Drug & supplement interaction

Lycopene + Selumetinib Sulfate

Selumetinib Sulfate brand name: Koselugo.

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

Lycopene has a moderate interaction with Selumetinib Sulfate. Theoretically, taking lycopene with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bleeding.

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

Lycopene and Selumetinib Sulfate

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Selumetinib Sulfate

Selumetinib Sulfate falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Lycopene interacts with.

Theoretically, taking lycopene with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bleeding.
In vitro research shows that lycopene has antiplatelet effects.
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 honest picture: the interaction on file pairs lycopene with blood thinners and anti-platelet drugs, where lab studies hint that lycopene might make platelets a little less sticky and slightly raise bleeding risk. Selumetinib (Koselugo) isn't really a blood thinner, so this concern is a loose fit. Still, it's worth knowing that selumetinib on its own can sometimes cause bleeding-type side effects, so stacking anything that nudges in the same direction deserves a little caution.

The evidence here is theoretical, drawn from test-tube work, not real patients, and food amounts of tomato-based lycopene are very unlikely to matter. High-dose supplements are the bigger question mark. Before adding a lycopene supplement, please check with your child's oncology team or pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hsiao, G., Wang, Y., Tzu, N. H., Fong, T. H., Shen, M. Y., Lin, K. H., Chou, D. S., and Sheu, J. R. Inhibitory effects of lycopene on in vitro platelet activation and in vivo prevention of thrombus formation. J Lab Clin Med 2005;146(4):216-226. PubMed
  2. O'Kennedy, N., Crosbie, L., Whelan, S., Luther, V., Horgan, G., Broom, J. I., Webb, D. J., and Duttaroy, A. K. Effects of tomato extract on platelet function: a double-blinded crossover study in healthy humans. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. 2006;84(3):561-569. PubMed
  3. Sawardekar SB, Patel TC, Uchil D. Comparative evaluation of antiplatelet effect of lycopene with aspirin and the effect of their combination on platelet aggregation: an in vitro study. Indian J Pharmacol 2016;48:26-31. 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

Lycopene Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lycopene has 121 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Selumetinib Sulfate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 No known interaction 2,709 (incl. Selumetinib Sulfate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lycopene

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Selumetinib Sulfate

This page covers Lycopene only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Selumetinib Sulfate page lists 282 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Grapefruit (major), Piracetam (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 5 major · 236 moderate · 41 minor.

Open the Selumetinib Sulfate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 4,889 real supplement products containing Lycopene, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lycopene. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Selumetinib Sulfate too, on top of Lycopene — 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 Lycopene and Selumetinib Sulfate 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 Lycopene
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Selumetinib Sulfate
Steady interest

#2,176 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 Lycopene

What is Lycopene?

Lycopene
  • Heart health
  • Prostate health
  • Antioxidant support
  • Sun/skin protection
  • General wellness

Lycopene is a red plant pigment and antioxidant found mainly in tomatoes and other red fruits. Eating lycopene-rich foods is linked with possible heart and prostate benefits, but evidence from supplements is mixed and far from conclusive. For most people, getting lycopene from food is a safe and reasonable choice; talk to your pharmacist before taking high-dose supplements.

Read the full Lycopene monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Selumetinib

What Is Selumetinib Used For?

Brand name: Koselugo

Koselugo (selumetinib) is approved for adults and children 1 year of age and older who have neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) — a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue — when they also have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (large, deep nerve tumors that cannot be surgically removed and are causing problems).

Both the Koselugo capsule and Koselugo oral granule formulations are approved for this use. The oral granule form is intended for patients who have difficulty swallowing whole capsules.

See full Selumetinib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lycopene

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

0Major
121Moderate
0Minor
2,708No known interaction
121 Moderate 2,708 No interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

Showing 60 of 121 moderate interactions — see all 121 on the Lycopene page.

No interaction 2,708 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,708 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Lycopene list.

See the full Lycopene interactions page
See every supplement checked against Selumetinib Sulfate, 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
Lycopene monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Selumetinib Sulfate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Selumetinib Sulfate, ranked by severity Selumetinib 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 Lycopene and Selumetinib Sulfate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lycopene with Selumetinib Sulfate?
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 Lycopene and Selumetinib Sulfate 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 Selumetinib Sulfate and Lycopene?

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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.