Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Slippery Elm 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Puritan's Pride

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

Slippery Elm 500 mg is a dietary supplement by Puritan's Pride with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for sore throat and cough, heartburn and acid reflux, digestive upset and ibs.Based on those ingredients, 2,022 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Slippery Elm. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride

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: slippery elm inner bark at 500 mg per capsule. Slippery elm is traditionally used for digestive and throat comfort, though we'll cover what the evidence actually shows on effectiveness.

The capsule also includes inactive ingredients—calcium carbonate, gelatin, vegetable cellulose, silica, and vegetable magnesium stearate—which are binders, fillers, and the capsule shell itself.

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 Slippery Elm product and its label doesn't state a use — see Slippery Elm'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.

The evidence we hold on slippery elm's effectiveness is not established. We rate it insufficient reliable evidence to determine whether it works for cancer, constipation, cough, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or diarrhea.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work—it means the clinical data we have isn't strong enough to say either way. If you're considering it for a specific condition, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about what the research actually supports for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Slippery Elm

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.

Slippery elm is generally well tolerated for short-term use, but high-quality safety data are limited, so we can't give you a complete picture of how safe it is long-term. Regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding: we don't have enough reliable safety data for either, and some sources caution against using slippery elm in pregnancy.

The data on breastfeeding safety is too sparse to know either way. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Topically, slippery elm can occasionally cause contact dermatitis or hives, and the pollen is a known allergen, so be aware if you have a history of plant allergies.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Slippery Elm

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 — Slippery Elm.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 2,023 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 slippery elm, check any oral medications you're taking—the mucilage in slippery elm may slow their absorption and reduce how well they work. Use the search tool below to verify your exact drugs.

If you take anything by mouth, a spacing check is important.

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.

Slippery elm may be worth considering if you're looking for traditional digestive support and your doctor agrees it's right for you. The key thing to know is that it can interfere with how your body absorbs many oral medications, so timing matters—take it well away from your prescriptions and over-the-counters.

Check your exact medications before you start, and if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or using it long-term, talk with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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 24, 2023.

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 Slippery Elm 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Puritan's Pride
Barcode (UPC) 074312005466
Net contents 60 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 24, 2023
DSLD ID 285981
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar 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 Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride, 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
60
UPC/BARCODE
074312005466
IngredientAmount% DV
Slippery Elm500 mg--

Other ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Gelatin, Vegetable Cellulose, Silica, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate

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

Puritan’s Pride supplements are produced from the finest raw materials under stringent quality control standards. State-of-the-art manufacturing and packaging facilities ensure you the highest quality nutritional supplements money can buy. When it comes to your health...choose the best.

To reorder item # 21785 www.puritan.com 1-800-645-1030

Precautions

Warning: If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications or have any medical condition, consult your doctor before use.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any adverse reactions occur.

Any medication should be taken one (1) hour prior to consuming this product.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if seal under cap is broken or missing.

Storage

Store at room temperature.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Copyright 2019 Puritan’s Pride, Inc.

Seals/Symbols

QA Quality Assured

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: For adults, take one (1) capsule daily, preferably with a meal.

Formulation

No artificial color, flavor or sweetener, no preservatives, no sugar, no starch, no milk, no lactose, no soy, no gluten, no wheat, no yeast, no fish. Sodium free.

See for yourself

Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride

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

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Slippery Elm

Interacts with
2,022 drugs
500 mg per serving

Slippery elm is a traditional herbal remedy made from the inner bark of a North American elm tree, used mainly to soothe sore throats and irritated di...

Slippery Elm monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Gelatin, Vegetable Cellulose, Silica, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Slippery Elm 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
2,022Drugs
2,022 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Slippery Elm 2,022

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Slippery Elm 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.

Slippery Elm1 drug type · 2,022 drugs

Oral Drugs

Theoretically, slippery elm may slow the absorption and reduce serum levels of oral drugs.
Slippery elm inner bark contains mucilage, which may interfere with the absorption of orally administered drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Slippery Elm 500 mg, from the product label.

Puritan's Pride

See all Puritan's Pride products
Name
Puritan's Pride, Inc.
City
Ronkonkoma
State
NY
ZipCode
11779
Phone Number
1-800-645-1030
Web Address
www.puritan.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride: Common Questions

Does Slippery Elm 500 mg by Puritan's Pride interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Slippery Elm 500 mg has a known interaction with 2,022 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Slippery Elm 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 slippery elm with my other medications?
Not without planning ahead. Slippery elm can interfere with how your body absorbs oral drugs, so you'll want to take it at least 2 hours away from any medications. Search your exact drugs in the tool on this page to be sure, and ask your pharmacist to help you space them out safely.
Does slippery elm actually work for constipation or cough?
The clinical evidence we have isn't strong enough to say whether it works for those—or for diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer. That's why we rate it insufficient reliable evidence. If you want to try it, talk with your doctor about whether it makes sense for your situation.
Is it safe to take long-term?
We don't have enough high-quality safety data to know how safe it is for long-term use. Short-term use is generally well tolerated, but if you're thinking of taking it for weeks or months, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.
Can I take it if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
We don't have enough reliable safety data for either pregnancy or breastfeeding, and some sources caution against it in pregnancy. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing—they can give you personalized advice based on your situation.
What are the side effects?
Slippery elm is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth. If you apply it to skin, it can occasionally cause contact dermatitis or hives. The pollen is also a known allergen, so if you have plant allergies, be cautious.
What is slippery elm and why is it in this product?
Slippery elm inner bark is a traditional ingredient used for digestive and throat comfort. It contains mucilage, a thick substance that soothes and coats. The same mucilage, though, is why it can interfere with how your body absorbs other oral medications.

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

Not sure if Slippery Elm 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.

Slippery Elm 500 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Slippery Elm 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 3 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.

Slippery Elm 3 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Czarnecki D, Nixon R, Bekhor P, and et al. Delayed prolonged contact urticaria from the elm tree. Contact Dermatitis 1993;28:196-197. PubMed

See these in context on the Slippery Elm 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

Keep exploring