Drug & supplement interaction

Chlorella + Triamterene

Triamterene brand name: Dyrenium.

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

Chlorella has a moderate interaction with Triamterene. Theoretically, chlorella might have additive effects with photosensitizing drugs.

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

Chlorella and Triamterene

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Triamterene

Triamterene falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Chlorella interacts with.

Theoretically, chlorella might have additive effects with photosensitizing drugs.
Chlorella has been reported to cause photosensitization. In five case reports, patients who had ingested chlorella exhibited swelling followed by erythematopurpuric lesions on sun-exposed areas of the body. Theoretically, concomitant use with photosensitizing drugs may exacerbate 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 thing to know with triamterene and chlorella: it has nothing to do with how your body processes the water pill. Instead, both can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Triamterene is already known to cause photosensitivity in some people, meaning you can sunburn faster or break out in a rash on sun-exposed skin. Chlorella has been linked to similar reactions in a handful of case reports.

So the worry is simply that the two together could make you more prone to sun-related skin problems. This is theoretical, based on how each behaves, not proven. If you take both, be smart about sun protection (sunscreen, hats, shade) and ask your pharmacist if you notice any unusual skin reactions.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Peirce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York, NY: William Morrow and Co., 1999.
  2. Jitsukawa K, Suizu R, Hidano A. Chlorella photosensitization. New phytophotodermatosis. Int J Dermatol 1984;23:263-8. 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

Chlorella Also Interacts With Other Medications

Chlorella has 336 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Triamterene one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 336 No known interaction 2,494 (incl. Triamterene)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Chlorella

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Chlorella or Triamterene

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Chlorella or Triamterene, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Triamterene

This page covers Chlorella only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Triamterene page lists 165 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), Asarabacca (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 6 major · 136 moderate · 23 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Triamterene page

“Because triamterene (Dyrenium) both lowers blood pressure and hangs onto potassium, its supplement list calls for real vigilance. Six of the 165 ingredients on file carry a major rating, and those six deserve your attention before any others.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Triamterene interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3,341 real supplement products containing Chlorella, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Chlorella. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Triamterene too, on top of Chlorella — 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 Chlorella and Triamterene 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 Chlorella
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Triamterene
Steady interest

#2,627 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 Chlorella

What is Chlorella?

Chlorella
  • General nutrition and 'detox' support
  • Immune support
  • Liver and kidney support
  • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support
  • Cholesterol and heart health

Chlorella is a nutrient-rich freshwater green algae taken as a supplement for general wellness, immune support, and 'detox.' Some small studies suggest possible benefits for cholesterol, blood pressure, and immune markers, but the overall evidence is limited and not strong. It is generally well tolerated, but quality varies and it should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless a doctor approves.

Read the full Chlorella monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Triamterene

What Is Triamterene Used For?

Brand name: Dyrenium

Triamterene capsules are used to treat edema — excess fluid buildup in the body — linked to several conditions, including congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disorder causing protein loss and swelling). It is also used for steroid-induced edema, idiopathic edema (fluid retention with no clear cause), and edema due to secondary hyperaldosteronism (overproduction of a hormone that causes the body to hold onto sodium and water).

It can be used on its own or alongside other diuretics, either to boost fluid removal or to help preserve potassium levels. Both Dyrenium and Triamterene capsules share the same approved uses as described above.

See full Triamterene drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Chlorella

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

0Major
336Moderate
0Minor
2,493No known interaction
336 Moderate 2,493 No interaction
Moderate

336 interactions

Showing 60 of 336 moderate interactions — see all 336 on the Chlorella page.

No interaction 2,493 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,493 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Chlorella list.

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

Can you take Chlorella with Triamterene?
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 Chlorella and Triamterene 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 Triamterene and Chlorella?

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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.