Drug & supplement interaction

Chlorine Dioxide + Escitalopram

Escitalopram brand name: Lexapro.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Escitalopram and Chlorine Dioxide in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Chlorine Dioxide at all — not against Escitalopram, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Chlorine Dioxide safety at a glance

Chlorine Dioxide overall Avoid Drinking chlorine dioxide products is dangerous and can cause life-threatening harm; the FDA warns against their use.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally for medicinal purposes. Chlorine dioxide supplement products typically contain 28% sodium chlorite, which can provide 3-8 mg of chlorine dioxid... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally for medicinal purposes. Chlorine dioxide supplement products typically contain 28% sodium chlorite, which can provide 3-8 mg of chlorine dioxid... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Escitalopram and Chlorine Dioxide? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Drowsiness Additional detail

    Chlorine Dioxide

    “Orally, chlorine dioxide solution in doses of up to 10 mL diluted in 1 liter of water, consumed over 8 hours daily for 9 months, has resulted in fatal toxicity. A 65-year-old male presented with nausea and vomiting, melena, drowsiness, hypotension, tachycardia, electrolyte imbalance, peritoneal irritation, absent peristalsis, abdominal distension due to fluid accumulation, and perforation of the jejunum.”

    Chlorine Dioxide · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypotension.

    2 sources cited
    1. 108748. Arellano-Gutiérrez G, Aldana-Zaragoza EH, Pérez-Fabián A. Intestinal perforation associated with chlorine dioxide ingestion: an adult chronic consumer during COVID-19 pandemic. Clin J Gastroenterol. 2021 Dec;14(6):1655-60. PubMed
    2. 102808. Loh JM, Shafi H. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease presenting after consumption of 'Miracle Mineral Solution' (sodium chlorite). BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Nov 24;2014:bcr2014205832. PubMed

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea / Vomiting reported in 5.0% of FDA reports for Escitalopram Additional detail

    Chlorine Dioxide

    “Orally, consuming chlorine dioxide in quantities exceeding the maximum allowable concentration can irritate the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Consuming large quantities of chlorine dioxide has been reported to cause severe vomiting and diarrhea.”

    Chlorine Dioxide · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    2 sources cited
    1. 102811. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). ToxFAQs for Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorite. September 2004. Available at: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts160.pdf. Accessed on May 4, 2020.
    2. 102810. FDA. Danger: Don't Drink Miracle Mineral Solution or Similar Products. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/danger-dont-drink-miracle-mineral-solution-or-similar-products?utm_campaign=FDA%20warns%20consumers%20about%20the%20dangero

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea reported in 6.8% of FDA reports for Escitalopram Additional detail

    Chlorine Dioxide

    “A 55-year-old male who took an unknown dose of chlorine dioxide orally daily for 5 days as prophylaxis for COVID-19, presented with nausea and vomiting, dehydration, altered mental status, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis.”

    Chlorine Dioxide · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    1 source cited
    1. 108746. Medina-Avitia E, Tella-Vega P, García-Estrada C. Acute kidney injury secondary to chlorine dioxide use for COVID-19 prevention. Hemodial Int. 2021 Oct;25(4):E40-E43. PubMed

    Escitalopram

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Escitalopram, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Chlorine Dioxide but not commonly for Escitalopram: confusion, an electrolyte imbalance, bloating or gas and kidney problems.

Effects for Escitalopram come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Chlorine Dioxide come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 139,512 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Escitalopram that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Chlorine Dioxide in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally for medicinal purposes. Chlorine dioxide supplement products typically contain 28% sodium chlorite, which can provide 3-8 mg of chlorine dioxide per drop when mixed with citric acid as directed. Chlorine dioxide has been reported to cause serious complications, including severe vomiting and diarrhea, life-threatening low blood pressure, hemolysis, and acute liver failure. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of chlorine dioxide when used topically; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Chlorine Dioxide or Escitalopram

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Chlorine Dioxide or Escitalopram, 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 Escitalopram

This page covers Chlorine Dioxide only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Escitalopram page lists 55 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Lithium (major), 5-htp (moderate), Acetyl-l-carnitine (moderate) and Ayahuasca (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 38 moderate · 15 minor.

Open the Escitalopram interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram 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 Chlorine Dioxide
Steady interest

#1,176 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Escitalopram
Top 1%

#13 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Chlorine Dioxide reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Chlorine Dioxide

What is Chlorine Dioxide?

Chlorine Dioxide
  • Falsely promoted as a cure for infections
  • Falsely promoted for COVID-19
  • Falsely promoted for cancer
  • Falsely promoted for autism
  • Water disinfection (industrial/regulated use only)

Chlorine dioxide products sold as 'Miracle Mineral Solution' (MMS) and similar names are essentially industrial bleach and are not safe to swallow. The FDA has issued strong warnings that drinking these products can cause serious, life-threatening harm, and there is no legitimate evidence they treat any disease. Do not consume chlorine dioxide supplements under any circumstances.

Not a plant; a chemical compound (chlorine dioxide gas, ClO2) · Liquid drops sold as 'Miracle Mineral Solution' (MMS), sodium chlorite solution mixed with an acid 'activator', water purification solution

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Chlorine Dioxide is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Chlorine Dioxide record says about it on its own.

Chlorine Dioxide: dosing

There is no safe or recommended dose of chlorine dioxide to take as a supplement. Health authorities, including the FDA, advise that these products should not be consumed at all.Any 'protocol' or dosing instructions found online or on product labels for MMS-type products should be ignored. If you have any of these products, do not use them. If you have already taken some, contact a healthcare provider or poison control right away.

From our Chlorine Dioxide monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Chlorine Dioxide monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Escitalopram

What Is Escitalopram Used For?

Brand name: Lexapro

Escitalopram treats major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and in adolescents 12 years of age and older. It also treats generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults.

Lexapro (escitalopram) tablets are additionally approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder in pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. Escitalopram Capsules are indicated for MDD and GAD in adults younger than 65 years of age, and for MDD in pediatric patients 12 years and older — the capsule form is not indicated for patients 65 and older.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Escitalopram

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (139,512 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 9,542 reports
Nausea 9,514 reports
Headache 7,397 reports
Diarrhea 7,045 reports
Anxiety 6,668 reports
See full Escitalopram drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Chlorine Dioxide

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Chlorine Dioxide list.

See the full Chlorine Dioxide interactions page
See every supplement checked against Escitalopram, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Chlorine Dioxide References

The 10 references that drive our Chlorine Dioxide monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Olin AC, Granung G, Hagberg S, et al. Respiratory health among bleachery workers exposed to ozone and chlorine dioxide. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2002 Apr;28(2):117-23. PubMed
  2. Kishan H. Chlorine dioxide-induced acute hemolysis. J Med Toxicol. 2009 Sep;5(3):177.
  3. Loh JM, Shafi H. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease presenting after consumption of 'Miracle Mineral Solution' (sodium chlorite). BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Nov 24;2014:bcr2014205832. PubMed
  4. Moore GS, Calabrese EJ, Ho SC. Groups at potentially high risk from chlorine dioxide treated water. J Environ Pathol Toxicol. 1980 Sep;4(2-3):465-70.
  5. FDA. Danger: Don't Drink Miracle Mineral Solution or Similar Products. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/danger-dont-drink-miracle-mineral-solution-or-similar-products?utm_campaign=FDA%20warns%20consumers%20about%20the%20dangero
  6. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). ToxFAQs for Chlorine Dioxide and Chlorite. September 2004. Available at: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts160.pdf. Accessed on May 4, 2020.
  7. Burke D, Zakhary B, Pinelis E. Acute Hemolysis Following an Overdose of Miracle Mineral Solution in a Patient With Normal Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Levels. Chest. 2014;146(4_MeetingAbstracts):273A. DOI
  8. Medina-Avitia E, Tella-Vega P, García-Estrada C. Acute kidney injury secondary to chlorine dioxide use for COVID-19 prevention. Hemodial Int. 2021 Oct;25(4):E40-E43. PubMed
  9. Lardieri A, Cheng C, Jones SC, McCulley L. Harmful effects of chlorine dioxide exposure. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2021 May;59(5):448-9. PubMed
  10. Arellano-Gutiérrez G, Aldana-Zaragoza EH, Pérez-Fabián A. Intestinal perforation associated with chlorine dioxide ingestion: an adult chronic consumer during COVID-19 pandemic. Clin J Gastroenterol. 2021 Dec;14(6):1655-60. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Chlorine Dioxide with Escitalopram?
We do not list a known interaction between Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Chlorine Dioxide and Escitalopram have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Does Escitalopram interact with any supplements?
Yes. Escitalopram has documented interactions with 55 supplements in our database — Chlorine Dioxide is not one of them. The Escitalopram interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Chlorine Dioxide monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Escitalopram drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Escitalopram supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Escitalopram, 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 References The 10 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Escitalopram and Chlorine Dioxide?

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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.