Drug & supplement interaction

Blue-green Algae + Eculizumab

Eculizumab brand name: Soliris.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Blue-green Algae has a moderate interaction with Eculizumab. Theoretically, concurrent use of blue-green algae might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Blue-green Algae and Eculizumab

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Eculizumab

Eculizumab falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Blue-green Algae interacts with.

Theoretically, concurrent use of blue-green algae might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
Blue-green algae have been shown to stimulate the immune system.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the idea behind this pairing. Eculizumab (Soliris) works by calming down a part of your immune system (it blocks a complement protein) to treat conditions like PNH, aHUS, and certain forms of myasthenia gravis. Blue-green algae, on the other hand, are thought to do the opposite and gently rev up immune activity. So in theory, the algae could push against what your medicine is trying to accomplish, possibly making it less effective.

I want to be honest about how soft this evidence is. It comes only from lab and animal studies (not from real people taking both together), so we genuinely don't know if it matters in practice. Still, because eculizumab treats serious conditions where lost control can be harmful, I'd skip the algae supplement and run it by your doctor or pharmacist first.

References
  1. Jensen GS, Ginsberg DJ, Huerta P, et al. Consumption of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae has rapid effects on the circulation and function of immune cells in humans. A novel approach to nutritional mobilization of the immune system. JANA 2000;2:50-6.
  2. Hayashi O, Katoh T, Okuwaki Y. Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary Spirulina platensis. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1994;40:431-41.. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Blue-green Algae Also Interacts With Other Medications

Blue-green Algae has 326 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Eculizumab one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Blue-green Algae

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Blue-green Algae. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Eculizumab

This page covers Blue-green Algae only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Eculizumab page lists 53 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate), Alfalfa (moderate), American Ginseng (moderate), Andrographis (moderate) and Ashwagandha (moderate).

By severity: 52 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Eculizumab page

“People prescribed eculizumab (Soliris) are usually managing a rare blood or nerve condition, and many of them reach for supplements marketed as immune boosters, things like echinacea, ginseng, or medicinal mushrooms. That instinct is exactly what this list is about.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Eculizumab interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Blue-green Algae as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 3,180 real supplement products containing Blue-green Algae, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Blue-green Algae. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Eculizumab too, on top of Blue-green Algae — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Blue-green Algae and Eculizumab 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 Blue-green Algae
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Eculizumab
Steady interest

#1,448 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.

Supplement

About Blue-green Algae

What is Blue-green Algae?

Blue-green Algae
  • General nutrition and energy
  • Antioxidant support
  • Cholesterol and metabolic health
  • Immune support
  • Weight management

Blue-green algae are nutrient-rich aquatic microorganisms (such as spirulina and Klamath Lake algae) taken as a supplement for energy, nutrition, and general wellness. Evidence for most health claims is limited, and some products can be contaminated with toxins or heavy metals, so quality testing matters. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Read the full Blue-green Algae monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Eculizumab Injection

What Is Eculizumab Injection Used For?

Brand name: Soliris

Soliris (eculizumab) injection is approved to treat four serious conditions: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disorder that causes red blood cell destruction; atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a condition that causes abnormal blood clotting in small blood vessels; generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), a neuromuscular disease causing muscle weakness; and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), an inflammatory disease affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord.

For gMG, Soliris is approved for adults and children 6 years and older who test positive for anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies. For NMOSD, Soliris is approved for adults who test positive for anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies. Soliris is not indicated for hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC-HUS).

See full Eculizumab Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Blue-green Algae

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

0Major
326Moderate
0Minor
2,503No known interaction
Moderate

326 interactions

Showing 60 of 326 moderate interactions — see all 326 on the Blue-green Algae page.

No interaction 2,503 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Blue-green Algae and Eculizumab Together: Common Questions

Can you take Blue-green Algae with Eculizumab?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Blue-green Algae and Eculizumab interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

Still Have a Question About Eculizumab and Blue-green Algae?

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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.