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Dietary supplement

Elderberry Liquid Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NOW

Elderberry Liquid label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Elderberry Liquid against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Elderberry Liquid is a dietary supplement by NOW 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 Elderberry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Elderberry Liquid by NOW

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Elderberry Liquid by NOW — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Elderberry Liquid by NOW

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 23, 2026

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: elderberry, a berry extract used traditionally for immune and respiratory support. The liquid form includes vegetable glycerin, de-ionized water, citric acid, and potassium sorbate as inactive ingredients (preservatives and thickening agents).

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 tonic.
  • We looked for evidence on: Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), Lower respiratory tract infections, Respiratory tract infections, Cold and flu prevention, Sinus health.
  • 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 Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), Lower respiratory tract infections.

The evidence isn't established in our data for elderberry's use in hay fever, heart disease, chronic fatigue, COPD, brain function, or respiratory infections. All six conditions we have rated show insufficient reliable evidence, which means the research so far either hasn't been robust enough or hasn't been done at scale to prove whether it works for these uses.

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 cooked elderberry products, like this liquid, are generally well tolerated. The risk comes from raw or unripe berries, seeds, leaves, and bark, which contain a compound that breaks down into cyanide—cooking destroys it.

When adverse effects do occur from properly prepared elderberry, they're uncommon, though nausea and vomiting have been reported in rare cases. There is one case report of autoimmune hepatitis (liver inflammation) after years of elderberry use in a patient with an underlying autoimmune disease, which reversed after stopping the supplement.

There isn't enough safety information to recommend elderberry during pregnancy or while breastfeeding—talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's right for you in these situations.

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 your medications against the list below. The main concerns are immunosuppressants—drugs that calm down your immune system—and pazopanib, a cancer drug.

Both have Moderate-severity interactions documented with elderberry.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

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

If you're taking immunosuppressants or pazopanib, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before using this product—the interactions are documented and could affect how your medication works or increase your risk of side effects. For other uses, the evidence for elderberry isn't clear enough yet to say whether it'll help.

It's generally well tolerated when properly prepared, but pregnancy and breastfeeding call for personalized advice from your healthcare provider.

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 Apr 22, 2021.

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 Elderberry Liquid, straight from the product label.

Brand NOW
Barcode (UPC) 733739048523
Net contents 8 fl. Oz.; 237 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Apr 22, 2021
DSLD ID 244781
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, 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 Elderberry Liquid by NOW, 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:
5 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
5 mL
Servings per container
47
UPC/BARCODE
733739048523
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories15 Calorie(s)--
Total Carbohydrates4 Gram(s)1%
Elderberry500 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, de-ionized Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate

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 Usage: Shake well before using. Take 1 teaspoon (5 mL) 1 to 3 times daily. Can be taken directly, or mixed with water or juice.

Formula

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a multipurpose fruit used widely throughout Europe. As a centuries-old tradition, it has been used by herbalist as a tonic to maintain health and well-being. More recently, elderberry has been recognized for its potent free radical-scavenging anthocyanins and other beneficial nutrients. It is truly among nature's sweet and healthy surprises.

Elderberry Liquid 10:1 Concentrate 500 mg per teaspoon

Triangle K (Kosher)

Botanicals/herbs

Store in a cool, dry, dark place after opening.

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.

Precautions

Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish or shellfish ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Seals/Symbols

GMP Quality Assured

Triangle K (Kosher)

Formulation

Free Radical Scavenger

Non GMO

Vegetarin/vegan

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

Natural color variation may occur in this product.

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Elderberry Liquid by NOW label

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

Elderberry Liquid label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Elderberry Liquid by NOW

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

Serving size5 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container47 Amounts shown are per serving.

Elderberry

Interacts with
121 drugs
500 mg per serving

Elderberry is a popular herbal supplement, mainly taken to help with colds and flu. Some small studies suggest it may modestly shorten cold or flu sym...

Elderberry monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, De-ionized Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Elderberry Liquid by NOW Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Elderberry Liquid?

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

Elderberry 121

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Elderberry Liquid interact with 121 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Elderberry Liquid interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Elderberry

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Elderberry Liquid 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.

Elderberry2 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
Elderberry full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Elderberry Liquid, from the product label.

NOW

See all NOW products
Name
NOW Foods
Street Address
395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd.
City
Bloomingdale
State
IL
ZipCode
60108
Web Address
nowfoods.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Elderberry Liquid by NOW: Common Questions

Does Elderberry Liquid by NOW interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Elderberry Liquid 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?
Elderberry Liquid 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 to take while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable safety information about elderberry in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you weigh the risks and benefits for your situation.
Can I take this if I take an immunosuppressant medication?
Not without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Elderberry stimulates the immune system, which could work against immunosuppressants and reduce how well they protect you from rejection or inflammation.
What are the side effects?
Properly prepared elderberry is usually well tolerated with few or no side effects. If they do occur, they're most often nausea or vomiting. Raw or unripe elderberries can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea, but this liquid product is cooked, so that risk is eliminated.
Does elderberry actually prevent colds or the flu?
We don't have reliable evidence to confirm whether it works for respiratory infections, so it's not proven either way. That's one reason to talk with your doctor if you're thinking of using it for that purpose.
What's in this besides elderberry?
The liquid includes vegetable glycerin, de-ionized water, citric acid, and potassium sorbate—all inactive ingredients that help preserve and thicken the formula.
Can I take this with my cancer medication pazopanib?
No, not without your doctor's approval. There's a documented case of a patient on pazopanib who developed severe nausea, loose stools, and liver injury after taking elderberry, so you need to discuss this with your oncologist before adding any supplements.

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.

Elderberry Liquid label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Elderberry Liquid’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Elderberry

Interacts with 121 drugs

Elderberry is a popular herbal supplement, mainly taken to help with colds and flu. Some small studies suggest it may modestly shorten cold or flu symptoms, but the evidence is limited and n...

Read the full Elderberry monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Elderberry Liquid'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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