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Dietary supplement

Pau D'Arco 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NOW

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

Pau D'Arco 500 mg is a dietary supplement by NOW with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for infections (bacterial, fungal, yeast), inflammation, immune support.Based on those ingredients, 122 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Pau d'Arco. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Pau D'Arco 500 mg 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

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: pau d'arco, a tree bark extract used in herbal medicine. The capsule also holds hypromellose and stearic acid as inactive ingredients to hold the formula together and create the capsule shell.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
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
Not assessable

We hold no graded evidence for this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: herbal support traditional use.
  • We looked for evidence on: immune support, fungal infections, inflammation.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

The evidence on pau d'arco isn't well established yet. Our data rates it as having insufficient reliable evidence for cancer, peptic ulcers, wound healing, and dysmenorrhea — the uses people typically ask about.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work; it means the clinical trials we have aren't robust enough to say one way or the other. If you're considering this for a specific health issue, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the research supports it for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Pau D'arco

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.

Human safety data on pau d'arco is limited, and higher doses carry real concerns. The lapachol compound in pau d'arco — one of its active constituents — can cause anemia, bleeding risk, severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when taken in doses above 1.5 grams daily.

This product is not recommended during pregnancy due to possible harm to a developing baby or while breastfeeding, as there isn't enough safety information.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Pau D'arco

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 — Pau D'arco.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 122 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.

Double-check this product before you start if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (Moderate severity) — warfarin, apixaban, clopidogrel, aspirin at prescription doses, and similar medications are the main concern. The pau d'arco in this product may increase bleeding risk when combined with these drugs.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Pau D'Arco may be worth considering if you're exploring herbal options, but it's not for everyone. Anyone on blood thinners or antiplatelet medications needs to check with their pharmacist first.

Pregnant women and those breastfeeding should avoid it. Talk with us before starting — we can help you weigh the limited evidence and check your 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 Jul 24, 2025.

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 Pau D'Arco 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand NOW
Barcode (UPC) 733739047250
Net contents 100 Veg Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jul 24, 2025
DSLD ID 335290
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
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 Pau D'Arco 500 mg 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:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
733739047250
IngredientAmount% DV
Total Carbohydrates1 Gram(s)1%
Pau d'Arco1 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: Hypromellose, Stearic Acid

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: Take 2 capsules 1 to 2 times daily as needed.

Formula

Pau D'Arco is derived from the inner bark of tabebuia trees, which are native to the Amazonian rainforest. Pau D'Arco has been used by traditional herbalist for centuries. This traditional use is supported by the more recent discovery of many active compounds including lapachol and beta-lapachone.

Pau D'Arco 500 mg of inner bark

Triangle K (Kosher)

Precautions

Caution: For adults only. Keep out of reach of children.

Not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. Consult physician if taking medication or have a medical condition.

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

Formulation

Natural color variation may occur in this product.

Herbal support Traditionally used for centuries

Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org

Vegetarian/vegan

Packaged and quality tested in the USA.

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

General Statements

This bottle is made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin.

Botanicals/herbs Family owned since 1968.

Seals/Symbols

Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org Triangle K (Kosher)

GMP Quality Assured

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place after opening.

See for yourself

Pau D'Arco 500 mg by NOW label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Pau D'Arco 500 mg by NOW

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

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container50 Amounts shown are per serving.

Pau d'Arco

Interacts with
122 drugs
1 Gram(s) per serving

Pau d'arco is a South American tree bark traditionally used for infections and inflammation, and it contains compounds like lapachol that show activit...

Pau d'Arco monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Hypromellose, Stearic Acid. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Pau D'Arco 500 mg by NOW Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Pau D'Arco 500 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
122Drugs
122 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Pau D'Arco 500 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.

Pau d'Arco1 drug type · 122 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, pau d'arco might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research shows that pau d'arco reduces platelet aggregation and may interfere with vitamin K. One clinical study shows that taking the lapachol constituent of pau d'arco in doses above 1.5 grams daily increases the risk of bleeding. The effects of whole pau d'arco or pau d'arco extract in humans are unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Pau D'Arco 500 mg, 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

Pau D'Arco 500 mg by NOW: Common Questions

Does Pau D'Arco 500 mg by NOW interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Pau D'Arco 500 mg has a known interaction with 122 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Pau D'Arco 500 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 this if I'm on a blood thinner like warfarin?
Not without talking to your pharmacist or doctor first. Pau d'arco may increase your bleeding risk when combined with blood thinners, so you'll need personalized advice based on your exact medication and health picture.
Is this safe to take every day?
The safety data is limited, and higher doses carry real risks — especially nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and increased bleeding. Keep doses lower and talk with us if you're planning to use it regularly or in higher amounts.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against pau d'arco during pregnancy due to possible harm to your baby, and there isn't enough information to recommend it while breastfeeding either. Talk with your doctor about what's safe for you.
Does pau d'arco actually work for cancer or ulcers?
We don't have enough reliable clinical evidence yet to say it works for those uses. If you're considering this for a specific condition, ask your doctor whether the research supports it for your situation.
What's in this capsule besides pau d'arco?
The capsule contains hypromellose and stearic acid — inactive ingredients that hold the formula together. There are no other active ingredients.

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

Not sure if Pau D'Arco 500 mg 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.

Pau D'Arco 500 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Pau D'Arco 500 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 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.

Pau D'arco 6 references
  1. Gómez Castellanos JR, Prieto JM, Heinrich M. Red Lapacho (Tabebuia impetiginosa)--a global ethnopharmacological commodity? J Ethnopharmacol 2009;121:1-13. PubMed
  2. Guerra, Mde O., Mazoni, A. S., Brandao, M. A., and Peters, V. M. Toxicology of Lapachol in rats: embryolethality. Braz.J Biol. 2001;61(1):171-174. PubMed
  3. Felicio, A. C., Chang, C. V., Brandao, M. A., Peters, V. M., and Guerra, Mde O. Fetal growth in rats treated with lapachol. Contraception 2002;66(4):289-293. PubMed
  4. Son, D. J., Lim, Y., Park, Y. H., Chang, S. K., Yun, Y. P., Hong, J. T., Takeoka, G. R., Lee, K. G., Lee, S. E., Kim, M. R., Kim, J. H., and Park, B. S. Inhibitory effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa inner bark extract on platelet aggregation and vascular s
  5. Block JB, Serpick AA, Miller W, Wiernik PH. Early clinical studies with lapachol (NSC-11905). Cancer Chemother Rep 2. 1974;4(4):27-8.
  6. Algranti E, Mendonça EM, Ali SA, Kokron CM, Raile V. Occupational asthma caused by Ipe (Tabebuia spp) dust. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2005;15(1):81-3.

See these in context on the Pau D'arco 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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