M., Kojima, Y., and Kaneko, S. An open-label study of administration of EH0202, a health-food additive, to patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol. 2004;39(9):873-878. PubMed
  8. Kwon, J. S., Snook, J. T., Wardlaw, G. M., and Hwang, D. H. Effects of diets high in saturated fatty acids, canola oil, or safflower oil on platelet function, thromboxane B2 formation, and fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. PubMed
  9. Lloyd-Still, J. D., Simon, S. H., Wessel, H. U., and Gibson, L. E. Negative effects of oral fatty acid supplementation on sweat chloride in cystic fibrosis. Pediatrics 1979;64(1):50-52. DOI
  10. Challen, A. D., Branch, W. J., and Cummings, J. H. The effect of aspirin and linoleic acid on platelet aggregation, platelet fatty acid composition and haemostasis in man. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 1983;37(3):197-208.
  11. Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang SY, Hsu JC, Belury MA. Time-dependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese, post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, cro
  12. Liu Y, Liu S, Shi Y, et al. Effects of safflower injection on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of warfarin in rats. Xenobiotica. 2017 Oct 25:1-6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed
  13. de Ataide EC, Reges Perales S, de Oliveira Peres MA, et al. Acute liver failure induced by Carthamus tinctorius oil: Case reports and literature review. Transplant Proc. 2018;50(2):476-477. PubMed
  14. Ruyvaran M, Zamani A, Mohamadian A, et al. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil could improve abdominal obesity, blood pressure, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. PubMed

See these in context on the Safflower monograph →

Black Currant 6 references
  1. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
  2. Fa-lin Z, Zhen-yu W, Yan H, et al. Efficacy of blackcurrant oil soft capsule, a Chinese herbal drug, in hyperlipidemia treatment. Phytother Res 2010;24 Suppl 2:S209-13. PubMed
  3. Holman CP and Bell AF. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J Orhtomolecular Psych 1983;12:302-304.
  4. Vaddadi KS. The use of gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6(4):375-379. PubMed
  5. Norred, C. L. and Brinker, F. Potential coagulation effects of preoperative complementary and alternative medicines. Alt Ther 2001;7(6):58-67.
  6. Puri BK. The safety of evening primrose oil in epilepsy. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 2007;77:101-3. PubMed

See these in context on the Black Currant 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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