Background
Psyllium seed husks absorb water in the stomach and form a large mass. This mass stimulates the bowel in people with constipation. In people with diarrhea, it can slow down the bowel and reduce bowel movements. This mass can also reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed into the body.
Blond psyllium is commonly used as a stool softener in people with constipation and hemorrhoids. It is also used for diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. It's used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.
Safety Safety definitions
Blond psyllium is likely unsafe when taken without enough fluids. It might cause choking or block the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
When applied into the eye: Blond psyllium mucilage in eyedrops is possibly safe for most people.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if blond psyllium is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Blond psyllium is likely safe when taken by mouth appropriately when pregnant or breast-feeding.Growths in the large intestine and rectum (colorectal adenoma): Blond psyllium might increase the risk of new growths in people with a history of colorectal adenoma. People who have had this condition should avoid blond psyllium.
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: Don't use blond psyllium if you tend to develop hard stools in the rectum due to GI tract narrowing, obstruction, or conditions that can lead to obstruction, such as spastic bowel.
Allergy: Some people can have severe allergic reactions to blond psyllium. This is more likely in people who have been exposed to blond psyllium at work. Don't use blond psyllium if you are sensitive to it.
Phenylketonuria: Some blond psyllium preparations are sweetened with aspartame and should be avoided in patients with phenylketonuria.
Swallowing disorders: Do not use blond psyllium if you have problems swallowing. Blond psyllium might increase your risk of choking.
Effectiveness
- Constipation. Taking blond psyllium by mouth, alone or as a combination product, can relieve constipation and improve stool consistency.
- Heart disease. Blond psyllium is a soluble fiber. Eating foods high in soluble fiber as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can help prevent heart disease. You must eat at least 7 grams of psyllium husk daily to reduce the risk for heart disease.
- High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Taking blond psyllium by mouth reduces low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol in people with mild to moderate high cholesterol. But it seems to be less effective in older people.
- Diabetes. Taking blond psyllium by mouth can improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. But it's not clear if it helps prevent diabetes.
- Diarrhea. Taking blond psyllium by mouth seems to reduce diarrhea symptoms.
- Hemorrhoids. Taking blond psyllium by mouth seems to relieve bleeding and pain in people with hemorrhoids.
- A long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS). Taking blond psyllium by mouth can relieve constipation and improve stomach pain, diarrhea, and overall well-being in people with IBS. It might take up to four weeks for it to help.
- Treating side effects of a drug called Orlistat (Xenical, Alli). Taking blond psyllium by mouth with each dose of orlistat seems to relieve orlistat side effects such as gas, stomach rumbling, stomach cramps, and oily spotting.
- Non-cancerous growths in the large intestine and rectum (colorectal adenoma). Taking blond psyllium by mouth doesn't seem to reduce the risk of colorectal adenoma.
Dosing & administration
Blond psyllium is available in many different types of products, including cereals, breads, and snack bars. Metamucil is a well-studied, commonly used brand of blond psyllium. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Blond psyllium contains large amounts of fiber. Fiber can decrease how much carbamazepine the body absorbs. This might decrease the effects of carbamazepine.
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Blond psyllium is high in fiber. Fiber can decrease the absorption and decrease the effects of digoxin. To avoid this interaction, take digoxin one hour before or four hours after blond psyllium.
Ethinyl estradiol
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Ethinyl estradiol is a form of estrogen that's in some estrogen products and birth control pills. Psyllium might decrease how much ethinyl estradiol the body absorbs. But this is unlikely to be a big concern.
Lithium
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Blond psyllium contains large amounts of fiber. Fiber can decrease how much lithium the body absorbs. To avoid this interaction, take blond psyllium at least one hour after lithium.
Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Psyllium contains large amounts of fiber. Fiber can decrease, increase, or have no effect on how much medicine the body absorbs. Taking psyllium along with medicine you take by mouth may impact the effects of your medicine. To avoid this interaction, take psyllium 30-60 minutes after medications you take by mouth.
Metformin (Glucophage)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Blond psyllium might change how much metformin the body absorbs. This might increase or decrease the effects of metformin. To avoid this interaction, take blond psyllium 30-60 minutes after taking metformin.
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Blond psyllium contains large amounts of fiber. Fiber can decrease how much olanzapine the body absorbs. This might decrease the effects of olanzapine.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Riboflavin: Psyllium seems to slightly reduce the amount of riboflavin that the body absorbs. But this probably isn't a big concern.
Interactions with foods
Products
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- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.58 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium bifidum 1.58 billion CFU
- Pea protein isolate 9.4 g
- Marine algae 500 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Sunflower lecithin 200 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 100 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 100 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
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- Malpighia glabra powder 100 mg
- Lycium chinese powder 100 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 100 mg
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- Apple pectin 200 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 70 mg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 30 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 20 mg
- Beta glucan 11.5 mg
- Dunaliella salina 8 mg
- Lutein 2 mg
- Zeaxanthin (Carotenoids) 400 µg
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- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- Retinyl palmitate
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folate
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- Fucus vesiculosus powder 97 mg
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- Biotin
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- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 100 mg
- Carica papaya 50 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 100 mg
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple) 963 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural caramel flavour
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus acidophilus (DDS-1)
- Larix occidentalis (arabinogalactan) (Larch)
- Cichorium intybus (root) (Chicory)
- Lactobacillus fermentum
- Ulmus rubra (bark inner) powder
- Pediococcus acidilactici
- Bifidobacterium infantis
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus salivarius
- Entero-coccus faecium
- Bacillus subtilis
- Apple pectin
- Lactobacillus gasseri
- Lactobacillus sporogenes
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Wheatgrass powder
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Hordeum vulgare (leaf) powder
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Withania somnifera
- Fucus vesiculosus
- Zingiber officinale
- Actaea racemosa
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Ulmus rubra
- Silybum marianum
- Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Vitex agnus-castus (fruit)
- Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Taraxacum officinale
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus helveticus
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus leichmannii
- Lactobacillus caucasicus
- Lactococcus lactis
- Lactobacillus fermentum
- Lactobacillus brevis
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB)
- Cinnamon zeylanicum (bark)
- Punica granatum
- Rubus idaeus
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG))
- Bambusa vulgaris (fibre)
- Cichorium intybus (root) (Chicory)
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple)
- Glucomannan powder
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) flour (Flaxseed)
- Prunus domestica powder (Prune)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Apple pectin
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Beef bones
- Paprika
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- Water
- Sea salt
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- Cichorium intybus (fibre)
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- Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
- Natural pomegranate flavour
- Allium cepa
- Allium sativum powder
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Tamarindus indica
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Pea protein isolate
- Malus (Apple)
- Apple pectin
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed)
- Sunflower lecithin
- Marine algae
- Wheatgrass powder
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Zingiber officinale
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Cynara scolymus
- Ribes nigrum
- Vitis vinifera
- Malpighia glabra
- Vaccinium myrtillus
- Camellia sinensis
- Rosa canina
- Centella asiatica
- Silybum marianum
- Rhodiola rosea
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Withania somnifera
- Taraxacum officinale
- Lycium chinese (berry)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid
- Beta glucan
- Ubiquinol-10 (Coenzyme Q10)
- Dunaliella salina
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural pineapple flavour
- Zinc citrate
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Retinyl palmitate
- Cholecalciferol
- Copper gluconate
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Panax ginseng
- Fucus vesiculosus
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf)
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Lentinula edodes (fruiting body)
- Ulmus rubra (bark inner) powder
- Hordeum vulgare
- Theobroma cacao
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Manganese gluconate
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Fallopia japonica
- Amylase enzyme
- Protease
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Bacopa monnieri
- Salvia officinalis
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Pea protein isolate
- Vaccinium corymbosum powder
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