Drug & supplement interaction

Celery + Alitretinoin

Alitretinoin brand name: Panretin.

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

Celery has a minor interaction with Alitretinoin. Theoretically, celery might increase the risk of photosensitivity reactions when taken with photosensitizing drugs.

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

Celery and Alitretinoin

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

Minor

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Alitretinoin

Alitretinoin falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Celery interacts with.

Theoretically, celery might increase the risk of photosensitivity reactions when taken with photosensitizing drugs.
Laboratory research shows that celery contains photosensitizing agents such as phenols and psoralens.
Severity Minor 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 deal with celery and alitretinoin (Panretin), the gel you put on Kaposi's sarcoma lesions. Celery naturally contains compounds called psoralens, which can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Alitretinoin itself can already leave treated skin a bit more prone to sunburn. So in theory, pairing the two could make you burn or react more easily in the sun.

I want to be honest though: this is a minor, theoretical concern based only on lab findings and scattered reports, not solid proof. Eating celery as food is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated celery seed supplements are the bigger question mark. Either way, smart sun protection covers you here, and your pharmacist or doctor can confirm what's right for you.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gral N, Beani JC, Bonnot D, et al. [Plasma levels of psoralens after celery ingestion]. Ann Dermatol Venereol 1993;120:599-603.
  2. Weber, I. C., Davis, C. P., and Greeson, D. M. Phytophotodermatitis: the other "lime" disease. J Emerg.Med 1999;17(2):235-237. PubMed
  3. Lombaert, G. A., Siemens, K. H., Pellaers, P., Mankotia, M., and Ng, W. Furanocoumarins in celery and parsnips: method and multiyear Canadian survey. J AOAC Int 2001;84(4):1135-1143. DOI
  4. Gorgus, E., Lohr, C., Raquet, N., Guth, S., and Schrenk, D. Limettin and furocoumarins in beverages containing citrus juices or extracts. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2010;48(1):93-98. PubMed
  5. Beier, R. C., Ivie, G. W., Oertli, E. H., and Holt, D. L. HPLC analysis of linear furocoumarins (psoralens) in healthy celery (Apium graveolens). Food Chem.Toxicol. 1983;21(2):163-165. 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

Celery Also Interacts With Other Medications

Celery has 449 moderate, 201 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Alitretinoin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 449 Minor 201 No known interaction 2,180 (incl. Alitretinoin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Celery

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Alitretinoin

This page covers Celery only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Alitretinoin page lists 38 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Vitamin A (major), Alfalfa (moderate), Angelica Archangelica (moderate) and Arrach (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 26 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Alitretinoin page

“Alitretinoin (Panretin) is a retinoid gel used on Kaposi sarcoma skin lesions, and because it is a vitamin A derivative, treat these 38 supplement interactions with genuine care. Two carry a major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Alitretinoin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,687 real supplement products containing Celery, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Celery. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Alitretinoin too, on top of Celery — 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 Celery and Alitretinoin 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 Celery
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Alitretinoin
Steady interest

#1,701 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 Celery

What is Celery?

Celery
  • High blood pressure
  • Fluid retention (diuretic)
  • Joint pain and inflammation
  • Anxiety and sleep
  • Digestive support

Celery is a common vegetable that is also taken as a seed extract or oil supplement, mainly for blood pressure, fluid retention, and joint discomfort. Human evidence for these supplement uses is limited and mostly preliminary, so it should not replace proven treatments. Celery is generally safe as food, but concentrated supplements and possible allergic reactions warrant caution.

Read the full Celery monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Alitretinoin

What Is Alitretinoin Used For?

Brand name: Panretin

Panretin Gel is approved to treat cutaneous lesions — visible skin sores — in adults who have AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow in the skin.

Panretin Gel is applied directly to the affected skin spots. It is not for use when the disease has spread widely enough to need systemic (whole-body) treatment — for example, when there are more than 10 new lesions in a month, or when the lungs, lymph nodes, or internal organs are involved.

See full Alitretinoin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Celery

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

0Major
449Moderate
201Minor
2,179No known interaction
449 Moderate 201 Minor 2,179 No interaction
Moderate

449 interactions

Showing 60 of 449 moderate interactions — see all 449 on the Celery page.

Minor

201 interactions

Showing 60 of 201 minor interactions — see all 201 on the Celery page.

No interaction 2,179 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,179 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Celery list.

See the full Celery interactions page
See every supplement checked against Alitretinoin, 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
Celery monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Alitretinoin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Alitretinoin, ranked by severity Alitretinoin 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 Celery and Alitretinoin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Celery with Alitretinoin?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Celery and Alitretinoin interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Alitretinoin and Celery?

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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.