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Dietary supplement

Choline & Inositol Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson

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

Choline & Inositol is a dietary supplement by Swanson with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for liver health and fatty liver, brain and memory support, prenatal nutrition and fetal development.Based on those ingredients, 102 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Inositol, Choline. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Choline & Inositol by Swanson

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: choline and inositol. Choline is a nutrient that plays a role in brain function and cellular health, though evidence for its benefits in supplements is mixed.

Inositol is a carbohydrate compound that shows promise for polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome. The capsules also contain inactive ingredients—gelatin, calcium palmitate, silica, and rice flour—that serve as the capsule shell and fillers.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
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
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: mental relaxation, mood, and liver health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Anxiety, Depression, Panic disorder, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Hepatitis, Metabolic syndrome — and 2 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Inositol is rated "Possibly Effective" for Metabolic syndrome (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Inositol is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Anxiety, Depression.
  • Also on file: Inositol is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The evidence for these ingredients varies. Inositol has possibly effective evidence for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome, and possibly effective for preterm labor.

Choline's evidence is less established: it's possibly ineffective for athletic performance, and there isn't enough reliable evidence to rate it for age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer disease, or several other uses. If you're considering this product for a specific condition, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about what the science actually supports.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Choline Inositol

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.

Both ingredients are generally well tolerated at typical doses. Choline can cause a fishy body odor in some people, and at high doses (above the safe upper limit of 3.5 grams daily) may cause diarrhea, nausea, and other digestive upset.

Inositol's most common side effects are mild—diarrhea, gas, and nausea. For pregnancy, choline is rated likely safe, though you should use it only as your doctor advises.

Inositol is possibly safe in pregnancy but hasn't been fully studied, so it requires medical supervision. Breastfeeding data for inositol isn't on file; if you're nursing, check with your pharmacist about whether this product is right for you.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Choline Inositol

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 — Inositol, Choline.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 102 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 this product, check your medications against these categories: if you take diabetes drugs, inositol poses a moderate risk of low blood sugar—your doctor may need to adjust your dose or monitor you more closely. If you use atropine or similar anticholinergic drugs, choline might reduce their effectiveness, though this is a minor concern.

Run your complete medication list through the checker on this page.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

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

Choline & Inositol is generally well tolerated, but inositol's ability to lower blood sugar makes it important to check with your pharmacist if you take diabetes medications. This product may be worth considering if you're interested in PCOS or metabolic syndrome support, but the evidence is clearer for inositol than for choline.

Talk to your pharmacist before starting, especially if you take any regular medications.

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 May 28, 2019.

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 Choline & Inositol, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson
Barcode (UPC) 087614010397
Net contents 250 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 28, 2019
DSLD ID 202284
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
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 Choline & Inositol by Swanson, 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)
UPC/BARCODE
087614010397
IngredientAmount% DV
Choline250 mg45%
Inositol250 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Rice Flour

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.
General Statements

Supports mental relaxation and mood Supports fatty acid metabolism Supports liver health Science-Backed Quality Since 1969

Brain and Nervous System Health

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take one capsule per day with food and water.

Precautions

Warning: For adults only.

Consult your physician before using this or any product if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if seal is broken.

Storage

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

250 mg Choline per capsule & 250 mg Inositol per capsule

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General

SW039 Rev 2 09 28 18

See for yourself

Choline & Inositol by Swanson label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Choline & Inositol by Swanson

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

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule 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.

Choline

Interacts with
16 drugs
250 mg per serving Form: Choline Bitartrate

Choline is an essential nutrient your body needs for liver function, brain health, and nerve signaling, and many people get enough from foods like egg...

Choline monograph & interactions

Inositol

Interacts with
86 drugs
250 mg per serving

Inositol is a sugar alcohol made naturally in the body and found in many foods, and it is sold as a supplement (often myo-inositol) mainly for PCOS, m...

Inositol monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Rice Flour. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Choline & Inositol by Swanson Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Choline & Inositol?

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102Drugs
86 Moderate 16 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Choline 16

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Choline & Inositol 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.

Inositol1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking inositol with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical research shows that inositol lowers blood glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence A

Choline1 drug type · 16 drugs

Atropine

Theoretically, choline might decrease the effects of atropine in the brain.
Animal research shows that administering choline one hour before administering atropine can attenuate atropine-induced decreases in brain levels of acetylcholine. Theoretically, concomitant use of choline and atropine may decrease the effects of atropine.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Choline & Inositol, from the product label.

Swanson

See all Swanson products
Name
Swanson Health Products
City
Fargo
State
ND
ZipCode
58104
Phone Number
1-800-437-4148
Web Address
swanson.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Choline & Inositol by Swanson: Common Questions

Does Choline & Inositol by Swanson interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Choline & Inositol has a known interaction with 102 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Choline & Inositol 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.
Is this safe to take while pregnant?
Choline is rated likely safe in pregnancy and is actually important during pregnancy—but use only the dose your doctor recommends. Inositol is possibly safe but hasn't been fully studied in pregnancy, so use it only under medical supervision. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the right choice for you.
Can I take this while breastfeeding?
Choline needs are higher while breastfeeding, so it may be beneficial, but use supplements only under professional guidance. We don't have safety data on file for inositol during breastfeeding, so check with your pharmacist for personalized advice.
What side effects might I notice?
Inositol's most common side effects are mild—diarrhea, gas, and nausea. Choline can cause a fishy body odor in some people. At very high doses, choline may cause more serious digestive upset, but typical supplement doses are well tolerated.
Does this actually work for PCOS or metabolic syndrome?
Inositol shows possibly effective evidence for both PCOS and metabolic syndrome, which means there's some promising research but it's not a proven cure. Choline's evidence is less established for most uses. Your results may vary, and it's worth discussing with your doctor whether this is right for your situation.
Why do I need to check this against my diabetes medication?
Inositol can lower your blood sugar, so if you take diabetes drugs, your blood sugar could drop too low (hypoglycemia). Your doctor may need to adjust your medication dose or monitor your blood sugar more closely while taking this product.

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

Not sure if Choline & Inositol 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.

Choline & Inositol label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Choline & Inositol'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 28 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.

Choline 14 references
  1. Yates AA, Schlicker SA, Suitor CW. Dietary reference intakes: The new basis for recommendations for calcium and related nutrients, B vitamins, and choline. J Am Diet Assoc 1998;98:699-706. PubMed
  2. Cho E, Willett WC, Colditz GA, et al. Dietary choline and betaine and the risk of distal colorectal adenoma in women. J Natl Cancer Inst 2007;99:1224-31. PubMed
  3. Schmidt, C., Abicht, A., Krampfl, K., Voss, W., Stucka, R., Mildner, G., Petrova, S., Schara, U., Mortier, W., Bufler, J., Huebner, A., and Lochmuller, H. Congenital myasthenic syndrome due to a novel missense mutation in the gene encoding choline acetyl
  4. Tamminga, C., Smith, R. C., Chang, S., Haraszti, J. S., and Davis, J. M. Depression associated with oral choline. Lancet 10-23-1976;2(7991):905. PubMed
  5. Wood, J. L. and Allison, R. G. Effects of consumption of choline and lecithin on neurological and cardiovascular systems. Fed.Proc. 1982;41(14):3015-3021.
  6. Growdon, J. H. and Gelenberg, A. J. Choline and lecithin administration to patients with tardive dyskinesia. Trans.Am.Neurol.Assoc. 1978;103:95-99.
  7. Smith, C. M., Swash, M., Exton-Smith, A. N., Phillips, M. J., Overstall, P. W., Piper, M. E., and Bailey, M. R. Choline therapy in Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 8-5-1978;2(8084):318. PubMed
  8. Morrison, L. M. and W. F. Gonzales. Choline in coronary atherosclerosis. Amer.Heart J. 1950;39:729.
  9. Christie, J. G. Blackburn 1. M. Glen A. I. M. Zeisel S. Shering A. & Yates C. M. Effects of choline and lecithin on CSF choline levels and on cognitive functioning in patients with presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type. Nutrition and the brain 1979;5
  10. Sidhu N, Davies S, Nadarajah A, et al. Oral choline supplementation for postoperative pain. Br J Anaesth 2013;111(2):249-55. PubMed
  11. Wozniak JR, Fuglestad AJ, Eckerle JK, et al. Choline supplementation in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders has high feasibility and tolerability. Nutr Res. 2013;33(11):897-904. PubMed
  12. Wozniak JR, Fuglestad AJ, Eckerle JK, et al. Choline supplementation in children with fetal alcohol disorders: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;102(5): 1113-25.
  13. Ross RG, Hunter SK, McCarthy L, et al. Perinatal choline effects on neonatal pathophysiology related to later schizophrenia risk. Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170(3):290-8. PubMed
  14. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Choline. Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press; 1998:390-422.

See these in context on the Choline monograph →

Inositol 14 references
  1. Palatnik A, Frolov K, Fux M, Benjamin J. Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2001;21:335-9.. PubMed
  2. Allan SJ, Kavanagh GM, Herd RM, Savin JA. The effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol 2004;150:966-9. PubMed
  3. Machado-Vieira R, Viale CI, Kapczinski F. Mania associated with an energy drink: the possible role of caffeine, taurine, and inositol. Can J Psychiatry 2001;46:454-5. PubMed
  4. Kamenov Z, Kolarov G, Gateva A, Carlomagno G, Genazzani AD. Ovulation induction with myo-inositol alone and in combination with clomiphene citrate in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients with insulin resistance. Gynecol Endocrinol 2015;31(2):131-5. PubMed
  5. Matarrelli B, Vitacolonna E, D'Angelo M, et al. Effect of dietary myo-inositol supplementation in pregnancy on the incidence of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2013;26(1 PubMed
  6. Mukai T, Kishi T, Matsuda Y, Iwata N. A meta-analysis of inositol for depression and anxiety disorders. Hum Psychopharmacol 2014;29(1):55-63. PubMed
  7. Farren M, Daly N, McKeating A, Kinsley B, Turner MJ, Daly S. The Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Antenatal Oral Inositol Supplementation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Diabetes Care. 2017;40(6):759-63. PubMed
  8. Zheng X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, et al. Relationship Between Myo-Inositol Supplementary and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(42):e1604. PubMed
  9. Crawford TJ, Crowther CA, Alsweiler J, Brown J. Antenatal dietary supplementation with myo-inositol in women during pregnancy for preventing gestational diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(12):CD011507. PubMed
  10. Maurizi AR, Menduni M, Del Toro R, et al. A pilot study of D-chiro-inositol plus folic acid in overweight patients with type 1 diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2017;54(4):361-65. PubMed
  11. Leppink EW, Redden SA, Grant JE. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of inositol in trichotillomania. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;32(2):107-14. PubMed
  12. Lam S, Mandrekar SJ, Gesthalter Y. A Randomized Phase IIb Trial of myo-Inositol in Smokers with Bronchial Dysplasia. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(12):906-14.
  13. Wozniak J, Faraone SV, Chan J, et al. A randomized clinical trial of high eicosapentaenoic acid omega-3 fatty acids and inositol as monotherapy and in combination in the treatment of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders: a pilot study. J Clin Psychiatry. PubMed
  14. Vitale SG, Corrado F, Caruso S, et al. Myo-inositol supplementation to prevent gestational diabetes in overweight non-obese women: bioelectrical impedance analysis, metabolic aspects, obstetric and neonatal outcomes - a randomized and open-label, placebo-

See these in context on the Inositol 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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