Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Saw Palmetto 690 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Answer

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

Saw Palmetto 690 mg is a dietary supplement by Nature's Answer with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph) symptoms, urinary problems, hair loss.Based on those ingredients, 174 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Saw Palmetto. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer

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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • “Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) berry extract” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (640 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains 2 active ingredients. The primary one is saw palmetto berry extract from Serenoa repens, a plant commonly used for urinary and prostate concerns.

The extract includes the fatty acids naturally present in the berries, which are part of its active composition. The capsule also contains a few inactive ingredients — vegetable cellulose (the capsule shell itself), rice flour, and calcium silicate — which are fillers and flow agents used to manufacture the product.

Does it work?

Leans against
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
Leans against

The strongest graded evidence we hold for the stated purpose leans against a benefit.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: prostate health and urinary function.
  • We looked for evidence on: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), Prostatitis, Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), urinary flow, lower urinary tract health.
  • The closest evidence on file: Saw Palmetto is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Saw Palmetto is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), Prostatitis, Non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

The evidence for saw palmetto's effectiveness is mixed and depends on what you're taking it for. For transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP, a surgical procedure), it's possibly effective.

For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, enlarged prostate), the evidence currently suggests it's possibly ineffective. For chronic bronchitis, androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), and non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms, we don't have enough reliable evidence in our data to rate it either way.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Saw Palmetto

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.

Saw palmetto is generally well tolerated, with mild and infrequent side effects that typically reverse when you stop taking it. The most common ones reported are abdominal pain, constipation, decreased libido, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, stuffy nose, and vomiting.

Rarely, skin reactions (fixed drug eruptions with blisters), worsening acne, or cardiovascular effects like high blood pressure, dizziness on standing, heart palpitations, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat have been reported; one case of severe slowed heart rate and a heart conduction block was documented. The safety data advises against use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding due to possible hormonal effects and lack of safety information.

If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Saw Palmetto

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 — Saw Palmetto.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 174 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.

Check your medications before starting, especially if you take blood thinners (anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin or aspirin) — saw palmetto may increase bleeding risk. Also confirm with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on estrogen therapy or birth control pills, since saw palmetto may reduce their effectiveness.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

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

Saw palmetto may be worth considering if you're looking into options for prostate or urinary symptoms, though the evidence for its benefits is limited and mixed. However, if you take blood thinners, birth control pills, or any hormone medication, you'll need to check with your doctor or pharmacist first — this product can interact with those drugs.

Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 22, 2022.

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 Saw Palmetto 690 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Answer
Barcode (UPC) 083000164316
Net contents 120 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 22, 2022
DSLD ID 277018
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, 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 Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer, 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:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
083000164316
IngredientAmount% DV
Saw Palmetto50 mg--
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) berry extract640 mg--
Fatty Acids160 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose, Rice Flour, Calcium Silicate

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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Discover Nature's Answer and trust the Difference... This True Nature of Our Standards goes way beyond the herb...

Nature's Answer Since 1972

Discover Nature's Answer

Copyright 2019 Nature's Answer

Precautions

Prop. 65 Warning for California Residents Warning: Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.

Warning: Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing.

Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing. If you are taking any medication, planning any medical procedure or have a medical condition, consult with your healthcare practitioner before use.

Formulation

Gluten Free Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org

Standardized

Vegan

Gluten-Free

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Store in a cool, dry place.

Formula

Serenoa repens

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take one (1) capsule daily with food or water.

General Statements

For product information, call (800) 439-2324

See for yourself

Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container120 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.

Saw Palmetto

Interacts with
174 drugs
50 mg per serving

Saw palmetto is a plant extract most often used for urinary symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate (BPH). The best research suggests it works no bett...

Saw Palmetto monograph & interactions
640 mg per serving

Saw palmetto is a plant extract most often used for urinary symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate (BPH). The best research suggests it works no bett...

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) berry extract monograph & interactions
  • › Fatty Acids

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose, Rice Flour, Calcium Silicate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Saw Palmetto 690 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
174Drugs
174 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Saw Palmetto 690 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.

Saw Palmetto3 drug types · 174 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Saw palmetto might increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Saw palmetto is reported to prolong bleeding time. Theoretically, it might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Contraceptive Drugs

Saw palmetto might reduce the effectiveness of contraceptive drugs.
Saw palmetto might have antiestrogenic effects. Theoretically, it might interfere with contraceptive drugs taken concomitantly.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Estrogens

Saw palmetto might reduce the effectiveness of estrogens.
Saw palmetto might have antiestrogenic effects. Theoretically, it might interfere with estrogens taken concomitantly.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Saw Palmetto 690 mg, from the product label.

Nature's Answer

See all Nature's Answer products
Name
Nature's Answer
Street Address
85 Commerce Drive
City
Hauppauge
State
NY
ZipCode
11788
Phone Number
(800) 439-2324
Web Address
www.naturesanswer.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer: Common Questions

Does Saw Palmetto 690 mg by Nature's Answer interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Saw Palmetto 690 mg has a known interaction with 174 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Saw Palmetto 690 mg contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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 while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against saw palmetto during pregnancy because of possible effects on hormones and lack of safety information. For the same reasons, avoid it while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about what to take instead.
What are the most common side effects?
Most people who take saw palmetto experience either no side effects or very mild ones. The most common are abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, and a stuffy nose. These are usually infrequent and go away when you stop the product.
Does this work for an enlarged prostate?
The current evidence suggests saw palmetto is possibly ineffective for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). If you have prostate symptoms, it's worth talking with your doctor about what might actually help.
Will this help with male pattern baldness?
We don't have enough reliable evidence to say whether saw palmetto works for androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Your doctor can discuss other options with you if that's a concern.
What's in the capsule besides the active ingredient?
The capsule contains vegetable cellulose (the shell), rice flour, and calcium silicate — these are inactive fillers and manufacturing aids, not active ingredients.
Can this affect my blood pressure or heart?
Cardiovascular effects are rare, but cases of high blood pressure, dizziness on standing, heart palpitations, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat have been reported. One case of severe slowed heart rate and a heart block was documented. If you have a heart condition or take heart medications, confirm with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

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

Not sure if Saw Palmetto 690 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.

Saw Palmetto 690 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Saw Palmetto 690 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 22 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.

Saw Palmetto 22 references
  1. Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Stark G, et al. Saw palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. JAMA 1998;280:1604-9. PubMed
  2. Carraro JC, Raynaud JP, Koch G, et al. Comparison of phytotherapy (Permixon) with finasteride in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia: a randomized international study of 1,098 patients. Prostate 1996;29:231-40. DOI
  3. Di Silverio F, D'Eramo G, Lubrano C, et al. Evidence that Serenoa repens extract displays an antiestrogenic activity in prostatic tissue of benign prostatic hypertrophy patients. Eur Urol 1992;21:309-14. PubMed
  4. Stepanov VN, Siniakova LA, Sarrazin B, Raynaud JP. Efficacy and tolerability of the lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) in benign prostatic hyperplasia: a double-blind comparison of two dosage regimens. Adv Ther 1999;16:231-41.
  5. Cheema P, El-Mefty O, Jazieh AR. Intraoperative haemorrhage associated with the use of extract of Saw Palmetto herb: a case report and review of literature. J Intern Med 2001;250:167-9. PubMed
  6. Jibrin I, Erinle A, Saidi A, Aliyu ZY. Saw palmetto-induced pancreatitis. South Med J 2006;99:611-2. PubMed
  7. Prager N, Bickett K, French N, Marcovici G. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. J Altern Complement Med 2002
  8. Avins AL, Bent S, Staccone S, et al. A detailed safety assessment of a saw palmetto extract. Complement Ther Med 2008;16:147-54. PubMed
  9. Morgia, G., Mucciardi, G., Gali, A., Madonia, M., Marchese, F., Di, Benedetto A., Romano, G., Bonvissuto, G., Castelli, T., Macchione, L., and Magno, C. Treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome category IIIA with Serenoa repens plus
  10. Aliaev, IuG, Vinarov, A. Z., Lokshin, K. L., and Spivak, L. G. [Efficiency and safety of prostamol-Uno in patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis]. Urologiia. 2006;(1):47-50.
  11. Agbabiaka, T. B., Pittler, M. H., Wider, B., and Ernst, E. Serenoa repens (saw palmetto): a systematic review of adverse events. Drug Saf 2009;32(8):637-647. PubMed
  12. Wargo, K. A., Allman, E., and Ibrahim, F. A possible case of saw palmetto-induced pancreatitis. South.Med.J. 2010;103(7):683-685. PubMed
  13. Lapi, F., Gallo, E., Giocaliere, E., Vietri, M., Baronti, R., Pieraccini, G., Tafi, A., Menniti-Ippolito, F., Mugelli, A., Firenzuoli, F., and Vannacci, A. Acute liver damage due to Serenoa repens: a case report. Br.J.Clin.Pharmacol. 2010;69(5):558-560.
  14. Mantovani, F. Serenoa repens in benign prostatic hypertrophy: analysis of 2 Italian studies. Minerva Urol.Nefrol. 2010;62(4):335-340.
  15. Hanaka, M., Yoshii, C., Yatera, K., Ito, C., Chojin, Y., Nagata, S., Yamasaki, K., Nishida, C., Kawanami, T., Kawanami, Y., Ishimoto, H., and Mukae, H. [A case of rhabdomyolysis caused by saw palmetto of healthy foods]. J.UOEH. 6-1-2012;34(2):193-199. PubMed
  16. Miroddi, M., Carni, A., Mannucci, C., Moleti, M., Navarra, M., and Calapai, G. Hot flashes in a young girl: a wake-up call concerning Serenoa repens use in children. Pediatrics 2012;130(5):e1374-e1376.
  17. Braeckman J. The extract of Serenoa repens in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a multicenter open study. Current Therapeutic Research 1994;55(7):776-785. DOI
  18. Jipescu D, Patel A, Bohra H, Pientka A. Rare case of saw palmetto induced heart block. JACC 2017;69(11) supplement:2310.
  19. Morabito P, Miroddi M, Giovinazzo S, Spina E, Calapai G. Serenoa repens as an endocrine disruptor in a 10-year-Old young girl: a new case report. Pharmacology. 2015;96(1-2):41-3. doi: 10.1159/000431327.
  20. Gammoudi R, Ameur K, Ouni B, et al. Fixed drug eruption to Serenoa repens: first case report and consideration of the use of herbal medicine. Dermatol Ther 2020 Aug 29:e14247.
  21. Paulis G, Paulis A, Perletti G. Serenoa repens and its effects on male sexual function. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Arch Ital Urol Androl 2021;93(4):475-480. PubMed
  22. Venkateswaran S, Declet-Bauzo R, Shodeinde M, Gilford P. Postoperative Retroperitoneal Hematoma: A Case of Saw Palmetto and the Importance of Primary Care Intervention. HCA Healthc J Med 2020;1(5):279-282. PubMed

See these in context on the Saw Palmetto 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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