Do fiber pills interfere with prescrption medications?

Question

Do fiber pills interfere with the absorption or efficacy of prescrption medications?

Answer 1

Fiber is by definition a substance that is not digested, but passes through out of the GI tract in the stool. Fiber is generally one of two kinds: Water soluble (gelatinous) or non water soluble. Water soluble absorbs water and helps produce soft, moist, easy to pass stools. Non water soluble fiber acts as structural material to produce bulk in the stool. Bulky stools help to stimulate the colon. Any substance that over stimulates the GI tract and causes GI tract contents to pass through the system too quickly to absorb nutrients and/or reabsorb water has the potential to expel in the stool GI contents that should be absorbed/reabsorbed. Fiber is less likely to over stimulate the GI tract than stimulant or osmotic laxatives.