Drug & supplement interaction

Fucus Vesiculosus + Trandolapril, Verapamil

Trandolapril, Verapamil brand name: Tarka.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Trandolapril, Verapamil falls into 2 drug categories that Fucus Vesiculosus can interact with; the most serious is rated minor. Theoretically, concomitant use of Fucus vesiculosus with CYP3A4 substrates might increase the risk for adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Fucus Vesiculosus and Trandolapril, Verapamil

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Fucus Vesiculosus interacts with whole categories of medication. Trandolapril, Verapamil falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Fucus Vesiculosus in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Minor).

Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Trandolapril, Verapamil

Trandolapril, Verapamil falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Fucus Vesiculosus interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of Fucus vesiculosus with CYP3A4 substrates might increase the risk for adverse effects.
In vitro research shows that fucoidan, a constituent of Fucus vesiculosus, inhibits CYP3A4. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Minor 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

Tarka combines two blood pressure medicines, and one of them, verapamil, is partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Lab studies suggest a compound in bladderwrack (fucoidan) might slow that enzyme down a little. In theory, that could let verapamil build up slightly, which might mean more of its usual effects: lower blood pressure, dizziness, a slower heartbeat, tiredness, or constipation.

I want to be honest though, this has only been seen in test tubes, never in real people, and it's rated minor. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. The bigger concern with bladderwrack is its high iodine load and your thyroid. Please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before adding it.

References
  1. Mathew L, Burney M, Gaikwad A, et al. Preclinical evaluation of safety of fucoidan extracts from Undaria pinnatifida and Fucus vesiculosus for use in cancer treatment. Integr Cancer Ther 2017;16(4):572-84.
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Trandolapril, Verapamil also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, concomitant use of Fucus vesiculosus with CYP2C8 substrates might increase the risk for adverse effects.
In vitro research shows that fucoidan, a constituent of Fucus vesiculosus, inhibits CYP2C8. This interaction has not been reported in humans.
Severity Minor 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 is the honest picture with bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and your Tarka, which combines trandolapril and verapamil. In a test-tube study, a seaweed compound called fucoidan slowed down an enzyme (CYP2C8) that helps clear certain medicines. In theory, if that enzyme is blocked, a drug it processes could build up a bit and cause more side effects. For verapamil that might mean things like dizziness, a slower heart rate, constipation, or swelling in your ankles, and trandolapril can add lightheadedness from lower blood pressure.

That said, this was only seen in the lab, never in real people, and it is rated minor. I would not lose sleep over it. Still, mention the bladderwrack to your pharmacist or doctor, especially since its iodine can affect your thyroid.

References
  1. Mathew L, Burney M, Gaikwad A, et al. Preclinical evaluation of safety of fucoidan extracts from Undaria pinnatifida and Fucus vesiculosus for use in cancer treatment. Integr Cancer Ther 2017;16(4):572-84.

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

Fucus Vesiculosus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fucus Vesiculosus has 23 moderate, 867 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Trandolapril, Verapamil one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fucus Vesiculosus

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Trandolapril, Verapamil

This page covers Fucus Vesiculosus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Trandolapril, Verapamil page lists 304 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 Beer (major).

By severity: 11 major · 250 moderate · 43 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Trandolapril, Verapamil page

“This is one of the supplement lists I would want a patient to read closely, not skim. Tarka combines trandolapril and verapamil to lower blood pressure, and most of these interactions pull on that same lever, either dropping pressure further than intended or working against the medicine altogether.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Trandolapril, Verapamil interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Fucus Vesiculosus and Trandolapril, Verapamil 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 Fucus Vesiculosus
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Trandolapril, Verapamil
Top 25%

#514 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 Fucus Vesiculosus

What is Fucus Vesiculosus?

Fucus Vesiculosus
  • Thyroid support
  • Iodine source
  • Weight management
  • Joint and skin care (topical)
  • Constipation and digestive support

Fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack) is a brown seaweed rich in iodine that has been used traditionally for thyroid concerns, weight, and skin. There is little solid human evidence to support most of these uses, and its high and variable iodine content can actually harm the thyroid. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a thyroid condition.

Read the full Fucus Vesiculosus monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fucus Vesiculosus

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

0Major
23Moderate
867Minor
1,939No known interaction
Moderate

23 interactions

Minor

867 interactions

Showing 60 of 867 minor interactions — see all 867 on the Fucus Vesiculosus page.

No interaction 1,939 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,939 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Fucus Vesiculosus 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 Fucus Vesiculosus and Trandolapril, Verapamil Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fucus Vesiculosus with Trandolapril, Verapamil?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Fucus Vesiculosus and Trandolapril, Verapamil?
Trandolapril, Verapamil belongs to more than one drug category, and Fucus Vesiculosus interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Fucus Vesiculosus and Trandolapril, Verapamil 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

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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.