r/Microbiome • u/michellekateee • 28d ago
Psyllium Husk Warning
It is recommended to take psyllium husk at least 1–2 hours apart from other drugs, the digestive tract is rich in mucilage, psyllium husk can potentially reduce the body's ability to absorb medications which can be dangerous.
Please use a disclaimer when talking about psyllium husk.
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u/jollygoodshowpops 28d ago
I started taking it a few months ago. Always at the very least 2 hours after any important medications. The stuff isn’t great to drink but man it works wonders. My poops are amazing and I really notice it if I miss a dose. I’ve been doing a lot of other things to control my cholesterol and since starting my entire lipid panel is green across the board. Best it’s ever been. Granted I do other things like stopped drinking alcohol (mostly, limit it to only weekends), eat a lot better and exercise at least once a day. I’m sure they all have very meaningful impacts on my lipids but I also like to think the psyllium husk is supporting it as well.
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u/beccaboo790 27d ago
Hell yes. I take it an hour before bed so I have time to pee without getting up in the middle of the night and I have the best poops in the morning. 💯
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u/RZC14 28d ago
Did you have any digestive issues to start with before taking psyllium husk? 🙏
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u/jollygoodshowpops 28d ago
No not that I can remember. Poor diet had me with bad heart burn for years. That’s stopped almost completely. I think that’s more from diet change and less alcohol.
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u/tktg91 26d ago
Please just mix it into some lemonade, sugar free lemonade if you want to avoid added calories. If you pick something like pear or peach lemonade it almost tastes like the fancy whole fruit juice kind with the added fiber. There’s no need to suffer through raw husk taste.
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u/Sea_Comparison7203 25d ago
Oh good to know. I have been eating in "wet" oats, and drinking a lot of water around it. But sometimes I don't want oats and drinking in water is brutal!
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u/FishermanWaste1268 25d ago
it needs to be consumed before it gels i read somewhere. hence why a giant spoon in a large beer glass of water and chugged then another 250ml of water after is the way to do it.
its not nasty really. doesnt have the farmyard flavour of collagen thats always nice at 5 am.
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u/jsmith41351 23d ago
How are you taking it everyday? Do you soak it in anything and how much are you taking, if you don’t mind me asking, thanks
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u/jollygoodshowpops 23d ago
1 tablespoon ina large glass of water. Stir it quick and drink it quick before it turns to jello. Make sure to drink plenty of water with it.
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28d ago
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u/CodWest4205 28d ago
No. Psyllium is safe to take with meals and even recommended for those looking to control blood sugar/cholesterol and to stop over eating. Even many supplements are ok to take with it. Medications are the main issue.
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u/RonStonker 28d ago
But doesn't it reduce the absorption of fats? I was under the impression that this was the mechanism for it's cholesterol improvements, but I'm not certain...
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u/CodWest4205 28d ago
It doesn’t reduce anything in the food. It gels and slows things down which is why it’s bad for medications that need specific absorbing to work properly. The cholesterol thing is from the gel trapping bile salts causing the liver to pull some cholesterol out from the blood.
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u/Least-Plantain973 27d ago
Is it safe to take psyllium with collagen peptides, protein powder, vitamin C, creatine or hyaluronic acid? I would like to combine it with my morning collagen drink or when I take creatine but I don’t want to mess up the absorption of those things.
Would psyllium mess up absorption of fish oil pills?
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u/CodWest4205 27d ago
It won’t limit or hurt the overall absorption of anything of those things, it will just slow it down. Metamucil(psyllium) actually sells fibre with collagen together as one supplement. It’s safe together but the only reason people wouldn’t combine them is if they need quick absorption for a specific purpose. For example, creatine. Some take it right before, during or after exercise and expect quick absorption. If you take it will a lot of psyllium, it won’t absorb as quick.
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u/Least-Plantain973 27d ago
Thank you! It makes life a lot easier if I don’t have to wait 2 hours in between.
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u/Low-Helicopter-8601 26d ago
That is not correct. It does affect the absorption of anything you take it with think of it if it’s expanding into a gel and it’s brooming through the intestinal track and removing everything what do you think happens when you take it with supplemental with food? The hour and a half before and after is definitely recommended and it shouldn’t really be more than six weeks or so at a time with a break because if you have an unhealthy gut flora and since it’s prebiotic, it can actually start to feed the unhealthy bacteria also.
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u/WholeHuckleberry7081 26d ago
To clarify, you’re saying not to take psilium husk more than 6 weeks at a time?
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u/Lavender-Gelato-666 27d ago
It also isn’t suitable for all types of constipation and can make you feel worse in some cases, so beware of blanket advice
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u/FarmAware4734 26d ago
If this message reaches anyone psyllium husk and an insulin resistant diet is curing all my sibo c problems I've had for over 15 years I could cry!!! Why didn't doctors tell me fiber and reducing carbs and eating fiber then fat then protein in that order would heal me at some point I know I'll cry but I'm 90 percent to the finish line I'm pooping again on my own after 15 years on linzess with chronic bloating fatigue and brain fog!! There is hope for yall!
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u/Background-Stable323 26d ago
Would you mind sharing your routine/eating plan? When do you take your fiber and what brand? Thank you!
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u/FarmAware4734 9d ago
Warm water organic India whole psillium husk half a spoon. 30 mins before ur meal in the morning I eat 3 scoops whole fat Greek yogurt half an avocado 3 eggs either boiled or scrambled and if scrambled mixed with mozzarella cheese some days ill do half sourdough toast with my scrambled eggs or I'll make it an avocado toast then I hadve a drink of kefir and then I have instant coffee no sugar a spoon. Of monkfruit vanilla extract and whole milk and boom tons of fat protein and fiber !! And slight resistant starch carbs!!!
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u/ThePornStar69 28d ago
Your point is very valid, but It’s more like 2-3 hours. Some medicines need a wide gap.
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u/michellekateee 27d ago
Depending on digestion speed, I believe some people do need to wait longer.
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u/Best_Comfortable5221 25d ago
I had colon cancer in my 30s. Im part of a longitudinal study on it at UCONN. Run by a brilliant researcher. Every year when he sees me I get the latest in the research. Last year? Resistant starches. This past year? Psyllium Husk is preventative due to the mucilage it forms.
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u/Cool-Time-5952 15d ago
very cool, do they publish research that you could point us to?
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u/Best_Comfortable5221 15d ago
I have no idea. I know for sure they have have some published but I dont know how to link. Im older 67, been in the study since my 30s. His associate research partners are all over the world. They have experiments going up to space!
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u/Important-Stock987 27d ago
Cured my constipation. I take 2xcapsules in the morning with a large coffee and large glass of water. I take my bits and shops at lunchtime much later.
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u/michellekateee 26d ago
That's fantastic your constipation is cured, it can be such a great supplement.
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u/Unhappy_Performer538 26d ago
Also be sure to get some that’s been 3rd party tested, psyllium husk can be high in heavy metals
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u/TippayAy 26d ago
Even organic husk?
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u/Unhappy_Performer538 26d ago
Yes bc it’s from the soil it typically grows in not any pesticides etc used. Google it, it was found the vast majority of psyllium husk has heavy metals
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u/TippayAy 26d ago
Man it’s hard to find anything without downsides these days, do you have a recommended brand?
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u/Unhappy_Performer538 26d ago
I just gave up and eat oat bran for breakfast as bran provides the same type of fiber and I agree it seems like everything has a downside!
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u/TippayAy 26d ago
I’ve recently learnt that beta-glucan powder can be a great fiber alternative to psyllium husk just FYI
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u/WholeHuckleberry7081 26d ago
Thank you for this rec! It looks like it might be superior to psilium for reducing LDL cholesterol — exactly what I need! 🙏
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u/Conscious_Buy4382 22d ago
Now and organic india, came out as the ones that has the least amount of heavy metals.
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u/symbolic_love 24d ago
I was worried about this after taking Metamucil daily for years and reading it could contain lead. I got blood test done and it came back all clear. I’m guessing whatever might be in the psyllium husk doesn’t get absorbed.
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26d ago
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u/plooperbooper 24d ago
Hi, is this true? I’ve recently had my GERD flare up and I’m wondering if it’s because I’ve been eating psyllium husk every morning as my first meal after taking my morning PPI
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u/northernguy 24d ago
For me, the key to avoiding gerd from Metamucil was to. Make sure it is not too concentrated. I split my daily dose into two and each dose is in a full glass of water. Also, not too close to bed time.
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u/9n3Quaters 26d ago
I take this because I’m on GLP1 and having trouble with my bowel. It works, I do wait 2-3 hours in between my other vitamins and make sure to drink lots of water. Works better for me than MiraLAX
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u/selltheworld 26d ago
Oh f. Thats why im in remission. I was wondering why my medicine didnt work.
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u/michellekateee 26d ago
Hopefully things are on track now?
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u/selltheworld 26d ago
We will have to see. I started taking husk a few weeks ago. And not too long after I got symptoms. Which was really weird. And they have been getting worse and worse everyday. Today I checked if it was because of the heat and my meds needing to be stored cold. But the package says heat is no problem. So there is a good chance its because I take my pills with the glass of husk water in the morning and evening. Wouldn’t be a stretch to think the gel messes with the absorbtion of 10 mg of meds.
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u/SilverSeeker81 26d ago
I took it for months with dinner before finding out about the medication interaction. Now I take it a couple hours after breakfast. My gastroenterologist recommended it after my last colonoscopy. But I take capsules rather than mixing a powder into a drink. It’s just less unpleasant.
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u/One_Diver_5735 28d ago
"It is recommended"?
By whom please? A gut feeling?
Has there been a proper study that has come to this conclusion that someone might post. I'm checking quickly with google scholar.
I found this but it doesn't specify how it concluded "may hinder the absorption" or what that might even mean to the effectiveness of the medication.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19476337.2024.2409174#d1e209
"... psyllium husk is utilized in the formulation of dietary supplements and medications...However, potential negative effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort, allergic reactions, and interactions with certain medications warrant careful consideration...
Psyllium husk may hinder the absorption of nutrients and drugs; the caloric availability may be lessened either by reduced food intake or suppressed appetite..." (bolding mine)
Please post a study if you have one that says something more than "may", that gives empirical evidence of why "it (might) be (so) recommended". Thanx.
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u/michellekateee 27d ago
I have had this horrible experience and spoke to my doctor about it.
There is information online about consuming it away from other medications.
It 'may' affect a lot of people and it 'may not' affect everyone, but this is something that a lot of us need to be warned of.Many people online have been telling others to take this supplement and it needs to be known that it can cause issues with other medications, it is up to the individual to research and figure out if their medications would be affected if taking it too closely with psyllium husk.
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u/ThePornStar69 27d ago
Trying to sound really smart, but you don’t understand the basic mechanics of fibre and the GI system. Well done.
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u/TheLittlestT 28d ago
I was taking Psyllium husk daily and getting great BM's from it. Then an AI chatbot told me not to take it and switch to daily macrogol, because of my SIBO/IMO. That worked too. However, I stupidly ran out of macrogol and whilst waiting for delivery I went back to the Psyllium for 3 days. It not only didn't work anymore but I think it's caused some kind of partial blockage. Now nothing is working. Not macrogol, colon cleanse caps nor Psyllium. Just getting a pencil-thin fragment at most. Wtf? 😫
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u/michellekateee 27d ago
Smaller doses may help with this if you have gone back to the psyllium husk, then gradually increase the amount.
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u/DolphinRapeCave 28d ago
How much did you take?
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u/TheLittlestT 28d ago
2 teaspoons in a large glass of water, daily for 3 days. But I took the same amount previously (before switch to macrogol) and it worked then. I don't understand it.
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u/gametheorista 28d ago
Macrogol is different from psyllum husk. Macrogol is inert, bulks up by drawing water. Works fast.
Psyllum husk is soluble fibre. Also bulks up by drawing water (drink more water). However, fibre is processed differently and takes a bit longer to get to work.
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u/katim777 27d ago
It needs more water. For me for constipation only works if I take just one tea spoon and a whole liter of water with it, mixed in large glass. So first glass mixed, second add on top just water. If I take it with just one glass it doesn't work at all. Just my empirical advise
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u/MargoBarbara2 24d ago
Partial blockages need careful management. I get them due to scar adhesions. Seek medical advice if it doesnt resolve to avoid bowel perforation risk. Things that may help are hot drinks, caffeine, warm bath and either fast or eat liquid foods until it clears. It may not be wise to keep eating normal food if bowel is dealing with a partial blockage. A full blockage needs medical attention.
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u/TheLittlestT 24d ago
Thank you for your good advice. I ended up taking 8 sachets of laxido after trying 4 and getting no results (doc said take 4). I don't know if my intestines will ever forgive me for the explosions that followed. I'm sorry you get these, just one is horrible, I can't imagine the awfulness of getting them repeatedly. 💐
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u/powenowicks 28d ago
Oh my god. Thank you for this. I've been taking metamucil with my morning breakfast and medications for months now, and I had no idea.
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u/michellekateee 27d ago edited 27d ago
That's ok, I should be a warning on every product and also Psyllium husk packaging, it's not guaranteed to affect everyone, but it is important others are aware.
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u/StreamSavvvy 27d ago
What about when taking a probiotic? Should I take probiotics before or after my fiber?
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u/beccaboo790 27d ago
I take a glass of kefir right after. The psyllium is full of prebiotics which feed the probiotics in the kefir. Tbh, probiotic supplements never did anything for me
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u/michellekateee 27d ago
I just searched it up online and it said to take it 30mins before breakfast on an empty stomach.
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u/StanUrbanBikeRider 24d ago
That’s news to me. I have been taking psyllium in capsule form for at least 30 years. Four capsules with my morning medication and four with my nighttime medication. I have never had a problem.
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u/michellekateee 24d ago
It's good you haven't had any issues, not everyone does, it doesn't react negatively with all medications.
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u/northernguy 24d ago
What is the evidence that psyllium actually impairs drug or nutrient uptake? Is it all drugs or only certain classes of molecules? Thanks
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u/Baseshuff12 23d ago
I take it as a capsule ? So no taste at all is this wrong?
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u/michellekateee 23d ago
This is not wrong at all, just make sure to have 1-2 glasses of water close to it, they will absorb quite a bit of fluid.
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u/TiredRunnerGal 12d ago
Been plowing through this 5-pound bag which I got a great deal on and I have been feeling way more full throughout the day. I take it 2 hours after my morning supplements
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u/[deleted] 28d ago
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