Overview

Betaine hydrochloride is used to increase stomach acid in people with low levels (hypochlorhydria). It seems to be well tolerated, but there is not enough research to know what side effects it may cause. Betaine hydrochloride may change the way your body absorbs certain medicines. Before taking betaine hydrochloride, make sure to tell your health care provider about any health conditions you have or medicines you are taking.

Uses

What is betaine hydrochloride used for?

Betaine hydrochloride is commonly used to increase stomach acid in people with a condition called hypochlorhydria.

Betaine hydrochloride may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

Note: The FDA has not reviewed betaine hydrochloride for safety and effectiveness. Learn more about dietary supplements here.

How does betaine hydrochloride work (mechanism of action)?

Betaine is naturally found in certain foods, including beets and spinach. Your body also makes betaine from another nutrient called choline. Betaine hydrochloride is a synthetic form of betaine that is made in a lab.

In your stomach, betaine hydrochloride breaks down into betaine and a strong acid called hydrochloric acid. This may help with digestion in people who have low levels of stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). It may also be helpful for people who take certain medicines that need acid in order to be absorbed by the body.

If you think that you may have low stomach acid levels, speak to your health care provider before taking betaine hydrochloride. It may increase or decrease the absorption of various medicines, which can change their effects and side effects in the body.

How should I store betaine hydrochloride?

You should store betaine hydrochloride according to the product label. Most dietary supplements should be kept in a cool, dry location that is out of the reach of children and pets and not in direct sunlight.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of betaine hydrochloride?

Betaine hydrochloride seems to be well tolerated. But there is not enough research to know what the common side effects may be. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that bother you.

There may be other side effects of betaine hydrochloride that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a supplement. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov or by calling 888-SAFEFOOD (888-723-3366). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of betaine hydrochloride?

While less common, the most serious side effects of betaine hydrochloride are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Betaine hydrochloride may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking betaine hydrochloride and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

• Breathing problems or wheezing
• Racing heart
• Fever or general ill feeling
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
• Itching or skin rash
• Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
• Stomach cramps
• Joint pain

Precautions

Who should not use betaine hydrochloride?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take betaine hydrochloride.

• Betaine
• Any of the ingredients in the specific product

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific betaine hydrochloride products they stock.

What should I know about betaine hydrochloride before using it?

Betaine hydrochloride is a dietary supplement. It cannot be marketed to treat or cure a disease.

Read and follow the directions on the specific product you are taking, or take it as recommended by your health care provider.

Keep betaine hydrochloride out of the reach of children.

Betaine hydrochloride can increase the amount of acid in your stomach within 10-15 minutes. This effect may only last for about an hour after each dose. Talk to your health care provider about the best way to take betaine hydrochloride. The timing of your dose may depend on your reasons for taking it.

Betaine hydrochloride products may contain other ingredients that are intended to help with digestion, such as the enzymes pepsin and papain. These other ingredients can cause different effects and side effects in the body. Read the product label carefully to understand which ingredients it contains.

The FDA has not tested betaine hydrochloride products to confirm that they contain the ingredients stated on their labels. Some dietary supplements have been tested by third-party organizations to confirm that they contain the ingredients listed on their labels and do not contain any harmful chemicals. Learn more about how to choose a safe dietary supplement product here.

There are also betaine anhydrous supplements available. These are not the same as betaine hydrochloride.

What should I tell my health care provider before using betaine hydrochloride?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if betaine hydrochloride is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Other Medicines and Supplements.Betaine hydrochloride may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking betaine hydrochloride, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how betaine hydrochloride could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if betaine hydrochloride passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does betaine hydrochloride interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between betaine hydrochloride and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect betaine hydrochloride.

Does betaine hydrochloride interact with medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking betaine hydrochloride.

• A proton pump inhibitor (PPI), such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), or rabeprazole (Aciphex)
• An H2 blocker, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid, Zantac), or nizatidine (Axid)
• An antacid, which is a medicine used for indigestion or acid reflux

Betaine hydrochloride may increase or decrease the absorption of some medicines. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

The interactions between betaine hydrochloride and medicines are not fully understood. As with most dietary supplements, the research on drug interactions with betaine hydrochloride is incomplete. Always check with your health care provider before taking betaine hydrochloride with any medicines.

Dosing

What should I do if I accidentally use too much betaine hydrochloride?

If you or someone else has used too much betaine hydrochloride, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

Betaine hydrochloride is available in a wide range of doses. Read the product label closely and speak to a health care provider about how to take betaine hydrochloride safely. Do not take double or extra doses, even if you miss a dose.