Drug & supplement interaction

Blue-green Algae + Iloprost

Iloprost brand names: Ventavis, Aurlumyn.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Blue-green Algae has a moderate interaction with Iloprost. Theoretically, spirulina blue-green algae might increase the risk of bleeding if used with other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

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

Blue-green Algae and Iloprost

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Iloprost

Iloprost falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Blue-green Algae interacts with.

Theoretically, spirulina blue-green algae might increase the risk of bleeding if used with other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. However, this is unlikely.
Spirulina blue-green algae have shown antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects in vitro. However, one preliminary study in 24 patients receiving spirulina blue-green algae 2.3 grams daily for 2 weeks showed no effect on platelet activation or measures of clotting time.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

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

Here's the simple version: besides relaxing the blood vessels in your lungs, iloprost (Ventavis) also makes your platelets a little less sticky, so it can mildly thin the blood on its own. Blue-green algae like spirulina have shown similar blood-thinning, anti-platelet effects, but only in lab dishes. On paper, stacking the two could add up and slightly raise your bleeding risk.

In real life, this is considered unlikely. A small human study using about 2.3 grams of spirulina daily found no real change in clotting. Still, keep an eye out for easy bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding gums. Before adding any algae supplement, check with your pharmacist or doctor so they can confirm it fits your situation.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Chiu HF, Yang SP, Kuo YL, et al. Mechanisms involved in the antiplatelet effect of C-phycocyanin. Br J Nutr 2006;95:435-40. PubMed
  2. Hsiao G, Chou PH, Shen MY, et al. C-phycocyanin, a very potent and novel platelet aggregation inhibitor from Spirulina platensis. J Agric Food Chem 2005;53:7734-40.
  3. Madhyastha, H. K., Radha, K. S., Sugiki, M., Omura, S., and Maruyama, M. Purification of c-phycocyanin from Spirulina fusiformis and its effect on the induction of urokinase-type plasminogen activator from calf pulmonary endothelial cells. Phytomedicine PubMed
  4. Majdoub H, Ben Mansour M, Chaubet F, et al. Anticoagulant activity of a sulfated polysaccharide from the green alga Arthrospira platensis. Biochim Biophys Acta 2009;1790(10):1377-81. PubMed
  5. Cha BG, Kwak HW, Park AR, et al. Structural characteristics and biological performance of silk fibroin nanofiber containing microalgae spirulina extract. Biopolymers 2014;101(4):307-18. PubMed
  6. Jensen GS, Drapeau C, Lenninger M, Benson KF. Clinical safety of a high dose of phycocyanin-enriched aqueous extract from Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis: results from a randomized, double-Blind, placebo-controlled study with a focus on anticoagulant ac

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 Iloprost one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 326 No known interaction 2,504 (incl. Iloprost)
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 Iloprost

This page covers Blue-green Algae only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Iloprost page lists 287 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 6 major · 254 moderate · 27 minor.

Open the Iloprost 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 Iloprost 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 Iloprost 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Iloprost
Top half

#1,048 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 Iloprost

What Is Iloprost Used For?

Brand names: Ventavis, Aurlumyn

Aurlumyn (iloprost injection, given intravenously) is approved to treat severe frostbite in adults, specifically to reduce the risk of losing fingers or toes (digit amputations). Its effectiveness was established in young, healthy adults who experienced frostbite at high altitudes.

See full Iloprost 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
326 Moderate 2,503 No 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

We also checked Blue-green Algae against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,503 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Blue-green Algae list.

See the full Blue-green Algae interactions page
See every supplement checked against Iloprost, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Blue-green Algae monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Iloprost supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Iloprost, ranked by severity Iloprost drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Blue-green Algae and Iloprost Together: Common Questions

Can you take Blue-green Algae with Iloprost?
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 Iloprost 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 Iloprost 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.