Drug & supplement interaction

Cilantro + Dantrolene

Dantrolene brand names: Dantrium, Dantrium Intravenous.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Cilantro has a moderate interaction with Dantrolene. Evidence from in vitro research suggests that coriandrin, a constituent of cilantro, has photosensitizing effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Cilantro and Dantrolene

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Dantrolene

Dantrolene falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Cilantro interacts with.

Evidence from in vitro research suggests that coriandrin, a constituent of cilantro, has photosensitizing effects. Theoretically, concomitant use with photosensitizing drugs might increase photosensitivity. Some drugs that cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), quinolones (Ciprofloxacin, others), sulfa drugs (Septra, Bactrim, others), and tetracycline.
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 for cilantro and dantrolene. Dantrolene can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight on its own, meaning you may sunburn faster than usual. Cilantro contains a compound called coriandrin that, in lab dishes, also showed some sun-sensitizing activity. So the theory is that pairing the two could add up to a bit more sun sensitivity.

I want to be honest about how thin this evidence is. It comes from test-tube research only, not from people, and eating cilantro as a garnish or in salsa is very unlikely to cause any real problem. Concentrated cilantro supplements or essential oil are a different story. Either way, simple sun protection (sunscreen, a hat, covering up) handles this nicely. Check with your pharmacist if you're unsure.

References
  1. Ashwood-Smith, M. J., Warrington, P. J., Jenkins, M., Ceska, O., and Romaniuk, P. J. Photobiological properties of a novel, naturally occurring furoisocoumarin, coriandrin. Photochem.Photobiol. 1989;50(6):745-751. 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

Cilantro Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cilantro has 433 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Dantrolene 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 Cilantro

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dantrolene

This page covers Cilantro only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dantrolene page lists 77 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Procaine (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and Wine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 62 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dantrolene page

“People take dantrolene (Dantrium) for muscle spasticity from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury, and the drug already carries a boxed warning for liver injury. That is why its supplement interactions deserve genuine respect.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dantrolene interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Cilantro and Dantrolene 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 Cilantro
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Dantrolene
Steady interest

#2,346 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 Cilantro

What is Cilantro?

  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Antimicrobial support
  • Antioxidant support
  • Heavy metal 'detox' (chelation) claims
  • Culinary flavoring

Cilantro is the leafy part of the Coriandrum sativum plant and is widely eaten as a food, where it is considered safe for most people. While it has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in lab studies, strong human evidence for any specific health benefit is lacking, and popular 'detox' claims are not well supported. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated cilantro supplements or essential oil.

Read the full Cilantro monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Dantrolene

What Is Dantrolene Used For?

Brand names: Dantrium, Dantrium Intravenous

Dantrolene sodium capsules (Dantrium, Dantrolene Sodium) are used by mouth to control spasticity — painful or disabling muscle stiffness and spasms — caused by upper motor neuron disorders such as spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis. They are not used for muscle spasm from arthritis or other rheumatic conditions. Oral capsules are also used before and after surgery to prevent or reduce the risk of malignant hyperthermia in patients known to be susceptible.

For an active malignant hyperthermia crisis — a sudden, dangerous overheating of the muscles triggered by certain anesthetics — the intravenous (IV) forms are given in the hospital. Dantrium Intravenous, Revonto, Ryanodex, and Dantrolene injection are all indicated to treat a malignant hyperthermia crisis and may also be given before surgery to help prevent one in high-risk patients.

See full Dantrolene drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cilantro

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

0Major
433Moderate
0Minor
2,396No known interaction
Moderate

433 interactions

Showing 60 of 433 moderate interactions — see all 433 on the Cilantro page.

No interaction 2,396 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Cilantro and Dantrolene Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cilantro with Dantrolene?
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 Cilantro and Dantrolene 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 Dantrolene and Cilantro?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.