Drug & supplement interaction

Celery + Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline brand name: Hydroxy Compound.

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

Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline falls into 2 drug categories that Celery can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, celery might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Celery and Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Celery interacts with whole categories of medication. Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Celery in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Celery interacts with.

Theoretically, celery might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2.
In vitro and animal research suggests that constituents of celery can inhibit CYP1A2. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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

Out of this combination product, the piece to watch is theophylline, which your liver clears mainly through an enzyme called CYP1A2. Lab and animal studies hint that compounds in celery may slow that enzyme down. If that happened in people, theophylline could build up a bit, and since it already has a narrow safety window, even small rises can bring on nausea, a racing or pounding heart, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, or in larger excess, tremor or palpitations.

Here's the reassuring part: this is only a theoretical concern based on test-tube and animal work, never actually reported in humans, and celery as a food is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated celery seed extracts or oils are where I'd be more cautious. Please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before adding a supplement.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Peterson, S., Lampe, J. W., Bammler, T. K., Gross-Steinmeyer, K., and Eaton, D. L. Apiaceous vegetable constituents inhibit human cytochrome P-450 1A2 (hCYP1A2) activity and hCYP1A2-mediated mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2006;44(9):147 PubMed
Minor

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

2 of 2

Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline also falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS.

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 simple version. This combination product (which pairs ephedrine, hydroxyzine, and theophylline to ease breathing) is grouped with medicines that can make your skin a little more sensitive to sunlight. Celery, especially as a concentrated seed extract or oil, contains natural compounds called psoralens that may also bump up that sun sensitivity. So in theory, taking both could make you sunburn a touch more easily.

I want to be honest about how thin the evidence is here. This is theoretical, based mostly on lab work and a few anecdotes, and it's rated as minor. Eating celery as a normal food is very unlikely to cause trouble. If you use stronger celery supplements, just be a bit smart with sunscreen and shade, and check with your pharmacist if you have questions.

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 448 moderate, 202 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 448 Minor 202 No known interaction 2,180 (incl. Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline)
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 Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline

This page covers Celery only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline page lists 199 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Henbane (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 7 major · 153 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline page

“Someone taking Hydroxy Compound (ephedrine sulfate, hydroxyzine, and theophylline) for breathing problems is juggling three drugs at once, and the supplement list shows it: 199 interacting ingredients, seven of them rated major, and this page deserves genuine seriousness. The sharpest risks come from stimulant botanicals, ephedra above…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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 Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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 Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline
Top 25%

#350 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
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
448Moderate
202Minor
2,179No known interaction
448 Moderate 202 Minor 2,179 No interaction
Moderate

448 interactions

Showing 60 of 448 moderate interactions — see all 448 on the Celery page.

Minor

202 interactions

Showing 60 of 202 minor interactions — see all 202 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 Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline, 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 Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Celery and Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Celery with Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Celery and Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline?
Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline belongs to more than one drug category, and Celery interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Celery and Ephedrine Sulfate, Hydroxyzine, Theophylline 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

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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.