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Dietary supplement

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by LuckyHerbs

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

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg is a dietary supplement by LuckyHerbs with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for constipation, bowel cleansing before procedures, hemorrhoids.Based on those ingredients, 745 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Cascara Sagrada. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs

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 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: cascara sagrada, a plant-derived stimulant laxative traditionally used to promote bowel movements. The capsule itself is made from vegetable cellulose, with magnesium stearate added as an inactive ingredient to help with manufacturing.

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: bowel regularity and constipation relief.
  • We looked for evidence on: Constipation, Bowel preparation.
  • The closest evidence on file: Cascara Sagrada is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Bowel preparation (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Cascara Sagrada is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation.

The evidence for cascara sagrada is mixed. It's rated possibly ineffective for bowel preparation — meaning the data doesn't support using it for that purpose.

For short-term constipation relief, there isn't enough reliable evidence in our data to say whether it works. The safety notes do mention it may help short-term constipation, but the risks, especially with long-term use, outweigh the benefit for most people.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient 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 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.

When used appropriately in the short term, cascara sagrada is generally well tolerated. Most people experience only mild abdominal discomfort or cramps.

However, long-term use carries real risks: your kidneys can leak protein (albuminuria) or blood into your urine (hematuria), and you may lose weight unintentionally (cachexia). Fresh or improperly aged cascara bark can cause severe vomiting.

The safety data advises against cascara during pregnancy and lactation — active compounds may pass into breast milk.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Cascara Sagrada

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 — Cascara Sagrada.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; heart-rhythm medications.
  • For scale: 746 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, double-check with your pharmacist if you're on heart medications like digoxin, blood thinners like warfarin, water pills (diuretics), steroids (corticosteroids), or other stimulant laxatives. All carry Moderate-severity concerns — potassium loss, bleeding risk, and electrolyte imbalances.

If you take medications that your liver processes through the CYP3A4 pathway, mention that too.

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.

Cascara sagrada is a short-term constipation aid, but it's not your best choice if you take heart, blood pressure, or blood-thinning medications. Long-term use carries real risks to your kidneys and electrolytes.

If you're pregnant or nursing, skip it. Talk to your pharmacist before starting, especially if you take any prescription medications.

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 Mar 22, 2023.

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 Cascara Sagrada 450 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand LuckyHerbs
Barcode (UPC) 810026422904
Net contents 180 Veg Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2023
DSLD ID 283140
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Children 4 or More Years of Age, Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy 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 Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs, 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
180
UPC/BARCODE
810026422904
IngredientAmount% DV
Cascara Sagrada450 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose Capsule, 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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Use only as directed. Take 1 capsule daily with a meal or glass of water. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 take no more than one capsule daily.

Precautions

Caution: Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of reach of children.

Consult your licensed healthcare practitioner before using this product. This product contains Cascara Sagrada. Read and follow directions carefully. Do not use if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal pain, or intestinal obstruction.

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

Do not take for more than seven consecutive days.

Not recommended for children under 6 years of age.

General Statements

1 year happiness guarantee

Formulation

V Vegan

Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients.

Seals/Symbols

Guaranteed quality & potency

Brand IP Statement(s)

Lucky Herbs Herbal Supplements by Lucky Vitamin

Formula

Cascara Sagrada Rhamnus Purshiana

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Storage

Keep out of sunlight. Store in a cool, dry place.

See for yourself

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs

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

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container180 Amounts shown are per serving.

Cascara Sagrada

Interacts with
745 drugs
450 mg per serving Form: Rhamnus purshiana

Cascara sagrada is a stimulant laxative made from the aged bark of a Pacific Northwest tree, used mainly for short-term relief of constipation. Becaus...

Cascara Sagrada monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Cascara Sagrada 450 mg?

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
745Drugs
122 Moderate 623 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Cascara Sagrada 450 mg 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.

Cascara Sagrada6 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
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Cascara Sagrada 450 mg, from the product label.

LuckyHerbs

See all LuckyHerbs products
Name
Lucky Health Group Inc.
City
Conshohocken
State
PA
ZipCode
19428
Phone Number
1-888-635-0474
Web Address
www.LuckyVitamin.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs: Common Questions

Does Cascara Sagrada 450 mg by LuckyHerbs interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Cascara Sagrada 450 mg has a known interaction with 745 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Cascara Sagrada 450 mg 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.
Can I take cascara sagrada if I'm pregnant?
No. Stimulant laxatives like cascara are generally not recommended during pregnancy according to the safety data. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about safer options for constipation.
Is it safe while breastfeeding?
The safety data marks it as possibly unsafe — active compounds may pass into breast milk. It's best avoided while nursing. Ask your pharmacist about alternatives.
What are the side effects?
Mild abdominal discomfort and cramps are most common. Rarely, it can cause severe vomiting (especially fresh or improperly aged bark). Long-term use can lead to protein or blood in your urine and unintended weight loss.
Does cascara sagrada actually work for constipation?
The data shows there isn't enough reliable evidence to say for sure whether it works for constipation. Some evidence suggests it may help short-term, but the risks — especially with long-term use — often outweigh the benefit.
Can I use this alongside other laxatives?
No. If you take other stimulant laxatives, cascara sagrada can compound fluid and electrolyte losses and increase your risk of serious problems. Use only one laxative at a time, and check with your pharmacist first.
What if I take a water pill or heart medication?
You should not use cascara sagrada without talking to your pharmacist. These drugs and cascara can combine to cause dangerously low potassium, which is serious for your heart. Your pharmacist can help you find a safer option.

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.

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Cascara Sagrada 450 mg'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 9 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.

Cascara Sagrada 9 references
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  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.
  4. Covington TR, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
  5. Nusko G, Schneider B, Schneider I, et al. Anthranoid laxative use is not a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia: results of a prospective case control study. Gut 2000;46:651-5. PubMed
  6. Nadir A, Reddy D, Van Thiel DH. Cascara-sagrada induced intrahepatic cholestasis causing portal hypertension: case report and review of herbal hepatotoxicity. Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:3634-7. PubMed
  7. Nakasone ES, Tokeshi J. A serendipitous find: a case of cholangiocarcinoma identified incidentally after acute liver injury due to cascara sagrada ingestion. Hawaii J Med Public Health 2015;74(6):200-2.
  8. Cirillo C, Capasso R. Constipation and botanical medicines: an overview. Phytother Res 2015;29(10):1488-93. PubMed
  9. Mazzari ALDA, Lacerda MG, Milton FA, et al. In vitro effects of European and Latin-American medicinal plants in CYP3A4 gene expression, glutathione levels, and P-glycoprotein activity. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:826395. PubMed

See these in context on the Cascara Sagrada 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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