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Dietary supplement

Quassia Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

Quassia label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Quassia 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

Quassia is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for loss of appetite, digestive upset, head lice (topical).Based on those ingredients, 198 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are wildcrafted Quassia extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Quassia by Hawaii Pharm

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

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Quassia by Hawaii Pharm

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 Sep 10, 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: wildcrafted Quassia extract, a liquid made from the quassia tree. The extract also contains vegetable palm glycerin and pharmaceutical-grade alcohol as inactive ingredients that help preserve and deliver the extract.

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

This is a single-ingredient Quassia product and its label doesn't state a use — see Quassia's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

We don't have established evidence that quassia works for the conditions it's traditionally used for. The data shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for seborrheic dermatitis, lice, and rosacea.

If you're considering it for one of these, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether there's a better-studied option.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Quassia

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.

Quassia is likely fine in the small amounts you'd get from food, but medicinal doses — like what you'd take from a supplement — can irritate your mouth and throat, and may cause nausea or vomiting. Long-term use raises concerns about changes to your vision, including the risk of blindness.

The safety data advises against use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because of traditional concerns and lack of safety research.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Quassia

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 — Quassia.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications; heart-rhythm medications.
  • For scale: 198 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, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on antidiabetes medications (blood sugar drugs), diuretics (water pills), digoxin (Lanoxin), H2-blockers, antacids, or PPIs — all have documented moderate to minor interactions with quassia.

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.

Quassia is best avoided if you take blood sugar drugs, diuretics, digoxin, or stomach acid medications — the interaction risks are real. Even if you don't take those, the evidence for what it actually does is sparse, and medicinal doses can upset your stomach and raise safety questions with long-term use.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it.

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 Quassia, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 650905466199
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 23, 2020
DSLD ID 237548
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten 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 Quassia by Hawaii Pharm, 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:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
650905466199
IngredientAmount% DV
wildcrafted Quassia extract970 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Palm Glycerin, pharmaceutical grade Alcohol

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.
General Statements

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Made with Aloha!

Formulation

Contains no GMO, gluten, artificial colors, heavy metals, preservatives, pesticides, fertilizers.

Super concentrated liquid herbal extract. Dry herb/menstruum ratio: 1:3.

Manufactured in an FDA registered facility.

Non GMO Gluten free

Made in USA, Hawaii

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions for use: Shake well before using. Take about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 ml, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to 2-4 oz of juice or water up to 4 times per day.

Precautions

Warning: Keep out of the reach of children.

May have contraindications. We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult a physician before using during pregnancy, if nursing or taking any medications.

Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Formula

(Quassia amara)

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Dietary Supplement

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

FDA Registered Facility Made in United States of America USA

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

See for yourself

Quassia by Hawaii Pharm label

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

Quassia 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 Quassia by Hawaii Pharm

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

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Wildcrafted Quassia extract

Interacts with
198 drugs
970 mg per serving

Quassia is a tropical wood known for its very bitter taste, traditionally used as a digestive bitter and as a folk remedy for parasites and head lice....

Wildcrafted Quassia extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Palm Glycerin, Pharmaceutical grade Alcohol. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Quassia by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Quassia?

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
198Drugs
162 Moderate 36 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

wildcrafted Quassia extract 198

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Quassia interact with 198 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Quassia interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. wildcrafted Quassia extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Quassia 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.

wildcrafted Quassia extract6 drug types · 198 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

In animals, quassia extract reduced levels of fasting glucose. Theoretically, quassia might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs. This might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. Monitor blood glucose levels closely.
Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Theoretically, concomitant use with cardiac medications might increase the risk of therapeutic and adverse effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Diuretic Drugs

Overuse of quassia might compound diuretic-induced potassium loss. There is some concern that people taking quassia along with potassium depleting diuretics might have an increased risk for hypokalemia. Initiation of potassium supplementation or an increase in potassium supplement dose may be necessary for some patients.
Some diuretics that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antacids

Theoretically, due to reports that quassia increases stomach acid, quassia might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
H2-Blockers

Theoretically, due to reports that quassia increases stomach acid, quassia might decrease the effectiveness of H2-blockers. The H2 blockers include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Proton Pump Inhibitors (Ppis)

Theoretically, due to reports that quassia increases stomach acid, quassia might decrease the effectiveness of PPIs. PPIs include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
wildcrafted Quassia extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Quassia, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96815
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Quassia by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Quassia by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Quassia has a known interaction with 198 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Quassia 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 quassia if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against it during pregnancy because of traditional concerns and lack of safety research. The same goes for breastfeeding — there isn't enough information to know it's safe, so skip it during that time and talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What does quassia actually do?
Quassia is used traditionally for seborrheic dermatitis, lice, and rosacea, but we don't have reliable evidence that it works for any of these. If you're looking to treat one of these conditions, your doctor or pharmacist can suggest something with better research behind it.
What side effects does quassia cause?
When taken by mouth in medicinal amounts, quassia can irritate your mouth and throat, causing nausea and vomiting. Long-term use is linked to vision changes and, in some cases, blindness. Applied to the skin, it appears well tolerated with no reported side effects.
I take a water pill (diuretic) for blood pressure. Can I use quassia?
No — quassia may compound the potassium loss that diuretics can cause, raising your risk of low potassium (hypokalemia). Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplement alongside your blood pressure medication.
Does quassia interact with my heartburn medication?
Maybe. Quassia may increase stomach acid, which could make acid-reducing drugs like omeprazole (Prilosec), cimetidine (Tagamet), or antacids less effective. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure.

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.

Quassia label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Quassia’s Ingredients

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

Herb & supplement monograph

Quassia

Interacts with 198 drugs

Quassia is a tropical wood known for its very bitter taste, traditionally used as a digestive bitter and as a folk remedy for parasites and head lice. Human evidence for these uses is limite...

Read the full Quassia monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Quassia'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 8 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.

Quassia 8 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Robbers JE, Speedie MK, Tyler VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
  3. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  4. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  5. Jensen O, Nielsen AO, Bjerregaard P. Pediculosis capitis treated with quassia tincture. Acta Derm Venereol 1978;58:557-9. DOI
  6. Diehl C, Ferrari A. Efficacy of topical 4% Quassia amara gel in facial seborrheic dermatitis:a randomized, double-blind, comparative study. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013;12(3):312-5.
  7. Ferrari A, Diehl C. Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of a topical gel with 4% quassia extract in the treatment of rosacea. J Clin Pharmacol. 2012;52(1):84-8. PubMed
  8. Husain GM, Singh PN, Singh RK, Kumar V. Antidiabetic activity of standardized extract of Quassia amara in nicotinamide-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Phytother Res. 2011;25(12):1806-12.

See these in context on the Quassia 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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