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Dietary supplement

Pau d'Arco 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson

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 Swanson 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 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 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains 1 active ingredient: pau d'arco, a botanical extract from the inner bark of a South American tree, supplied at 500 mg per capsule. The capsule itself is made from gelatin and filled with microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silica as inactive ingredients.

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: immune health and intestinal flora support.
  • We looked for evidence on: infection, digestive health, inflammation.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

The effectiveness of pau d'arco has not been established in the data we hold. The ingredient has been studied for cancer, peptic ulcers, wound healing, and dysmenorrhea, but the evidence for each is insufficient to rate.

If you're considering it for a specific health concern, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about whether the research supports it.

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.

Pau d'arco is generally well tolerated at typical doses, but human safety data is limited. At higher doses—particularly above 1.5 grams daily of its lapachol component—it can cause anemia, bleeding risk, severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The safety data advises against use during pregnancy due to possible harm to the developing baby, and there isn't enough information to know whether it's safe while breastfeeding, so it's best avoided.

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.

Blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, and others) are the main medications to double-check before starting pau d'arco. A Moderate interaction is documented.

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 interested in its traditional uses, but the evidence for those claims isn't established yet. If you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, check with us first—the bleeding risk is real.

Talk to your pharmacist about whether this is right for you and stick to the label dose.

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 May 23, 2024.

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 Swanson
Barcode (UPC) 087614014241
Net contents 100 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 23, 2024
DSLD ID 308687
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating)
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 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:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
087614014241
IngredientAmount% DV
Pau d'Arco1 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silica

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

Traditionally used for promoting immune health Helps support healthy intestinal flora Sourced from the inner bark

Immune health

General Statements

Science-Backed Quality Since 1969

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take two capsules one to two times per day with food and water.

Precautions

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

Do not take this product if you are pregnant or nursing. Consult your physician before using this or any product if you are taking medication or have a medical condition.

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.

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Formula

Pau d'Arco 500 mg per capsule

See for yourself

Pau d'Arco 500 mg by Swanson 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 Swanson

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 Form: Tabebuia impetiginosa

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: Gelatin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silica. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Pau d'Arco 500 mg by Swanson 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.

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

Pau d'Arco 500 mg by Swanson: Common Questions

Does Pau d'Arco 500 mg by Swanson 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 pau d'arco if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No, the safety data advises against pau d'arco during pregnancy because of possible harm to the baby. There also isn't enough safety information for breastfeeding, so it's best to avoid it then too. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're planning pregnancy or nursing and want to use pau d'arco.
Does pau d'arco actually work for cancer, ulcers, or wound healing?
The evidence isn't established yet. Pau d'arco has been studied for those conditions, but the research so far is insufficient to say whether it works. If you're considering it for a specific health problem, ask your pharmacist what the current evidence shows.
What side effects should I watch for?
At the label dose, side effects are uncommon. But at higher doses—above 1.5 grams daily—it can cause anemia, bleeding, severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Stick to the recommended dose and stop if you notice unusual bruising, bleeding, or stomach trouble.
Is this safe to take long-term?
Human safety data for pau d'arco is limited, so we don't have good long-term safety information. If you're thinking about using it regularly, talk with your pharmacist first.
Why does this product have so many medication interactions?
Pau d'arco appears to affect how your body handles blood thinning, and it interacts with a broad class of those medications—blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs span many individual prescriptions. That's why the interaction count is high, even though the drug TYPE affected is just one category.

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.

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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