Mine are 500mg each. I take 5-6 with dinner. It varies with my period. PMS days require 8 sometimes. But the lowest for me is 5. It use to be 10. But after 2 or 3 weeks. I was able to cut back already. I also take 4 tbsp of flaxseed a day. Im sure the oil helps. When I was taking the cascara I was taking 10 with dinner every other night. It is alot, but it did the trick because I have continued to be able to go to milder stuff and lower doses every month.