Does OLLY Beat The Bloat Have Any Drug Interactions?

Answer

I certainly appreciate you reaching out to us again! As always, more than happy to help.

You're correct that OLLY Beat The Bloat does contain a number of different herbal ingredients, some of which do have some reported drug interactions.

In the next section, I'll list out all the ingredients in OLLY Beat The Bloat and discuss which ingredients have reported drug interactions, and I'll touch on the drugs you mentioned in your question specifically.

What Are The Ingredients In OLLY Beat The Bloat?

OLLY Beat The Bloat contains the following ingredients:

• Digestive Enzyme Blend: Amylase, Cellulase, Hemicellulase, Lactase, Alpha Galactosidase, Lipase
• Dandelion Extract (leaf)
• Fennel Extract (seed)
• Ginger Extract (root)

The product also contains the following ingredients that are used in manufacturing:

• Microcrystalline cellulose
• Hypromellose
• Maltodextrin
• Isomaltooligosaccharide
• Magnesium Stearate
• Silica
• Titanium Dioxide

So, let's get dive into these 'active' ingredients.

Digestive Enzyme Blend

There are a number of different digestive enzymes in OLLY Beat The Bloat which will help break down different types of carbohydrates, sugars, and fats.  For example, lactase helps break down lactose, a common sugar found in dairy products and is very strongly associated with causing gas and bloating as many individuals lack the ability to completely break it down naturally.

There are no known drug interactions between the digestive enzymes in OLLY Beat The Bloat and any medication.

In fact, there are several different digestive enzyme products available by prescription, such as CREON, and they all state in their prescribing information that they have no known drug interactions.

Dandelion Extract

Dandelion extract is commonly used in dietary supplements for its purported diuretic effects. It may help the body reduce water retention, which could reduce swelling and bloating. It is also used for digestive issues.

There are a number of theoretical interactions with dandelion, partly due to its purported diuretic effects, but also because it may have antidiabetic effects. Studies, mostly in animals, have shown it can lower blood sugar.

So, potential drug interactions with dandelion include other drugs that may cause water loss and antidiabetic drugs, such as:

• Furosemide
• Spironolactone
• Metformin
• Glipizide
• Glimepiride

Now, it must be said that the majority of drug interactions with dandelion are likely clinically insignificant for most individuals and dandelion appears to only have modest effects on the things I mentioned (e.g., water loss, antidiabetic effects). Nevertheless, they are good to know about so you can look out for any potential side effects.

In regard to the drugs you mentioned, pravastatin, lisinopril, and metformin, metformin is a drug used to treat diabetes, but it typically doesn't cause hypoglycemia (i.e., low blood sugar). Again, just be sure to look out for any side effects that could be due to low blood sugar, such as feeling shaky, dizzy, thirsty, etc...

Fennel Extract

Fennel, a plant belonging to the carrot family, is often utilized in supplements for its nutritional value (it is high in beta-carotene and vitamin C) as well as its purported digestive effects.

Fennel has the potential to interact with a number of different medications as some studies have shown it may inhibit a prominent metabolizing enzyme in the body (CYP3A4). However, this has only been seen in lab studies and it's unlikely to be clinically significant in humans.

However, if you are taking drugs that are metabolized by this enzyme, it is important to know about and watch for side effects.

Again, going back to the drugs you listed in your question (pravastatin, lisinopril, and metformin), none are predominately metabolized by this enzyme, so you likely have nothing to worry about here.

Ginger Extract

Lastly here, we have ginger, which is well-known, and often used for, its digestive effects.

Most reported drug interactions with ginger are thought to be minor and clinically insignificant. However, an important exception may be with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs.

While research is conflicting, some studies have concluded that ginger may have blood-thinning effects. Due to the potentially serious consequences of this interaction, ginger should be used cautiously with the following drugs:

• Coumadin (warfarin)
• Pradaxa
• Brilinta
• Eliquis
• Ticlid
• Xarelto
• Effient
• Lovenox
• Plavix
• Aspirin

If it is used with any of the above, you should watch for signs and symptoms of bruising and bleeding. It is important to note as well that ginger may enhance the blood-thinning effects of NSAIDs (like ibuprofen and naproxen) as well.

Our interaction checker does list a minor interaction between metformin and ginger due to ginger purportedly having some antidiabetic effects, but it appears to be clinically insignificant for most individuals. Pravastatin and lisinopril are considered safe to take with ginger.

Final Words

Thanks so much for reaching out to us again! We love hearing back from people.

I hope this answer helped.