Psyllium husks come from the protective gel coating of the seeds of the blond psyllium herb. Drug stores sell psyllium husks as a treatment for constipation. Often, psyllium comes in sachets ready to stir and dissolve into a cup of cold water. In general, psyllium husks don't interact seriously with medication, though it may reduce drug efficacy. Taking psyllium and antifungal drugs at the same time may lower the medicine's effectiveness.
Psyllium Husks
Psyllium husks swell when mixed with water. The gel-like husk absorbs the water and stick to the other husk particles nearby. This makes it ideal for forming solid but moist stools to help move digested food through the intestines and colon. While this works to flush out compact feces and reduce constipation, it can also remove substances too quickly from the digestive system. In some cases, this may affect the action of drugs such as anti-fungal medication by pushing them out of the body too fast.
Antifungal Drugs
Antifungal medication is designed to combat fungal infections in the body. Common infections such as thrush, candida and ringworm are all fungal in nature. Some antifungal medication is a topical treatment. Topical lotions should present no problem if taken at the same time as psyllium. However, some antifungal drugs are taken orally, such as oral azole drugs and polyenes. These may become less effective if taken directly after psyllium.
Medication interactions
Medline Plus doesn't specifically list antifungal medications as having a possible interaction with psyllium. In fact, none of the possible drug interactions are listed as severe. Nonetheless, psyllium fiber can affect the absorption of medications such as lithium and carbamazepine. Similarly, the fiber in psyllium can soak up sugars from partly digested foods, contributing to low blood sugar and possibly interacting with diabetes medication. In all cases, the fiber in psyllium appears to affect digestion enough to avoid taking any tablets at the same time as the psyllium drink.
Directions
The NYU Langone Medical Center recommends either taking medication 2 hours before, or 2 to 4 hours after you take psyllium. Never take psyllium and antifungal medication together at exactly the same time. Also, be sure to take psyllium with plenty of water. If taken dry or when dehydrated it can block your esophagus or cause blockages elsewhere along your digestive system.
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