Drug & supplement interaction

Equol + Ethacrynic Acid

Ethacrynic Acid brand name: Edecrin.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Equol has a minor interaction with Ethacrynic Acid. Theoretically, equol might cause additive diuretic effects when used with diuretic drugs.

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

Equol and Ethacrynic Acid

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

Minor

DIURETIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Ethacrynic Acid

Ethacrynic Acid falls under DIURETIC DRUGS — the group Equol interacts with.

Theoretically, equol might cause additive diuretic effects when used with diuretic drugs.
In vitro and animal studies suggest that equol has diuretic effects, likely via inhibition of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist with equol and ethacrynic acid (Edecrin). Ethacrynic acid is a strong loop water pill that works partly by blocking a salt pump in the kidney called the Na-K-Cl cotransporter. Interestingly, lab and animal studies hint that equol may nudge that same pump in a similar direction, so in theory the two together could add up to a bit more fluid and salt loss.

I want to be honest about how thin this evidence is. It comes only from test-tube and animal work, the interaction is rated minor, and it's considered unlikely to cause real trouble in people. Still, if you ever feel extra lightheaded, very thirsty, weak, or notice muscle cramps, that could point to too much fluid or potassium loss. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them, rather than changing anything yourself.

References
  1. Gimenez I, Lou M, Vargas F, et al. Renal and vascular actions of equol in the rat. J Hypertens 1997;15:1303-8. PubMed
  2. Martinez RM, Gimenez I, Lou JM, et al. Soy isoflavonoids exhibit in vitro biological activities of loop diuretics. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;68:1354S-57S. PubMed
  3. Alda JO, Mayoral JA, Lou M, et al. Purification and chemical characterization of a potent inhibitor of the Na-K-Cl cotransport system in rat urine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1996;221:279-85. 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

Equol Also Interacts With Other Medications

Equol has 58 moderate, 74 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ethacrynic Acid 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 Equol

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Equol or Ethacrynic Acid

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

This page covers Equol only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ethacrynic Acid page lists 201 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), Lithium (major) and Oleander (major).

By severity: 7 major · 170 moderate · 24 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ethacrynic Acid page

“Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin) is a potent loop diuretic, a water pill used to pull off serious fluid buildup, and its supplement list deserves genuine care, starting with the seven entries rated major. Most of the 201 interactions on file either stack with its blood-pressure-lowering effect, risking dizziness or faintness, or work against…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ethacrynic Acid interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Equol and Ethacrynic Acid 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 Equol
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ethacrynic Acid
Top half

#1,007 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 Equol

What is Equol?

  • Menopause symptoms (hot flashes)
  • Bone health support
  • Skin aging
  • Prostate health
  • General hormone balance

Equol is a compound made in the gut when some people break down soy isoflavones, and it is also sold as a supplement. Early research links it to possible benefits for menopause symptoms and bone or skin health, but the evidence is still limited and far from proven. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Equol monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ethacrynic Acid

What Is Ethacrynic Acid Used For?

Brand name: Edecrin

Ethacrynic acid tablets (sold as Edecrin and Ethacrynic Acid) are used to treat edema — excess fluid that builds up in the body — when other, milder diuretics aren't strong enough. It treats edema related to congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease, including nephrotic syndrome (a kidney condition that causes protein loss and swelling).

It is also used for short-term management of fluid buildup from malignancy (cancer-related ascites), idiopathic edema (swelling with no clear cause), and lymphedema (swelling from a blocked lymph system). In hospitalized children (not infants), it may be used short-term for edema related to congenital heart disease or nephrotic syndrome.

See full Ethacrynic Acid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Equol

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

0Major
58Moderate
74Minor
2,697No known interaction
Moderate

58 interactions

Minor

74 interactions

Showing 60 of 74 minor interactions — see all 74 on the Equol page.

No interaction 2,697 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 Equol and Ethacrynic Acid Together: Common Questions

Can you take Equol with Ethacrynic Acid?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Equol and Ethacrynic Acid interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Ethacrynic Acid and Equol?

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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.