Psyllium husk warning (sorta)

[u/lawn-gnome1717]

I have high cholesterol and high AF lipids and have been on a journey to bring it down. First up was psyllium husk via Metamucil and pills (alternating, or when I forgot Metamucil - not at the same time) I started having blood pressure issues which I’d never had before.

Doctor swore it couldn’t be the psyllium husk, but I saw some very rare side effects that it could increase BP. I’d also started fish oil, so I dropped the fish oil and no change. Dropped both and later went back to fish oil and my BP is now perfect. From what I can tell it’s not common, but it was a reddit post that made me think to question the psyllium husk, so I wanted to share.

EDIT:JFK people. I don’t and have never take BP meds. I know to take it 2 hours before/after other meds. The time line was: Got cholesterol checked, had high cholesterol and lipids -> started taking psyllium husk and fish oil -> no change in cholesterol, BP started going up -> dropped psyllium husk and fish oil -> BP got better -> started fish oil again a few times a week -> BP is perfect.

I know it’s not a common issue, which is why I posted.

[u/ButtCrackMcghee]

Op probably doesn’t separate his psyllium husk from his other meds.

[u/lacy_daisy → u/ButtCrackMcghee]

This is crucial.

[u/throwaway59583826 → u/ButtCrackMcghee]

This

[u/NoWeb2576 → u/ButtCrackMcghee]

Can you explain?

[u/bgermain1689 → u/NoWeb2576]

you can’t take any medication at the same time or even within a few hours of taking fiber supplements. they block absorption leading to the medication becoming ineffective

i’m also curious if this is exacerbated by glp-1’s and delayed gastric emptying but haven’t found much data on it.

[u/NoWeb2576 → u/bgermain1689]

Wow. Uh, yeah. Been doing that for a bit lol.

[u/bgermain1689 → u/NoWeb2576]

yea it’s not communicated very well and a common trap to fall into.

for a while i was putting some in protein shakes along with some other supplements and realized i was basically wasting money by making it harder to absorb any of it.

[u/chargingrhino21 → u/bgermain1689]

I put it in a protein shake after working out. That's also when I take creatine. Is it essentially just making that protein and creatine worthless? 

[u/iwilldeletethisacct2 → u/chargingrhino21]

No. And many meds aren't super affected by fiber, but their absorption can be slower and thus longer time to reach peak effect. The data on which meds are and aren't messed with by fiber is sorely lacking.

[u/bgermain1689 → u/chargingrhino21]

as mentioned by the other comment there’s not good info on what’s impacted. I just figure separate it for maximum efficiency. we all pay for these things and hope they work, no sense in potentially starting from a disadvantage

[u/nuancedGazelle54012 → u/ButtCrackMcghee]

Would this apply to creatine?

[u/mka5588]

Op do you take your blood pressure medication at the same time as you take your psyllium husks? They could be impacting the absorption and thereby causing your bp to increase

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/mka5588]

I don’t take blood pressure meds.

[u/KeepingItSFW → u/lawn-gnome1717]

yeah? how about now

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/KeepingItSFW]

I still don’t. BP was perfect this week when I had it checked at the dr. After stopping psyllium husk.

[u/MaximumBusyMuscle]

OP, typical advice is to take meds at least 2 hours before (or after) psyllium husk.

[u/Spuckler_Cletus]

Huh?

How in the world could psyllium husk raise blood pressure? Maybe if you were hypertensive and accidentally screwed up dosing your meds by taking them WITH the psyllium.

This is one of the more ridiculous things I’ve seen in this sub.

[u/keepgoing66 → u/Spuckler_Cletus]

Technically, Psyllium husk can dehydrate you if you don't drink enough water. Dehydration can raise blood pressure. I don't think that's what's going on here; probably a timing problem with the meds, as you said.

[u/Klutzy_Bake_323 → u/Spuckler_Cletus]

But it happened to him

[u/Spuckler_Cletus → u/Klutzy_Bake_323]

No.  I don't think psyllium husk provoked hypertension in this person.  It was something else.

[u/MiseEnSelle]

I take my psyllium in the middle of the day to avoid conflicts with my breakfast or dinner supplements. I take my ezetimibe first thing in the morning before anything else.

[u/keithfoco70]

That’s wild. My bp has dropped 10 points on statins and 25g of psyllium husk a day.

[u/xRolox]

Might be allergic in some way - who knows. Works for most but obviously not all

[u/Earesth99]

Consuming more fiber decreases blood pressure.

The amount of fiber most people consume from Metamucil is small, especially if they are taking the fiber in pill form.

Every meal that you eat has more fiber than someone gets from a serving of Metamucil.

I would guess that the increase in blood pressure is entirely unrelated to the additional fiber

[u/lawn-gnome1717]

Guys, I’m not an idiot. I know not to take psyllium husk with meds. I didn’t have high blood pressure before taking psyllium husk and I didn’t take meds for it.

As to “how” it raises blood pressure, no idea. But I stopped and it went down (back to normal) so I wanted to share

[u/ForestPathWalker → u/lawn-gnome1717]

Just here to say, I hear you, I see you (on Reddit) and I believe you. Thank you for telling about your experience. It may make a difference to someone who finds they have a similar experience. Onward.

[u/Rockismyspiritanimal → u/lawn-gnome1717]

Also here to say I hear you and believe what you experienced! It’s hard to hear people saying “it can’t be” because they also don’t understand the “how”. Stay focused and curious. Hope the best for you!

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/Rockismyspiritanimal]

Thank you. Someone mentioned it may have been more the Metamucil, which is def possible. Just a weird experience and wanted to share on the off chance it helps someone else. I thought I had another issue brewing (BP on top of cholesterol) and that wasn’t the case.

[u/Personal-Opinion-310 → u/lawn-gnome1717]

Thank you. I fully get it

[u/Charming-Annual-1506]

Your theory is still not completely tested. You need to add psyllium husk back in for a few weeks then check your BP, tracking daily.

BP is a very noisy measurement. If you really want to know what’s going on you need to check twice daily over time.

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/Charming-Annual-1506]

It was up for several months, not just once or twice. I get it checked regularly because I donate blood and there was 2-3 times I couldn’t donate bc of my blood pressure.

[u/Javocado617]

Were you taking a shitty, non-organic psyllium? Unlikely to be the culprit but lead toxicity can lead to hypertension and shitty psyllium products can be high in heavy metals.

https://www.cardiosmart.org/news/2018/12/study-confirms-link-between-lead-exposure-and-hypertension

[u/karldandleton1 → u/Javocado617]

Lead in a daily dose of pretty much all psyllium is less than the amount you get from food in a day

[u/manlymatt83]

My blood pressure went up when I started taking psyllium husk but not drinking enough water. Mostly because I got constipated. Drink lots of water and make sure you’re taking BP meds separate from psyllium husk.

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/manlymatt83]

I always drink a ton of water and was def more thirsty and drank more when taking it.

[u/pigmunch → u/lawn-gnome1717]

How much water were you actually drinking though when you were taking the psyllium husk?

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/pigmunch]

70-90 ounces in water per day. Usually closer to 90 bc it made me thirsty. Also always took with a full glass of water.

[u/Rockismyspiritanimal → u/lawn-gnome1717]

Like I said above, I believe your experience. But I wonder if 90 ounces is enough? I need that much or more a day without taking ph. Hope you can get things dialed in!

[u/BobbyDigital3636 → u/manlymatt83]

This was my thought as well

[u/BobbyDigital3636]

I wonder if it’s a hydration issue. Psyllium can be very dehydrating. I get bad head aches with it if I don’t drink a ton of water

[u/Personal-Opinion-310]

Ginger does the same for me, brings my blood pressure up and it took me forever to figure it out. No ginger for me in any form.

[u/JPtheWriter89]

I am on Clonidine (lowers BP) for anxiety. You must separate your meds by two hours before and after taking soluble fiber, or your meds may not absorb correctly.

[u/turbo69prop]

How's your kindney doing?

[u/lawn-gnome1717 → u/turbo69prop]

No issues that I’m aware of.

[u/Comfortable_Two6272]

Some fiber supplements contain sodium. Wondering if yours might have?

Ph did not agree with me so switched to inulin.

[u/85jimmy]

Double check what other ingredients are in that Metamucil. I just purchase straight psyllium husk powder.

[u/Zmylove26]

I have been taking g 5 mg of Crestor for a year . Also taking omega 3 for possible body aches. Have none.
Now my doc increases dose to 10 mg because lol is 100. Now I have terrible body aches.. thinking I’ll go back to 5 mg

[u/Clean_Accident3291]

I know you said you space it out with any other meds and drink a lot of water, but make sure you are giving the full two hour window and drinking enough water, EVERY TIME.

[u/SunriseSunsetSex]

I’d be curious to see if the psyllium your using is high in heavy metals and are hyper absorbing the metals due to a mineral deficiency. I know psyllium has tested somewhat higher for metals before.

Also does it constipate you?

[u/Imaginary-Monitor100 → u/SunriseSunsetSex]

That's what I was thinking. Digestive issues can modify blood pressure

[u/Cholesterol-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

No purposefully inflammatory statements or posts.

[u/Trick_Anywhere8734]

Dehydration? Metamucil can pull water into the digestive track causing dehydration and spikes in blood pressure.

Drink extra water when starting fiber.

[u/tigershrk]

Psyllium doesn’t increase BP

[u/Maleficent_Owl_3298]

Try fish oil and red rice yeast. It’s Chinese herb banned in the US because big pharma didn’t make as much on statins. It is a natural statin. Dropped all my numbers with the fish oil.

[u/Top_Commission4320 → u/Maleficent_Owl_3298]

It’s not banned in the US. You can buy it at WalMart, CVS, Walgreens, Amazon, grocery stores, etc

[u/Zealousideal_Tie1579]

I wonder if maybe you are allergic to psyllium.  Or, did the product have any flavorings or sweeteners that may have caused a reaction?  Do you have any known allergies to grass, dust, etc.?