Drug & supplement interaction

Khella + Celecoxib

Celecoxib brand names: Celebrex, Elyxyb.

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

Khella has a moderate interaction with Celecoxib. Theoretically, concomitant use might result in increased photosensitivity.

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

Khella and Celecoxib

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

Moderate

PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS

Why this applies to Celecoxib

Celecoxib falls under PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS — the group Khella interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use might result in increased photosensitivity. Khella constituents can cause 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 simple version: both khella and celecoxib (Celebrex) can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Khella contains compounds (khellin and visnagin) that are known to cause this, and celecoxib is also on the list of medicines that can do the same. Put the two together and you may sunburn faster or break out in a rash after less time outdoors than usual.

I want to be honest about the strength of this: it's mostly theoretical and based on anecdotal reports, not strong studies, so it's a possible concern rather than a sure thing. This isn't about khella changing how celecoxib works in your body. To stay safe, use sunscreen, wear a hat, and check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Ossenkoppele PM, van der Sluis WG, van Vloten WA. [Phototoxic dermatitis following the use of Ammi majus fruit for vitiligo]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1991;135:478-80.
  2. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.

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

Khella Also Interacts With Other Medications

Khella has 619 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Celecoxib one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 619 No known interaction 2,211 (incl. Celecoxib)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Khella

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Khella or Celecoxib

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

This page covers Khella only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Celecoxib page lists 117 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and Wine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 84 moderate · 28 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Celecoxib page

“Alcohol tops my worry list here. Beer and wine both carry major ratings with celecoxib (Celebrex, Elyxyb) because mixing alcohol with an NSAID raises the odds of stomach and intestinal bleeding, the drug's best-known danger.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Celecoxib interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Khella as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 43 real supplement products containing Khella, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Khella. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Celecoxib too, on top of Khella — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Khella and Celecoxib 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 Khella
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Celecoxib
Top half

#860 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 Khella

What is Khella?

Khella
  • Asthma and bronchitis
  • Angina and heart-related chest pain
  • Kidney stones
  • Vitiligo and psoriasis
  • Mild high blood pressure

Khella is a Mediterranean herb whose seeds contain compounds like khellin that may relax smooth muscle in the airways and blood vessels. While it has a long history of traditional use for breathing and heart problems, modern evidence in supplement form is limited, and it can cause side effects and sun sensitivity, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Khella monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Celecoxib

What Is Celecoxib Used For?

Brand names: Celebrex, Elyxyb

Celecoxib capsules (Celebrex and generic celecoxib) are used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine), and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children 2 years and older. The capsules are also used for acute pain in adults and primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods).

Vyscoxa oral suspension is used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis in adults, plus juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children 2 years and older. It is not for acute pain or primary dysmenorrhea. ELYXYB oral solution is only for treating a migraine attack, with or without aura, in adults. It is not for preventing migraines.

See full Celecoxib drug information Celecoxib NDC codes and packages
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Khella

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

0Major
619Moderate
0Minor
2,210No known interaction
619 Moderate 2,210 No interaction
Moderate

619 interactions

Showing 60 of 619 moderate interactions — see all 619 on the Khella page.

No interaction 2,210 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,210 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Khella list.

See the full Khella interactions page
See every supplement checked against Celecoxib, 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
Khella monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Celecoxib supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Celecoxib, ranked by severity Celecoxib drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Celecoxib NDC codes and packages › Every package, labeler and price in the FDA directory 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 Khella and Celecoxib Together: Common Questions

Can you take Khella with Celecoxib?
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 Khella and Celecoxib 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 Celecoxib and Khella?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.