Drug & supplement interaction

Apricot Kernel + Alectinib Hydrochloride

Alectinib Hydrochloride brand name: Alecensa.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride 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 label for Alectinib Hydrochloride states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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

Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride

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 Alectinib Hydrochloride and Apricot Kernel 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Apricot Kernel at all — not against Alectinib Hydrochloride, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Apricot Kernel safety at a glance

Apricot Kernel overall Avoid Eating bitter apricot kernels or taking amygdalin/laetrile can cause dangerous cyanide poisoning.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When apricot kernels are taken orally. The Hellenic Food Authority recommends that pregnant or breastfeeding patients avoid consumption of apricot kernels. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When apricot kernels are taken orally. The Hellenic Food Authority recommends that pregnant or breastfeeding patients avoid consumption of apricot kernels. 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 Alectinib Hydrochloride and Apricot Kernel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride 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. 2 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Hives / Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Apricot Kernel

    “Apricot kernel contains amygdalin, which is converted to cyanide in the body and can cause cyanide poisoning. Signs of acute cyanide poisoning include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, hives, rash, itchy or swollen skin, cyanosis, light-headedness, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, palpitations, hyperpnea, seizures, hypotension, and trembling.”

    Apricot Kernel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cancer.

    6 sources cited
    1. 4. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
    2. 31757. Moertel, C. G., Fleming, T. R., Rubin, J., Kvols, L. K., Sarna, G., Koch, R., Currie, V. E., Young, C. W., Jones, S. E., and Davignon, J. P. A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer. N.Engl.J.Med. 1-28-1982;306(4):201-206 PubMed
    3. 65124. Chandeler, R. F. et al. Laetrile in Perspective. Can Pharm J 1984;117:517.
    4. 94064. Seghers L, Walenbergh-van Veen M, Salome J, Hamberg P. Cyanide intoxication by apricot kernel ingestion as complimentary cancer therapy. Neth J Med 2013;71(9):496-8.
    5. 94065. Chaouali N, Gana I, Dorra A, et al. Potential toxic levels of cyanide in almonds (Prunus amygdalus), apricot kernels (Prunus armeniaca), and almond syrup. ISRN Toxicol. 2013;2013:610648.
    6. 31768. Suchard, J. R., Wallace, K. L., and Gerkin, R. D. Acute cyanide toxicity caused by apricot kernel ingestion. Ann.Emerg.Med. 1998;32(6):742-744. PubMed

    Alectinib Hydrochloride

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

  • Stomach pain / A skin rash / Diarrhea / Vomiting / Headache / Nausea reported in 3.5% of FDA reports for Alectinib Hydrochloride Additional detail

    Apricot Kernel

    Recorded for Apricot Kernel in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Hives / Liver problems above.

    Alectinib Hydrochloride

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Alectinib Hydrochloride, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Apricot Kernel but not commonly for Alectinib Hydrochloride: dizziness, a fast or pounding heartbeat, low blood pressure and drowsiness.

Effects for Alectinib Hydrochloride come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Apricot Kernel come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 7,249 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Alectinib Hydrochloride 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

Apricot Kernel in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When apricot kernels are taken orally. The Hellenic Food Authority recommends that pregnant or breastfeeding patients avoid consumption of apricot kernels.

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

How to take them

Some Alectinib Hydrochloride Products Have a Food Rule — Apricot Kernel Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Alectinib Hydrochloride says to take it with food. If you take Apricot Kernel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Alectinib Hydrochloride with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Alectinib Hydrochloride products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Administer ALECENSA with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Alectinib Hydrochloride — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Alectinib Hydrochloride Is Prescribed For, and What Apricot Kernel Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Alectinib Hydrochloride is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Apricot Kernel is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Alectinib Hydrochloride is prescribed for: Alecensa (alectinib) is used in adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a specific genetic change called ALK-positive (anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive), confirmed by an FDA-approved test. Alecensa is used in two situations: as adjuvant treatment — meaning after surgical removal of the tumor — in patients whose tumors were at least 4 cm or had spread to nearby lymph nodes; and as treatment for metastatic NSCLC, meaning cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Apricot Kernel has been studied for:

  • Cancer studied, not established Apricot Kernel has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Possibly Ineffective Read what the research shows

    Apricot Kernel for cancer

    Oral apricot kernel does not seem to be effective for cancer.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Alectinib Hydrochloride on your own; if you are taking Apricot Kernel for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Alectinib Hydrochloride

This page covers Apricot Kernel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Alectinib Hydrochloride page lists 74 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Alfalfa (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 60 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Alectinib Hydrochloride page

“Alectinib (Alecensa) treats ALK-positive lung cancer, and because your liver already has to tolerate this drug, check this page before adding any supplement, not after. Of the 74 ingredients on file, 38 can add stress to the liver, and three of the four major-rated entries (beer, wine, and Siberian cocklebur) are the clearest examples…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Alectinib Hydrochloride interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride 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 Apricot Kernel
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Alectinib Hydrochloride
Steady interest

#2,395 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 Apricot Kernel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride 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 .
Supplement

About Apricot Kernel

What is Apricot Kernel?

Apricot Kernel
  • Claimed anti-cancer remedy (unproven)
  • Cough and respiratory complaints (traditional medicine)
  • Digestive complaints (traditional medicine)
  • Skin and hair care (kernel oil)
  • General 'detox' or wellness claims

Apricot kernels contain amygdalin (marketed as laetrile or 'vitamin B17'), which the body can convert into cyanide and cause serious, even fatal, poisoning. There is no reliable evidence that apricot kernels or laetrile treat cancer or any other disease, and health authorities warn against eating them. The pressed oil used on skin is a separate, generally lower-risk product.

Prunus armeniaca · Rosaceae · Seed (kernel) inside the apricot pit, and the oil pressed from it · Raw or ground kernels, capsules, amygdalin/laetrile supplements, apricot kernel oil

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

Apricot Kernel: dosing

There is no safe, established, or recommended dose of apricot kernels or amygdalin/laetrile for treating any health condition. We will not suggest specific amounts because even small quantities can be unsafe. Apricot kernel oil used on the skin should be used as directed on the cosmetic product label.

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

Read the full Apricot Kernel monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Alectinib

What Is Alectinib Used For?

Brand name: Alecensa

Alecensa (alectinib) is used in adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a specific genetic change called ALK-positive (anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive), confirmed by an FDA-approved test.

Alecensa is used in two situations: as adjuvant treatment — meaning after surgical removal of the tumor — in patients whose tumors were at least 4 cm or had spread to nearby lymph nodes; and as treatment for metastatic NSCLC, meaning cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Alectinib Hydrochloride

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (7,249 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 518 reports
Constipation 445 reports
Rash 257 reports
Dyspnea 234 reports
Disease progression 210 reports
See full Alectinib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Apricot Kernel

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Apricot Kernel list.

See the full Apricot Kernel interactions page
See every supplement checked against Alectinib Hydrochloride, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Apricot Kernel References

The 11 references that drive our Apricot Kernel 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.

  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Moertel, C. G., Fleming, T. R., Rubin, J., Kvols, L. K., Sarna, G., Koch, R., Currie, V. E., Young, C. W., Jones, S. E., and Davignon, J. P. A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer. N.Engl.J.Med. 1-28-1982;306(4):201-206 PubMed
  4. Suchard, J. R., Wallace, K. L., and Gerkin, R. D. Acute cyanide toxicity caused by apricot kernel ingestion. Ann.Emerg.Med. 1998;32(6):742-744. PubMed
  5. Chandeler, R. F. et al. Laetrile in Perspective. Can Pharm J 1984;117:517.
  6. Seghers L, Walenbergh-van Veen M, Salome J, Hamberg P. Cyanide intoxication by apricot kernel ingestion as complimentary cancer therapy. Neth J Med 2013;71(9):496-8.
  7. Chaouali N, Gana I, Dorra A, et al. Potential toxic levels of cyanide in almonds (Prunus amygdalus), apricot kernels (Prunus armeniaca), and almond syrup. ISRN Toxicol. 2013;2013:610648.
  8. Konstantatos A, Shiv Kumar M, Burrell A, Smith J. An unusual presentation of chronic cyanide toxicity from self-prescribed apricot kernel extract. BMJ Case Rep. 2017;2017. PubMed
  9. Apricot Kernels (Bitter and Sweet). Food Safety Authority of Ireland. 2017. Available at: https://www.fsai.ie/faq/apricot_kernels.html.
  10. EFSA CONTAM Panel (EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain). Scientific opinion on the acute health risks related to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in raw apricot kernels and products derived from raw apricot kernels. EFSA Journal 2016;14(4):4 DOI
  11. Health Canada sets new cyanide limit to mitigate risks associated with eating apricot kernels. 2020. Health Canada: Recalls and Alerts. Available at: https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/72195a-eng.php

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 Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Apricot Kernel with Alectinib Hydrochloride?
We do not list a known interaction between Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride. 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 Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 8 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.
Should I take Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Alectinib Hydrochloride says to take it with food. If you take Apricot Kernel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Alectinib Hydrochloride with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Alectinib Hydrochloride products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Are Apricot Kernel and Alectinib Hydrochloride used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Apricot Kernel in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Alectinib Hydrochloride is being adjusted to a target.
Does Alectinib Hydrochloride interact with any supplements?
Yes. Alectinib Hydrochloride has documented interactions with 74 supplements in our database — Apricot Kernel is not one of them. The Alectinib Hydrochloride interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Apricot Kernel monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Alectinib drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Alectinib Hydrochloride supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Alectinib Hydrochloride, 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 11 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.