Drug & supplement interaction

Catechu + Diroximel Fumarate

Diroximel Fumarate brand name: Vumerity.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Catechu has a moderate interaction with Diroximel Fumarate. Theoretically, catechu might interfere with immunosuppressant therapy.

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

Catechu and Diroximel Fumarate

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

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Diroximel Fumarate

Diroximel Fumarate falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Catechu interacts with.

Theoretically, catechu might interfere with immunosuppressant therapy.
Animal and in vitro studies suggest that catechu has immunomodulating effects.
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 gist of it. Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) works by calming down an overactive immune system to help manage your MS. The concern with catechu is purely theoretical at this point. In lab dishes and animal studies, catechu seemed to have its own effects on the immune system, so the worry is that it could tug against what your MS medicine is trying to do.

To be clear, we don't have real human evidence here, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, since the two might pull in different directions, it's worth a quick chat with your neurologist or pharmacist before adding catechu, especially in concentrated supplement form. Don't change your Vumerity on your own.

References
  1. Sunil MA, Sunitha VS, Ashitha A, et al. Catechin rich butanol fraction extracted from Acacia catechu L. (a thirst quencher) exhibits immunostimulatory potential. J Food Drug Anal. 2019;27(1):195-207. 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

Catechu Also Interacts With Other Medications

Catechu has 474 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Diroximel Fumarate 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 Catechu

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Diroximel Fumarate

This page covers Catechu only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diroximel Fumarate page lists 106 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 Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 92 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Diroximel Fumarate page

“Diroximel fumarate (Vumerity) treats relapsing multiple sclerosis by quieting an overactive immune system, and I read its interaction list with real seriousness. Four of the 106 entries rate major, and none are exotic.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Diroximel Fumarate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 122 real supplement products containing Catechu, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Catechu. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Diroximel Fumarate too, on top of Catechu — 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 Catechu and Diroximel Fumarate 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 Catechu
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Diroximel Fumarate
Top half

#1,116 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 Catechu

What is Catechu?

Catechu
  • Mouth and throat soreness
  • Diarrhea and digestive upset
  • Skin wounds and bleeding gums
  • Astringent gargles and rinses
  • Traditional remedy for inflammation

Catechu is an astringent extract made from the heartwood of the Acacia (Senegalia) catechu tree, used traditionally for mouth sores, sore throat, diarrhea, and minor skin problems. Strong human evidence is lacking for most uses, so it should be viewed as a traditional remedy rather than a proven treatment. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines.

Read the full Catechu monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Diroximel Fumarate

What Is Diroximel Fumarate Used For?

Brand name: Vumerity

Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. This includes three specific types: clinically isolated syndrome (a first MS episode), relapsing-remitting MS (the most common pattern of flares and recovery), and active secondary progressive MS (a later stage where disability gradually worsens but relapses still occur).

See full Diroximel Fumarate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Catechu

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

0Major
474Moderate
0Minor
2,355No known interaction
Moderate

474 interactions

Showing 60 of 474 moderate interactions — see all 474 on the Catechu page.

No interaction 2,355 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 Catechu and Diroximel Fumarate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Catechu with Diroximel Fumarate?
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 Catechu and Diroximel Fumarate 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 Diroximel Fumarate and Catechu?

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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.