Drug & supplement interaction

Cilantro + Ziprasidone

Ziprasidone brand name: Geodon.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Cilantro has a moderate interaction with Ziprasidone. 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?
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Interaction report

Cilantro and Ziprasidone

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Ziprasidone

Ziprasidone 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 of this one. Ziprasidone (Geodon) can make your skin a bit more sensitive to sunlight, meaning you may sunburn more easily than usual. Cilantro contains a compound called coriandrin that, in lab dish studies only, showed similar sun-sensitizing activity. So in theory, stacking the two could add up and make your skin extra reactive to UV light.

I want to be honest with you though: this is a theoretical concern, not something proven in real people. Eating cilantro as a food is very unlikely to matter at all. Concentrated cilantro supplements or essential oil would be the bigger question mark. Either way, simple sun protection (sunscreen, hat, shade) handles most of this. If you're using a concentrated product, just run it past your pharmacist or doctor first.

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 Ziprasidone 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 Ziprasidone

This page covers Cilantro only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ziprasidone page lists 188 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 11 major · 136 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ziprasidone page

“Ziprasidone (Geodon) is an antipsychotic that already carries a warning about disturbing the heart's electrical rhythm, so a list with 11 major-rated interactions calls for real care before mixing in supplements. Most of the 188 ingredients on file touch the liver enzyme, CYP3A4, that clears ziprasidone from the body.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ziprasidone interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Cilantro and Ziprasidone 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

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ziprasidone
Top half

#891 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 Ziprasidone

What Is Ziprasidone Used For?

Brand name: Geodon

Ziprasidone is prescribed for adults with schizophrenia and for adults experiencing manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder. It can be used on its own for acute manic or mixed episodes, or added to lithium or valproate to help maintain stability in bipolar I disorder long-term.

An injectable form is also available for rapid control of agitation in people with schizophrenia who need quick relief. Prescribers are advised to weigh ziprasidone's potential effect on heart rhythm when choosing among treatment options.

See full Ziprasidone 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Cilantro and Ziprasidone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cilantro with Ziprasidone?
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 Ziprasidone 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 Ziprasidone and Cilantro?

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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.