Drug & supplement interaction

Gossypol + Ethacrynic Acid

Ethacrynic Acid brand name: Edecrin.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Gossypol has a moderate interaction with Ethacrynic Acid. Theoretically, gossypol might increase the risk of hypokalemia when taken with potassium-depleting diuretic drugs.

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

Gossypol and Ethacrynic Acid

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

Moderate

DIURETIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Ethacrynic Acid

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

Theoretically, gossypol might increase the risk of hypokalemia when taken with potassium-depleting diuretic drugs.
Clinical research shows that gossypol has potassium-depleting effects and can cause hypokalemia. Initiation of potassium supplementation or an increase in potassium supplement dose may be necessary for some patients.
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 simple version. Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin) is a strong loop diuretic, and one of its known effects is flushing potassium out of your body along with the extra fluid. Gossypol, on its own, has also been shown to lower potassium. So if the two were used together, the worry is that your potassium could drop too low (a condition called hypokalemia). Low potassium can cause muscle cramps, weakness, tiredness, and in more serious cases an irregular heartbeat.

I'll be honest with you: this concern is based on how these two work, not on hard studies of them being taken together, so it's more theoretical. Just as important, gossypol is not a safe over-the-counter supplement, so please don't use it for self-treatment. If you're already on ethacrynic acid, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before adding anything new.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Woolley, R. J. Contraception--a look forward, Part II: Mifepristone and gossypol. J.Am.Board Fam.Pract. 1991;4(2):103-113.
  2. Bushunow, P., Reidenberg, M. M., Wasenko, J., Winfield, J., Lorenzo, B., Lemke, S., Himpler, B., Corona, R., and Coyle, T. Gossypol treatment of recurrent adult malignant gliomas. J.Neurooncol. 1999;43(1):79-86. PubMed
  3. Reidenberg, M. M. Environmental inhibition of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Toxicology 4-3-2000;144(1-3):107-111.
  4. Song, D., Lorenzo, B., and Reidenberg, M. M. Inhibition of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by gossypol and bioflavonoids. J.Lab Clin.Med. 1992;120(5):792-797.
  5. Fu, Y. F., Zhang, S. L., Lu, Z. M., and Wang, W. Effects of gossypol on the activity of kidney (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and the functions of erythrocyte membrane. Contraception 1988;37(2):179-184. PubMed
  6. Fu, Y. F., Zhang, S. L., Lu, Z. M., and Wang, W. Effects of gossypol on the activity of rabbit kidney Na,K-ATPase and the functions of human erythrocyte membrane. Prog.Clin.Biol.Res. 1988;268B:385-392.
  7. Kjaergaard, N. [Male contraception]. Ugeskr.Laeger 9-8-1986;148(37):2335-2338.
  8. Bi, X. F., Ye, Y. X., Yang, H. F., and Zhang, Z. R. [Preliminary study on gossypol in causing hypokalemia (author's transl)]. Zhongguo Yi.Xue.Ke.Xue.Yuan Xue.Bao. 1981;3(3):175-178.
  9. Aitken, R. J., Liu, J., Best, F. S., and Richardson, D. W. An analysis of the direct effects of gossypol on human spermatozoa. Int.J.Androl 1983;6(2):157-167. PubMed
  10. Waites, G. M. Male fertility regulation: the challenges for the year 2000. Br.Med Bull. 1993;49(1):210-221. PubMed
  11. Reidenberg, M. M., Gu, Z. P., Lorenzo, B., Coutinho, E., Athayde, C., Frick, J., Alvarez, F., Brache, V., and Emuveyan, E. E. Differences in serum potassium concentrations in normal men in different geographic locations. Clin.Chem. 1993;39(1):72-75. DOI

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

Gossypol Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gossypol has 103 moderate 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.

Moderate 103 No known interaction 2,727 (incl. Ethacrynic Acid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gossypol

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Gossypol 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 Gossypol 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 Gossypol 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 Gossypol 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 Gossypol
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ethacrynic Acid
Top half

#983 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 Gossypol

What is Gossypol?

Gossypol
  • Male contraception (research interest)
  • Reduction of sperm production
  • Endometriosis (historical/research)
  • Antiviral and antiparasitic research
  • Cancer cell research

Gossypol is a toxic yellow pigment from cotton plants that has been studied mainly as an experimental male contraceptive because it can lower sperm production. It is not an approved or safe over-the-counter supplement, and it carries serious risks including possibly permanent infertility, low potassium, and organ toxicity. It should not be used for self-treatment.

Read the full Gossypol 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 & Gossypol

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

0Major
103Moderate
0Minor
2,726No known interaction
103 Moderate 2,726 No interaction
Moderate

103 interactions

Showing 60 of 103 moderate interactions — see all 103 on the Gossypol page.

No interaction 2,726 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,726 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gossypol list.

See the full Gossypol interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ethacrynic Acid, ranked by severity
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
Gossypol monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ethacrynic Acid supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ethacrynic Acid, ranked by severity Ethacrynic Acid drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Gossypol and Ethacrynic Acid Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gossypol with Ethacrynic Acid?
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 Gossypol and Ethacrynic Acid 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 Ethacrynic Acid and Gossypol?

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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.