Drug & supplement interaction

Algal Oil + Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate brand names: Ritalin, Ritalin-SR, Concerta, Methylin, Metadate, and others.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Algal Oil and Methylphenidate in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Algal Oil and Methylphenidate

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Methylphenidate and Algal Oil in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Algal Oil safety at a glance

Algal Oil overall Generally safe Generally well tolerated by most healthy adults at typical supplement doses.

Pregnancy Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched algal oil is commonly included as a component of prenatal vitamins. Algal oil providing... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched algal oil is commonly included as a component of prenatal vitamins. Algal oil providing... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Methylphenidate and Algal Oil? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Methylphenidate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Methylphenidate is filed under 6 classifications — including stimulant drugs, serotonergic drugs, serotonergic drugs. Algal Oil has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being antidiabetes drugs (moderate), antihypertensive drugs (moderate) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (minor) — and none of Methylphenidate’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Algal Oil Does Interact With Other Medications

Algal Oil has 258 moderate, 117 minor known drug interactions in our database — Methylphenidate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 258 Minor 117 No known interaction 2,455 (incl. Methylphenidate)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Algal Oil

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Algal Oil. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Algal Oil and Methylphenidate May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail
Algal Oil
“Orally, algal oil might cause nose bleeds, but this is uncommon. Onset of severe nose bleeds has been reported in one clinical study in one child who took algal oil providing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 600 mg daily. Some algal oil may theoretically decrease blood coagulation and increase the risk of bleeding in some patients due to its fatty acid constituents;”

Algal Oil · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in myasthenia gravis.
6 sources cited

98542. Montgomery P, Spreckelsen TF, Burton A, Burton JR, Richardson AJ. Docosahexaenoic acid for reading, working memory and behavior in UK children aged 7-9: A randomized controlled trial for replication (the DOLAB II study). PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192909. PubMed

11112. Leng GC, Smith FB, Fowkes FG, et al. Relationship between plasma essential fatty acids and smoking, serum lipids, blood pressure and haemostatic and rheological factors. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1994;51:101-8. PubMed

11113. Nelson GJ, Schmidt PS, Bartolini GL, et al. The effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on platelet function, platelet fatty acid composition, and blood coagulation in humans. Lipids 1997;32:1129-36. PubMed

48020. Woodman, R. J., Mori, T. A., Burke, V., Puddey, I. B., Barden, A., Watts, G. F., and Beilin, L. J. Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on platelet, fibrinolytic and vascular function in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients PubMed

1313. FDA. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Letter regarding dietary supplement health claim for omega-3 fatty acids and coronary heart disease. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/95s0316/95s-0316-Rpt0272-38-Appendix-D-Reference

95739. FDA announces qualified health claims for omega-3 fatty acids. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ucm072756.htm. Accessed April 15 2019.
Methylphenidate

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methylphenidate. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Hair loss / Itching / A skin rash Additional detail
Algal Oil
“Orally, one parent of a pediatric patient treated with algal oil providing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 600 mg daily for 16 weeks reported increased hair loss beginning 6 weeks after completion of supplementation. It is unclear if this adverse effect is specifically related to algal oil intake.”

Algal Oil · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in alopecia.
3 sources cited

90699. Richardson AJ, Burton JR, Sewell RP, Spreckelsen TF, Montgomery P. Docosahexaenoic acid for reading, cognition and behavior in children aged 7-9 years: a randomized, controlled trial (the DOLAB Study). PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e43909. PubMed

15497. Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, et al. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on major coronary events in hypercholesterolaemic patients (JELIS): a randomised open-label, blinded endpoint analysis. Lancet 2007;369:1090-8. PubMed

48217. Mischoulon D, Best-Popescu C, Laposata M, et al. A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008;18(9):639-645. PubMed
Methylphenidate

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methylphenidate. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Trouble sleeping / Dizziness reported in 3.3% of FDA reports for Methylphenidate Additional detail
Algal Oil
“Orally, algal oil may theoretically cause insomnia or light-headedness/dizziness due to its constituent docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In one clinical study, three adult patients reported light-headedness or dizziness, and one patient reported insomnia, when treated with DHA 2 grams daily. It is unclear if these events are treatment related, as one patient in the placebo group also reported insomnia.”

Algal Oil · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in insomnia.
1 source cited

10869. Marangell LB, Martinez JM, Zboyan HA, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in the treatment of major depression. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160:996-8.. PubMed
Methylphenidate

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methylphenidate, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Joint pain / Muscle pain Additional detail
Algal Oil
“Orally, algal oil may theoretically cause joint pain due to its constituent, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), although results are conflicting. In one clinical study, a higher percentage of patients treated with EPA ethyl ester 2 or 4 grams daily experienced arthralgia compared to placebo (3.4% and 1.7% vs 0.4%, respectively).”

Algal Oil · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pain.
2 sources cited

91409. Ballantyne CM, Bays HE, Kastelein JJ, Stein E, Isaacsohn JL, Braeckman RA, Soni PN. Efficacy and safety of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (AMR101) therapy in statin-treated patients with persistent high triglycerides (from the ANCHOR study). Am J Cardi PubMed

15497. Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, et al. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on major coronary events in hypercholesterolaemic patients (JELIS): a randomised open-label, blinded endpoint analysis. Lancet 2007;369:1090-8. PubMed
Methylphenidate

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methylphenidate. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Diarrhea / Vomiting Additional detail
Algal Oil
“Orally, fishy burps and mild nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported in clinical research for participants taking algal oil providing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 600 mg daily for 2 weeks. Algal oil may theoretically cause other adverse events including nausea, vomiting, flatulence, and loose stools due to its DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) constituents;”

Algal Oil · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in flatulence.
6 sources cited

48220. Arterburn, L. M., Oken, H. A., Bailey, Hall E., Hamersley, J., Kuratko, C. N., and Hoffman, J. P. Algal-oil capsules and cooked salmon: nutritionally equivalent sources of docosahexaenoic acid. J Am Diet Assoc 2008;108(7):1204-1209. PubMed

1009. Grimsgaard S, Bonaa KH, Hansen JB, Nordoy A. Highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in humans have similar triacylglycerol-lowering effects but divergent effects on serum fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:649-59.

1313. FDA. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Letter regarding dietary supplement health claim for omega-3 fatty acids and coronary heart disease. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/95s0316/95s-0316-Rpt0272-38-Appendix-D-Reference

8699. Pedersen HS, Mulvad G, Seidelin KN, et al. N-3 fatty acids as a risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke. Lancet 1999;353:812-3. PubMed

10007. Kris-Ehterton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ, et al. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 2002;106:2747-57. PubMed

10869. Marangell LB, Martinez JM, Zboyan HA, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in the treatment of major depression. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160:996-8.. PubMed
Methylphenidate

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Methylphenidate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 11 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Algal Oil but not commonly for Methylphenidate: bloating or gas.

Effects for Methylphenidate come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Algal Oil come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 73,541 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Methylphenidate that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Algal Oil in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When used orally and appropriately. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched algal oil is commonly included as a component of prenatal vitamins. Algal oil providing DHA 400-600 mg daily during pregnancy has been used with apparent safety in most clinical research. When taken as a prenatal supplement, DHA-enriched algal oil increases DHA levels in breast milk. Taking DHA-enriched algal oil during lactation also increases levels of DHA in breast milk. One study found that using DHA-enriched algal oil during lactation increased the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in breastfed infants born at less than 29 weeks gestational age; however, it is unclear if this was due to DHA or various confounding factors. The tolerable upper intake level of DHA during pregnancy or lactation has not been established. Most experts recommend an intake of DHA 200-300 mg daily during pregnancy and lactation. While it is typically advised that this need be met by consuming 8-12 ounces of seafood weekly during pregnancy and 4-8 ounces weekly during lactation, individuals with nutrient deficiency or those following a vegan diet may meet this need with supplementation, including algal oil. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched algal oils during pregnancy or lactation.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Algal Oil or Methylphenidate

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Algal Oil or Methylphenidate, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Methylphenidate

This page covers Algal Oil only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Methylphenidate page lists 85 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 6 major · 64 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Methylphenidate page

“Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate) is itself a stimulant, and that one fact shapes most of this list. The largest cluster of interacting supplements adds a second stimulant on top of it, from ephedra and its relatives to everyday caffeine sources like coffee and green tea, which can push heart rate and blood pressure higher…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Methylphenidate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Algal Oil as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 188 real supplement products containing Algal Oil, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Algal Oil. Even though Algal Oil itself has no known interaction with Methylphenidate, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Algal Oil and Methylphenidate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Algal Oil

Top 25%

#308 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Medication Methylphenidate

Top 10

#8 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Algal Oil reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Algal Oil and Methylphenidate records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Algal Oil

What is Algal Oil?

Vegan/vegetarian source of omega-3s (DHA and EPA)
Heart and triglyceride health
Brain and eye support
Pregnancy and infant nutrition
General anti-inflammatory support

Algal oil is a plant-based source of the omega-3 fats DHA and (in some products) EPA, making it a popular alternative to fish oil for vegetarians, vegans, and people who dislike fish. There is reasonable evidence that omega-3s can lower triglycerides and support heart and brain health, though more research is needed for many specific uses. It is generally well tolerated, but check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you take blood thinners or are pregnant.

Oil extracted from microalgae · Softgel capsules, liquid oil, gummies, fortified foods and infant formula

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Algal Oil is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Algal Oil record says about it on its own.

Algal Oil: dosing

There is no single official dose of algal oil, and products vary widely in how much DHA and EPA they contain. The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and look at the amount of DHA and EPA per serving rather than the total oil amount.Doses are often described by the milligrams of DHA (and sometimes EPA) they provide.

From our Algal Oil monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Algal Oil monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Methylphenidate

What Is Methylphenidate Used For?

Brand names: Ritalin, Ritalin-SR, Concerta, Methylin, Metadate, Metadate CD, Methylin ER, Ritalin LA, Aptensio XR, Quillivant Xr, Cotempla XR-ODT, Jornay PM, Relexxii

Methylphenidate is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) — a condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interferes with daily life at home, school, or work. It is available in many forms (oral tablets, capsules, liquid, chewable tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and a skin patch), and each formulation has its own specific approved age range.

Some oral extended-release tablet formulations are also approved to treat narcolepsy (a sleep disorder causing excessive daytime sleepiness). The oral solution and chewable tablets are indicated for children with ADHD as part of a broader treatment program that may include counseling and educational support. Not every formulation is approved for every age group or condition — check with your prescriber or pharmacist for the specifics of your product.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Methylphenidate

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (73,541 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Product quality issue 5,596 reports

Fatigue 3,323 reports

Headache 3,182 reports

Nausea 3,111 reports

Anxiety 2,975 reports

See full Methylphenidate drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Algal Oil

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Algal Oil — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major

258Moderate

117Minor

2,454No known interaction

258 Moderate 117 Minor 2,454 No interaction

Moderate

258 interactions

Showing 60 of 258 moderate interactions — see all 258 on the Algal Oil page.

Minor

117 interactions

Showing 60 of 117 minor interactions — see all 117 on the Algal Oil page.

No interaction 2,454 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Algal Oil against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,454 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Algal Oil list.

See the full Algal Oil interactions page

See every supplement checked against Methylphenidate, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Algal Oil References

The 43 references that drive our Algal Oil monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Prisco D, Paniccia R, Bandinelli B, et al. Effect of medium-term supplementation with a moderate dose of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood pressure in mild hypertensive patients. Thromb Res 1998;1:105-12.
Grimsgaard S, Bonaa KH, Hansen JB, Nordoy A. Highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in humans have similar triacylglycerol-lowering effects but divergent effects on serum fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:649-59.
Toft I, Bonaa KH, Ingebretsen OC, et al. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on glucose homeostasis and blood pressure in essential hypertension. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1995;123:911-8.
Sacks FM, Hebert P, Appel LJ, et al. Short report: the effect of fish oil on blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in phase I of the trials of hypertension prevention. J Hypertens 1994;12:209-13.
Vandongen R, Mori TA, Burke V, et al. Effects on blood pressure of omega 3 fats in subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension 1993;22:371-9. PubMed
FDA. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Letter regarding dietary supplement health claim for omega-3 fatty acids and coronary heart disease. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/95s0316/95s-0316-Rpt0272-38-Appendix-D-Reference
Leaf A. On the reanalysis of the GISSI-Prevenzione. Circulation 2002;105:1874-5. PubMed
Connor WE. n-3 Fatty acids from fish and fish oil: panacea or nostrum? Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74;415-6. PubMed
Calder PC. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation and immunity: pouring oil on troubled waters or another fishy tale? Nutr Res 2001;21:309-41. DOI
Pedersen HS, Mulvad G, Seidelin KN, et al. N-3 fatty acids as a risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke. Lancet 1999;353:812-3. PubMed
Terano T, Hirai A, Hamazaki T, et al. Effect of oral administration of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid on platelet function, blood viscosity and red cell deformability in healthy human subjects. Atherosclerosis 1983;46:321-31.. PubMed
Kris-Ehterton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ, et al. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 2002;106:2747-57. PubMed
Woodman RJ, Mori TA, Burke V, et al. Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids on glycemic control, blood pressure, and serum lipids in type 2 diabetic patients with treated hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:1007-15.. PubMed
Marangell LB, Martinez JM, Zboyan HA, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in the treatment of major depression. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160:996-8.. PubMed
Leng GC, Smith FB, Fowkes FG, et al. Relationship between plasma essential fatty acids and smoking, serum lipids, blood pressure and haemostatic and rheological factors. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1994;51:101-8. PubMed
Nelson GJ, Schmidt PS, Bartolini GL, et al. The effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on platelet function, platelet fatty acid composition, and blood coagulation in humans. Lipids 1997;32:1129-36. PubMed
Wheaton DH, Hoffman DR, Locke KG, et al. Biological safety assessment of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in a randomized clinical trial for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:1269-78. PubMed
Svaneborg N, Kristensen SD, Hansen LM, et al. The acute and short-time effect of supplementation with the combination of n-3 fatty acids and acetylsalicylic acid on platelet function and plasma lipids. Thromb Res 2002;105:311-6. PubMed
Yokoyama M, Origasa H, Matsuzaki M, et al. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on major coronary events in hypercholesterolaemic patients (JELIS): a randomised open-label, blinded endpoint analysis. Lancet 2007;369:1090-8. PubMed
von Houwelingen R, Nordøy A, van der Beek E, et al. Effect of a moderate fish intake on blood pressure, bleeding time, hematology, and clinical chemistry in healthy males. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987 Sep;46(3):424-36. PubMed
Goodnight SH Jr, Harris WS, Connor WE. The effects of dietary omega 3 fatty acids on platelet composition and function in man: a prospective, controlled study. Blood. 1981 Nov;58(5):880-5. DOI
Mori, T. A., Bao, D. Q., Burke, V., Puddey, I. B., and Beilin, L. J. Docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid lowers ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in humans. Hypertension 1999;34(2):253-260. PubMed
Nestel, P., Shige, H., Pomeroy, S., Cehun, M., Abbey, M., and Raederstorff, D. The n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase systemic arterial compliance in humans. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. 2002;76(2):326-330. PubMed
Woodman, R. J., Mori, T. A., Burke, V., Puddey, I. B., Barden, A., Watts, G. F., and Beilin, L. J. Effects of purified eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on platelet, fibrinolytic and vascular function in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients PubMed
Theobald, H. E., Goodall, A. H., Sattar, N., Talbot, D. C., Chowienczyk, P. J., and Sanders, T. A. Low-dose docosahexaenoic acid lowers diastolic blood pressure in middle-aged men and women. J Nutr 2007;137(4):973-978.
Mischoulon D, Best-Popescu C, Laposata M, et al. A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008;18(9):639-645. PubMed
Arterburn, L. M., Oken, H. A., Bailey, Hall E., Hamersley, J., Kuratko, C. N., and Hoffman, J. P. Algal-oil capsules and cooked salmon: nutritionally equivalent sources of docosahexaenoic acid. J Am Diet Assoc 2008;108(7):1204-1209. PubMed
Zucker, M. L., Bilyeu, D. S., Helmkamp, G. M., Harris, W. S., and Dujovne, C. A. Effects of dietary fish oil on platelet function and plasma lipids in hyperlipoproteinemic and normal subjects. Atherosclerosis 1988;73(1):13-22. PubMed
Bernstein AM, Ding EL, Willett WC, Rimm EB. A meta-analysis shows that docosahexaenoic acid from algal oil reduces serum triglycerides and increases HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in persons without coronary heart disease. J Nutr. 2012;142(1):99-104.
Carlson SE, Colombo J, Gajewski BJ, Gustafson KM, Mundy D, Yeast J, Georgieff MK, Markley LA, Kerling EH, Shaddy DJ. DHA supplementation and pregnancy outcomes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Apr;97(4):808-15. PubMed
Fu YQ, Zheng JS, Yang B, Li D. Effect of individual omega-3 fatty acids on the risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. J Epidemiol. 2015;25(4):261-74. PubMed
Imhoff-Kunsch B, Stein AD, Villalpando S, Martorell R, Ramakrishnan U. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation from mid-pregnancy to parturition influenced breast milk fatty acid concentrations at 1 month postpartum in Mexican women. J Nutr. 2011 Feb;141(2): PubMed
Mulder KA, King DJ, Innis SM. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in infants before birth identified using a randomized trial of maternal DHA supplementation in pregnancy. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 10;9(1):e83764. PubMed
Richardson AJ, Burton JR, Sewell RP, Spreckelsen TF, Montgomery P. Docosahexaenoic acid for reading, cognition and behavior in children aged 7-9 years: a randomized, controlled trial (the DOLAB Study). PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e43909. PubMed
Ballantyne CM, Bays HE, Kastelein JJ, Stein E, Isaacsohn JL, Braeckman RA, Soni PN. Efficacy and safety of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (AMR101) therapy in statin-treated patients with persistent high triglycerides (from the ANCHOR study). Am J Cardi PubMed
FDA announces qualified health claims for omega-3 fatty acids. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ucm072756.htm. Accessed April 15 2019.
Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Section on Breastfeeding. Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-41. PubMed
Zhang Z, Fulgoni VL, Kris-Etherton PM, Mitmesser SH. Dietary Intakes of EPA and DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids among US Childbearing-Age and Pregnant Women: An Analysis of NHANES 2001-2014. Nutrients. 2018;10(4). PubMed
Montgomery P, Spreckelsen TF, Burton A, Burton JR, Richardson AJ. Docosahexaenoic acid for reading, working memory and behavior in UK children aged 7-9: A randomized controlled trial for replication (the DOLAB II study). PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0192909. PubMed
Rao A, Briskey D, Nalley JO, Ganuza E. Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) rich extract from the microalga Nannochloropsis decreases cholesterol in healthy individuals: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, three-month supplementation study. Nut PubMed
Marc I, Piedboeuf B, Lacaze-Masmonteil T, et al. Effect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on bronchopulmonary dysplasia-free survival in breastfed preterm infants: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2020;324(2):157-167. PubMed
Fougère H, Bilodeau JF, Lavoie PM, et al. Docosahexaenoic acid-rich algae oil supplementation on breast milk fatty acid profile of mothers who delivered prematurely: a randomized clinical trial. Sci Rep 2021;11(1):21492. PubMed
Yang Y, Li G, Li F, et al. Impact of DHA from algal oil on the breast milk DHA levels of lactating women: A randomized controlled trial in China. Nutrients 2022;14(16):3410. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Algal Oil and Methylphenidate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Algal Oil with Methylphenidate?

We do not list a known interaction between Algal Oil and Methylphenidate. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Algal Oil and Methylphenidate have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

How was the Algal Oil and Methylphenidate combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Methylphenidate is filed under 6 classifications, and Algal Oil has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Methylphenidate's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Algal Oil interact with any other medications?

Yes. Algal Oil has 375 documented drug interactions in our database — Methylphenidate is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Methylphenidate interact with any supplements?

Yes. Methylphenidate has documented interactions with 85 supplements in our database — Algal Oil is not one of them. The Methylphenidate interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Keep Exploring

Algal Oil monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Methylphenidate drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Methylphenidate supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Methylphenidate, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 43 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.