Papaya Enzyme Ingredients & Drug Interactions
What is this page for?
First and foremost: checking Papaya Enzyme 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
Papaya Enzyme is a dietary supplement by GNC Natural Brand with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive support for protein digestion, wound cleaning (debridement of dead tissue), sore throat and inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 92 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Papaya fruit powder, Papain. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.
Check Your Meds Against Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand
Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.
AI summaries are generated from our interaction database for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI
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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand
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.
What’s inside
Full disclosure
This product has 2 active ingredients: papain and papaya fruit powder. Papain is an enzyme extracted from papaya that's believed to help with digestion, though the evidence for specific health claims remains inconclusive.
Papaya fruit powder provides the whole-fruit form. The rest of the tablet is made up of inactive ingredients — sweeteners (sucrose, dextrose, maltodextrin), binders, talc, artificial and natural flavoring, and additional enzymes (protease and alpha-amylase).
Does it work?
Not established
The evidence for papain doesn't yet establish it as effective for the conditions listed in our data — cancer, dental cavities, radiation skin damage, exercise-induced muscle soreness, shingles, and parasitic infection all carry ratings of insufficient reliable evidence. Similarly, papaya fruit powder lacks established evidence for aging skin, hair loss, colorectal cancer, or diabetes.
If you're considering this product for digestive support or another purpose, that claim isn't rated in the data we hold.
How safe is it?
Well-documented data
Both papain and papaya fruit powder are generally well tolerated in food amounts and short-term use at appropriate doses. The main concern is allergic reactions — sensitive individuals may experience itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, abdominal cramps, sweating, or diarrhea.
High oral doses may cause serious effects like esophageal perforation or severe stomach inflammation, though these are rare. Papaya fruit powder from ripe fruit appears likely safe in pregnancy, but concentrated papain and unripe papaya should be avoided in pregnancy due to safety concerns.
For breastfeeding, there isn't enough reliable safety information on supplemental amounts, so it's best discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
Meds to double-check
Moderate interaction found
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this if you're on warfarin or other blood thinners (moderate risk of increased bleeding), diabetes medications (moderate risk of low blood sugar), amiodarone for heart rhythm (moderate risk of higher drug levels), or levothyroxine for thyroid (moderate risk of reduced effectiveness). These are the biggest medication types this product affects.
The bottom line
Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.
This product is worth considering if you're looking for digestive enzyme support, but you'll want to check your medications first — especially if you take warfarin, diabetes drugs, amiodarone, or levothyroxine. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, particularly if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or take any prescription 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 Feb 25, 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
General information
Key facts about Papaya Enzyme, straight from the product label.
| Brand | GNC Natural Brand |
|---|---|
| Barcode (UPC) | 048107062439 |
| Net contents | 600 Chewable Tablet(s) |
| Market status | On market |
| Date entered into DSLD | Feb 25, 2021 |
| DSLD ID | 243517 |
| Product type | Other Combinations |
| Supplement form | Tablet Or Pill |
| Dietary claims / uses | All Other, Structure/Function |
| Intended target group(s) | Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free |
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 Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.
Supplement Facts
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 5 Calorie(s) | -- |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1.5 Gram(s) | 1% |
| Papain | 6 mg | -- |
| Added Sugars | 1.5 Gram(s) | 3% |
| Total Sugars | 1.5 Gram(s) | -- |
| Papaya fruit powder | 45 mg | -- |
Other ingredients: Sucrose, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Stearic Acid, Talc, Artificial color, Natural & Artificial Papaya flavor, Protease, Alpha-Amylase, Natural & Artificial Black Cherry flavor, Artificial Fruit flavor, Ethyl Maltol
Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.
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.
Precautions
Keep out of reach of children.
Warning: Consult your physician prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place.
FDA Statement of Identity
Dietary Supplement
Formulation
Digestive enzymes help to ease digestion, release vital nutrients and support healthy digestive function
Conforms to USP <2091> for weight.
No preservatives, no wheat, gluten free, no soy, no dairy.
Formula
GNC Natural Brand Papaya Enzymes supplies the proteolytic enzyme papain, derived from papaya fruit, in a great-tasting chewable tablet.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions
Directions: As a dietary supplement, chew three to nine tablets daily as desired.
FDA Disclaimer Statement
This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.
Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand label
The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.
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)The Ingredients in Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand
These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.
Serving size3 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Servings per container200 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.
Papain
Interacts with2 drugs
Papain is a protein-digesting enzyme from the papaya plant that is used in digestive supplements and some topical products. While it has clear food an...
Papain monograph & interactionsPapaya fruit powder
Interacts with92 drugs
Papaya is a tropical fruit that is nutritious and generally safe to eat as food, and it contains an enzyme called papain used as a digestive aid and m...
Papaya fruit powder monograph & interactionsOther (inactive) ingredients: Sucrose, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Stearic Acid, Talc, Artificial color, Natural & Artificial Papaya flavor, Protease, Alpha-Amylase, Natural & Artificial Black Cherry flavor, Artificial Fruit flavor, Ethyl Maltol. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.
Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand Drug Interactions
HelloPharmacist Interaction Report
GNC Natural Brand Papaya Enzyme contains papain and papaya fruit powder, both of which interact with medications.
The most serious concern is a moderate-severity interaction with warfarin (blood thinner), where papain may increase warfarin's effects and bleeding risk — there's even a case report of a patient's blood-thinning level becoming dangerously high after taking a papain supplement.
Read the full breakdown — every affected drug type, severity by severity
The papaya fruit powder also interacts moderately with diabetes drugs (especially fermented papaya with glibenclamide), amiodarone (a heart rhythm medication), and levothyroxine (thyroid medication). With diabetes drugs, the effect may be additive lowering of blood sugar.
Amiodarone levels may rise. Levothyroxine may become less effective if you eat very large amounts of papaya — one case involved someone eating 5–6 fruits daily.
Papain itself can theoretically increase warfarin's effects. Altogether, these interactions span 92 individual medications.
Use the medication checker below to see if any of your prescriptions are affected before you start this product.
Check your own medications below · Editorial policy · How we use AI
Want to check YOUR meds against Papaya Enzyme?
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 checkerIngredients driving the most interactions
Individual Drug Interactions
The ingredients in Papaya Enzyme interact with 92 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.
2 of the 2 ingredients in Papaya Enzyme interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Papaya fruit powder Papain
AcarboseGlucobay, Prandase, Precose
How Acarbose interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Acarbose interactionAcetohexamideDymelor
How Acetohexamide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Acetohexamide interactionAlbiglutideTanzeum
How Albiglutide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Albiglutide interactionAlogliptinNesina
How Alogliptin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Alogliptin interactionAlogliptin, MetforminKazano
How Alogliptin, Metformin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Alogliptin, Metformin interactionAlogliptin, PioglitazoneOseni
How Alogliptin, Pioglitazone interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Alogliptin, Pioglitazone interactionAmiodaroneCordarone, Pacerone
How Amiodarone interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAmiodarone (cordarone) Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, papaya extract may increase the levels and clinical effects of amiodarone.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Amiodarone interactionAntidiabetes, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-iv) InhibitorGlyxambi
How Antidiabetes, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-iv) Inhibitor interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Antidiabetes, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (dpp-iv) Inhibitor interactionCanagliflozinInvokana
How Canagliflozin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Canagliflozin interactionCanagliflozin, MetforminInvokamet
How Canagliflozin, Metformin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Canagliflozin, Metformin interactionCanagliflozin, Metformin HydrochlorideInvokamet XR
How Canagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Canagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interactionChlorpropamideChlorpropam, Diabinese
How Chlorpropamide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Chlorpropamide interactionDapagliflozinFarxiga
How Dapagliflozin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Dapagliflozin interactionDapagliflozin Propanediol, MetforminXigduo XR
How Dapagliflozin Propanediol, Metformin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Dapagliflozin Propanediol, Metformin interactionDapagliflozin Propanediol, Saxagliptin HydrochlorideQtern
How Dapagliflozin Propanediol, Saxagliptin Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Dapagliflozin Propanediol, Saxagliptin Hydrochloride interactionDapagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride, Saxagliptin HydrochlorideQternmet XR
How Dapagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride, Saxagliptin Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Dapagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride, Saxagliptin Hydrochloride interactionDasiglucagon HydrochlorideZegalogue
How Dasiglucagon Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Dasiglucagon Hydrochloride interactionDulaglutideTrulicity
How Dulaglutide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Dulaglutide interactionEmpagliflozinJardiance
How Empagliflozin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Empagliflozin interactionEmpagliflozin, Linagliptin, Metformin HydrochlorideTrijardy XR
How Empagliflozin, Linagliptin, Metformin Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Empagliflozin, Linagliptin, Metformin Hydrochloride interactionEmpagliflozin, MetforminSynjardy
How Empagliflozin, Metformin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Empagliflozin, Metformin interactionEmpagliflozin, Metformin HydrochlorideSynjardy XR
How Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interactionErtugliflozinSteglatro
How Ertugliflozin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Ertugliflozin interactionErtugliflozin, Metformin HydrochlorideSegluromet
How Ertugliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Ertugliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interactionExenatideBydureon, Byetta
How Exenatide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Exenatide interactionExenatide SyntheticBydureon BCISE
How Exenatide Synthetic interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Exenatide Synthetic interactionGliclazideDiamicron
How Gliclazide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Gliclazide interactionGlimepirideAmaryl
How Glimepiride interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Glimepiride interactionGlipizideGlucotrol, Glucotrol XL
How Glipizide interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Glipizide interactionGlipizide, MetforminMetaglip
How Glipizide, Metformin interacts with Papaya Enzyme — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Papaya Fruit PowderAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects.
Read the full Papaya Fruit Powder + Glipizide, Metformin interactionEach ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects
For each ingredient in Papaya Enzyme 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.
Papaya fruit powder
Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Theoretically, papaya extract may increase the levels and clinical effects of amiodarone.
Animal research in rats shows that a single oral dose of papaya extract, as well as multiple doses of papaya extract daily over 14 days, prior to a single dose of amiodarone delays the time to maximum amiodarone concentration. However, only the 14-day papaya extract regimen increases systemic amiodarone exposure by 60% to 70%. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
Antidiabetes Drugs
Concomitant use of antidiabetic drugs with fermented papaya can produce additive effects. It is unclear if other forms of papaya have the same effect.
A small low-quality clinical study in patients with type 2 diabetes who are taking glibenclamide shows that taking a fermented papaya preparation 3 grams daily for 2 months decreases fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels when compared to baseline. Additionally, of the 25 patients in the study, 9 required a reduction in glibenclamide dose.
Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Others)
Theoretically, consuming large quantities of papaya fruit can reduce the clinical effects of levothyroxine.
In one case-report, a 37-year-old male with a history of thyroidectomy who was stabilized on levothyroxine for 5 years presented with hypothyroidism after consuming 5-6 papaya fruits daily for 14 days during vacation. In a controlled re-challenge test involving 5-6 papayas daily, the patient remained euthyroid for 7 days, but developed mild hypothyroidism after 14 days. Both times, thyroid levels normalized 40-45 days after discontinuing papaya.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Theoretically, concomitant use of warfarin with papain-containing papaya extract might increase the effects and side effects of warfarin.
In one case report, a patient previously stable on warfarin was found to have an international normalization ratio (INR) of 7.4, which was attributed to ingestion of a supplement containing papain from papaya extract.
Papain
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Theoretically, papain might increase the effects and side effects of warfarin.
In one case report, a patient previously stable on warfarin was found to have an international normalization ratio (INR) of 7.4, which was attributed to ingestion of a supplement containing papain from papaya extract.
Brand information
Manufacturer and brand details for Papaya Enzyme, from the product label.
GNC Natural Brand
See all GNC Natural Brand products- Name
- General Nutrition Corporation
- City
- Pittsburgh
- State
- PA
- ZipCode
- 15222
- Phone Number
- 1-888-462-2548
- Web Address
- www.gnc.com
Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand: Common Questions
Does Papaya Enzyme by GNC Natural Brand interact with any medications?
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Where does this information come from?
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
What are the most common side effects?
Is this product effective for digestive issues or the conditions listed on the label?
Can I take this long-term, or is it just for short-term use?
Does this product contain fillers?
What if I'm allergic to latex?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Not sure if Papaya Enzyme is safe with your meds?
Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.
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.
The Full Monographs Behind Papaya Enzyme’s Ingredients
Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.
Papain
Interacts with 2 drugsPapain is a protein-digesting enzyme from the papaya plant that is used in digestive supplements and some topical products. While it has clear food and laboratory uses, strong human evidence...
Read the full Papain monograph → Herb & supplement monographPapaya
Interacts with 92 drugsPapaya is a tropical fruit that is nutritious and generally safe to eat as food, and it contains an enzyme called papain used as a digestive aid and meat tenderizer. Papaya leaf extract is b...
Read the full Papaya monograph →Sources & How We Checked
Papaya Enzyme'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.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — The official product label on file for this supplement.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference behind the ingredient interaction data.
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 25 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.
Papain 11 references
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Shaw D, Leon C, Kolev S, Murray V. Traditional remedies and food supplements: a 5-year toxicological study (1991-1995). Drug Saf 1997;17:342-56.
- Shuttleworth D, Hill S, Marks R, Connelly DM. Relief of experimentally induced pruritus with a novel eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic agents. Br J Dermatol 1988;119:535-40.
- Mansfield LE, Ting S, Haverly RW, Yoo TJ. The incidence and clinical implications of hypersensitivity to papain in an allergic population, confirmed by blinded oral challenge. Ann Allergy 1985;55:541-3.
- Martin, T., Uhder, K., Kurek, R., Roeddiger, S., Schneider, L., Vogt, H. G., Heyd, R., and Zamboglou, N. Does prophylactic treatment with proteolytic enzymes reduce acute toxicity of adjuvant pelvic irradiation? Results of a double-blind randomized trial PubMed
- Walker-Renard, P. Update on the medicinal management of phytobezoars. Am J Gastroenterol. 1993;88(10):1663-1666.
- Tymoszuk D, Wiszniewska M, Walusiak-Skorupa J. Papain-induced occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma - A case report. Med Pr 2016;67(1):109-12. PubMed
- Soto-Mera MT, López-Rico MR, Filgueira JF, et al. Occupational allergy to papain. Allergy 2000;55(10):983-4. PubMed
- Tarlo SM, Shaikh W, Bell B, et al. Papain-induced allergic reactions. Clin Allergy 1978;8(3):207-15. PubMed
- Baur X, König G, Bencze K, Fruhmann G. Clinical symptoms and results of skin test, RAST and bronchial provocation test in thirty-three papain workers: Evidence for strong immunogenic potency and clinically relevant proteolytic e?ects of airborne papain. C
- Novey HS, Keenan WJ, Fairshter RD, Wells ID, Wilson AF, Culver BD. Pulmonary disease in workers exposed to papain: clinico-physiological and immunological studies. Clin Allergy 1980;10(6):721-31. PubMed
Papaya 14 references
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Shaw D, Leon C, Kolev S, Murray V. Traditional remedies and food supplements: a 5-year toxicological study (1991-1995). Drug Saf 1997;17:342-56.
- Mansfield LE, Ting S, Haverly RW, Yoo TJ. The incidence and clinical implications of hypersensitivity to papain in an allergic population, confirmed by blinded oral challenge. Ann Allergy 1985;55:541-3.
- Blanco C, Diaz-Perales A, Collada C, et al. Class I chitinases as potential panallergens involved in the latex-fruit syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103(3 Pt 1):507-13. PubMed
- Diaz-Perales A, Collada C, Blanco C, et al. Cross-reactions in the latex-fruit syndrome: A relevant role of chitinases but not of complex asparagine-linked glycans. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:681-7. PubMed
- Castillo, R., Delgado, J., Quiralte, J., Blanco, C., and Carrillo, T. Food hypersensitivity among adult patients: epidemiological and clinical aspects. Allergol.Immunopathol.(Madr.) 1996;24(3):93-97.
- Oderinde, O., Noronha, C., Oremosu, A., Kusemiju, T., and Okanlawon, O. A. Abortifacient properties of aqueous extract of Carica papaya (Linn) seeds on female Sprague-Dawley rats. Niger.Postgrad.Med J 2002;9(2):95-98. DOI
- Danese, C., Esposito, D., D'Alfonso, V., Cirene, M., Ambrosino, M., and Colotto, M. Plasma glucose level decreases as collateral effect of fermented papaya preparation use. Clin Ter. 2006;157(3):195-198.
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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.
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