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Dietary supplement

Elder Berry Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Cedar Bear

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

Elder Berry is a dietary supplement by Cedar Bear with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for colds, flu (influenza), other respiratory infections.Based on those ingredients, 121 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Elder Berry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Elder Berry by Cedar Bear

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

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • “Proprietary Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (0.50 mL) without saying how much of each component you get.

This is a single-ingredient product: elderberry extract in a liquid form. The elderberry is suspended in vegetable glycerin and purified water — both inactive ingredients that help deliver and preserve the extract.

Does it work?

Insufficient 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
Insufficient

There isn't enough reliable clinical evidence to rate this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: immune support and respiratory health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), Respiratory tract infections, Lower respiratory tract infections, Rhinosinusitis, colds, flu — and 1 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Elderberry is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Respiratory tract infections (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Elderberry is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Rhinosinusitis, Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), Lower respiratory tract infections.

The evidence for elderberry isn't established yet in our data. The product has been studied for hay fever, heart disease, fatigue, lung disease, brain function, and respiratory infections, but none of those uses have sufficient reliable evidence to rate.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work — it means the science isn't conclusive enough for us to say one way or the other.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Elderberry

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.

Properly prepared elderberry products are generally well tolerated. The main safety concern is raw or unripe berries, leaves, bark, and seeds, which contain a toxin (cyanogenic glycosides) that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and dizziness — but cooking eliminates it.

Since this is a processed extract, that risk is much lower. There's not enough safety data to recommend elderberry during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so it's best to avoid it at those times.

One case of liver injury has been reported in someone taking elderberry for years alongside an underlying autoimmune condition, though it's unclear how much of the risk came from the supplement itself.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Elderberry

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 — Elderberry.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 121 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 it against your medications if you're on immunosuppressants (drugs after transplant or for autoimmune disease) or pazopanib (Votrient) for cancer. Both carry a Moderate interaction risk with elderberry.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with insufficient evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Elderberry extract is well tolerated when properly prepared, but it's not for everyone. If you take immunosuppressants, cancer medications like pazopanib, or are pregnant or nursing, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

If you're on any other prescription medications, check them against our interaction tool first.

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 Oct 23, 2020.

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 Elder Berry, straight from the product label.

Brand Cedar Bear
Barcode (UPC) 834711001304
Net contents 30 mL; 1 fl. Oz.
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 23, 2020
DSLD ID 237005
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher, Gluten 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 Elder Berry by Cedar Bear, 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:
0.5 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
0.5 mL
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
834711001304
IngredientAmount% DV
Proprietary Blend0.5 mL--
Elder Berry0 NP--

Other ingredients: USP Grade Vegetable Glycerin, purified 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.
Formulation

Manufactured in the USA

True Alcohol Free Sugar Free Gluten Free

Vegan

Immune Support

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: .5 mL (10 drops) 1 to 3 times a day, or as needed. Shake well.

Precautions

Note: Consult your physician before use.

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.

Seals/Symbols

GMP Good Manufacturing Practices K (Kosher)

Formula

K (Kosher)

(European Elder) Sambucus nigra

General Statements

Herbal Single

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Elder Berry by Cedar Bear label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Elder Berry by Cedar Bear

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

Serving size0.5 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Proprietary Blend

0.5 mL per serving

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

Interaction report

Elder Berry by Cedar Bear Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Elder Berry?

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
121Drugs
121 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Elder Berry 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.

Elder Berry2 drug types · 121 drugs

Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, elderberry might interfere with immunosuppressant therapy due to its immunostimulant activity.
Elderberry has immunostimulant activity, increasing the production of cytokines, including interleukin and tumor necrosis factor.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Pazopanib (Votrient)

Theoretically, elderberry might interact with pazopanib, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects.
In one case, a 65-year-old patient taking pazopanib for 4 weeks for soft-tissue sarcoma developed severe nausea, loose stools, and elevated alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels and was diagnosed with grade 3 liver injury. The patient reported taking elderberry supplements for 2 years, dose unspecified, and was also taking a multivitamin and a calcium supplement. The patient's symptoms and liver enzyme levels improved upon discontinuation of pazopanib and all supplements. Pazopanib treatment was re-initiated, at a lower dose, with no further evidence of liver injury. It was unclear in this case report if the elderberry supplements were derived from the berry, the flower, or the combination.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Elder Berry, from the product label.

Cedar Bear

See all Cedar Bear products
Name
Cedar Bear Naturales INC
Street Address
PO Box 158
City
Roosevelt
State
UT
ZipCode
84066
Phone Number
1-888-854-3727
Web Address
Cedarbear.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Elder Berry by Cedar Bear: Common Questions

Does Elder Berry by Cedar Bear interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Elder Berry has a known interaction with 121 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Elder Berry 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.
Is this safe if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data isn't there yet, so it's best to avoid elderberry supplements during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's right for you in those situations.
What side effects should I watch for?
When properly prepared, elderberry extract is generally well tolerated with few side effects. If you experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, that's usually a sign the product contains raw or unripe berries or other plant parts — cooking eliminates that toxin. One case of liver injury was reported in someone taking it long-term with an underlying autoimmune condition.
Does this actually work for colds or the flu?
Elderberry has been studied for respiratory tract infections, but we don't have reliable evidence yet to say whether it works. The science isn't conclusive.
What's in this product besides the elderberry?
It's an elderberry extract in vegetable glycerin and purified water — those are just inactive ingredients that help preserve and deliver the extract.
Can I take this with my immunosuppressant medication after my transplant?
No — don't start this without talking to your pharmacist or doctor first. Elderberry boosts immune activity, which could work against what your immunosuppressant is trying to do. Same goes if you're on any cancer medication.

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

Not sure if Elder Berry 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.

Elder Berry label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Elder Berry'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 6 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.

Elderberry 6 references
  1. Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman I. The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur Cytokine Netw 2001;12:290-6..
  2. Elderberry (Sambucus species). The Poison Plant Patch, Novia Scotia Museum, 2007. Available at: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/?section=species&id=117 (Accessed 16 October 2009).
  3. European elder. Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System. Available at: http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.jump?p_null=all&p_psn=121&p_type=all&p_sci=comm&p_x=px (Accessed 16 October 2009).
  4. Raus K, Pleschka S, Klein P, Schoop R, Fisher P. Effect of an echinacea-based hot drink versus oseltamivir in Influenza treatment: a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, noninferiority clinical trial. . Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2015;20;77:6 PubMed
  5. Ramachandran A, Antala D, Pudasainee P, Panginikkod S, Gupta H. A Plausible Association Between the Use of Elderberry and Autoimmune Hepatitis. Cureus 2022;14(4):e24250. PubMed
  6. Agarwal N, Mangla A. Elderberry interaction with pazopanib in a patient with soft-tissue sarcoma: A case report and literature review. Mol Clin Oncol 2024;20(5):36. PubMed

See these in context on the Elderberry 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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