Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) + Salmeterol

Salmeterol brand name: Serevent.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol 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 label for Salmeterol states a food rule worth keeping to.

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Interaction report

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol

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 Salmeterol and Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) 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.

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.

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) safety at a glance

Gamma-linolenic Ac... overall Use caution Usually well tolerated, but quality and source of the oil matter and some people have side effects.

Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety data; some sources are traditionally avoided in pregnancy, so it is best to avoid.

Breastfeeding Use caution Safety is not well established, so check with your doctor before use.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Salmeterol and Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Salmeterol

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Salmeterol is filed under 3 classifications — beta-adrenergic agonists, qt interval-prolonging drugs, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates. Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) — and none of Salmeterol’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) Does Interact With Other Medications

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has 122 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Salmeterol isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 122 No known interaction 2,708 (incl. Salmeterol)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla). Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

What Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Salmeterol. It is the side-effect record for Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla), this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail
“Orally, GLA might prolong bleeding time.”

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bleeding.
1 source cited

1979. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
Bloating or gas / Stomach upset / Diarrhea / Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail
“Orally, GLA may cause mild gastrointestinal effects such as dyspepsia, nausea, bloating, vomiting, soft stools, diarrhea, flatulence, and belching.”

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.
4 sources cited

7701. Leventhal LJ, Boyce EG, Zurier RB. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:867-73. PubMed

7702. Zurier RB, Rossetti RG, Jacobson EW, et al. Gamma-linolenic acid treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:1808-17. PubMed

8926. Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with gamma-linolenic acid. The gamma-Linolenic Acid Multicenter Trial Group. Diabetes Care 1993;16:8-15.

107927. Kim JH, Oh YW, Kim DH, Seo BH, Suh HS, Choi YS. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of gamma linolenic acid as an add-on therapy to minocycline for the treatment of rosacea. Ann Dermatol 2020;32(6):466-72. PubMed

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Salmeterol’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Salmeterol column appears here.

How to take them

Some Salmeterol Products Have a Food Rule — Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Salmeterol says to take it on an empty stomach. Most supplements — Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) included — are taken with a meal, so the easy mistake is swallowing both together at breakfast. Where that rule applies, keep Salmeterol on its own and move Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) to a meal later in the day.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Salmeterol products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

One inhalation of SEREVENT DISKUS at least 30 minutes before exercise has been shown to protect patients against EIB.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Salmeterol — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. See the Salmeterol drug page ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Salmeterol Is Prescribed For, and What Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Salmeterol is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Salmeterol is prescribed for: Serevent Diskus (salmeterol inhalation powder) is used for three main purposes: treating asthma in patients aged 4 and older alongside an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in patients aged 4 and older, and providing long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD — including chronic bronchitis and emphysema — in adults. Important: Serevent Diskus is not a rescue inhaler. It will not relieve a sudden asthma or COPD attack. For asthma, it must always be used together with an inhaled corticosteroid — using it alone for asthma is contraindicated due to a serious risk of asthma-related death.

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has been studied for:

Asthma studied, not established Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) for asthma

Oral GLA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Salmeterol on your own; if you are taking Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Salmeterol

This page covers Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Salmeterol page lists 141 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 7 major · 105 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Salmeterol page

“Salmeterol (Serevent) is the long-acting inhaler taken twice daily for asthma or COPD, and its supplement list is one I would approach with real caution. Seven of the 141 ingredients on file rate major: grapefruit can raise salmeterol levels by blocking the enzyme that clears it, St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Salmeterol interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol 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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

Steady interest

#1,389 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Medication Salmeterol

Top 10%

#253 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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol 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 Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

What is Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)?

Eczema and dry skin
Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetic nerve pain
PMS and breast pain
Menopausal symptoms

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid found in oils like evening primrose and borage. It is most studied for skin conditions, joint pain, and nerve pain, but the evidence is mixed and far from conclusive. It is generally well tolerated, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or take other medicines.

Seed oil (from evening primrose, borage, or black currant seeds) · Capsules, softgels, and oils (evening primrose oil, borage oil, black currant seed oil)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) record says about it on its own.

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla): dosing

There is no single official or standardized dose of GLA. The amount of GLA varies depending on the source oil, since evening primrose, borage, and black currant seed oils contain different concentrations.Because products differ so much, the best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and choose a reputable brand. A pharmacist can help you compare products and figure out an appropriate amount for your situation.Do not assume more is better.

From our Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Salmeterol Oral Inhalation

What Is Salmeterol Oral Inhalation Used For?

Brand name: Serevent

Serevent Diskus (salmeterol inhalation powder) is used for three main purposes: treating asthma in patients aged 4 and older alongside an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in patients aged 4 and older, and providing long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD — including chronic bronchitis and emphysema — in adults.

Important: Serevent Diskus is not a rescue inhaler. It will not relieve a sudden asthma or COPD attack. For asthma, it must always be used together with an inhaled corticosteroid — using it alone for asthma is contraindicated due to a serious risk of asthma-related death.

See full Salmeterol Oral Inhalation drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major

122Moderate

0Minor

2,707No known interaction

122 Moderate 2,707 No interaction

Moderate

122 interactions

Showing 60 of 122 moderate interactions — see all 122 on the Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) page.

No interaction 2,707 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,707 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) list.

See the full Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) interactions page

See every supplement checked against Salmeterol, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) References

The 5 references that drive our Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) 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.

Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
Leventhal LJ, Boyce EG, Zurier RB. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:867-73. PubMed
Zurier RB, Rossetti RG, Jacobson EW, et al. Gamma-linolenic acid treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:1808-17. PubMed
Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with gamma-linolenic acid. The gamma-Linolenic Acid Multicenter Trial Group. Diabetes Care 1993;16:8-15.
Kim JH, Oh YW, Kim DH, Seo BH, Suh HS, Choi YS. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of gamma linolenic acid as an add-on therapy to minocycline for the treatment of rosacea. Ann Dermatol 2020;32(6):466-72. 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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) with Salmeterol?

We do not list a known interaction between Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol. 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.

Should I take Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Salmeterol says to take it on an empty stomach, and supplements are usually taken with a meal — so taking them together at breakfast is the easy mistake. Where that applies, keep Salmeterol on its own and move Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) to a meal later in the day. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient, so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

Are Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Salmeterol is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Salmeterol combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Salmeterol is filed under 3 classifications, and Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Salmeterol's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) interact with any other medications?

Yes. Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has 122 documented drug interactions in our database — Salmeterol is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Salmeterol interact with any supplements?

Yes. Salmeterol has documented interactions with 141 supplements in our database — Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) is not one of them. The Salmeterol 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

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Salmeterol Oral Inhalation drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Salmeterol supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Salmeterol, 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 5 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Salmeterol and Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)?

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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.