Drug & supplement interaction

Nickel + Ferric Citrate

Ferric Citrate brand name: Auryxia.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Nickel and Ferric Citrate 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 Ferric Citrate states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Nickel and Ferric Citrate

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 Ferric Citrate and Nickel 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.

Nickel safety at a glance

Nickel overall Use caution Nickel is a common allergen and can be toxic at higher doses, so supplements are generally not recommended.
Pregnancy Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Nickel is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 1 mg daily. The... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Nickel is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 1 mg daily. The... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Ferric Citrate and Nickel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Ferric Citrate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Ferric Citrate is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Nickel has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being disulfiram (antabuse) (moderate) — and none of Ferric Citrate’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

Nickel Does Interact With Other Medications

Nickel has 1 moderate known drug interaction in our database — Ferric Citrate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Nickel

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Nickel and Ferric Citrate May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally, nickel has been reported to cause nephrotoxicity, especially when consumed in excessive amounts.”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in drug-induced kidney damage.

    3 sources cited
    1. 16333. Denkhaus E, Salnikow K. Nickel essentiality, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2002;42:35-56. PubMed
    2. 65009. Das, K. K., Das, S. N., and Dhundasi, S. A. Nickel, its adverse health effects & oxidative stress. Indian J.Med.Res. 2008;128(4):412-425.
    3. 65104. Savolainen, H. Biochemical and clinical aspects of nickel toxicity. Rev.Environ.Health 1996;11(4):167-173. PubMed

    Ferric Citrate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ferric Citrate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach pain / Diarrhea / Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally, consuming high doses of nickel 0.5-2.5 grams has been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Patients with systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) can experience colic and diarrhea after consumption of nickel-rich foods.”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    1 source cited
    1. 99663. Di Gioacchino M, Ricciardi L, De Pità O, et al. Nickel oral hyposensitization in patients with systemic nickel allergy syndrome. Ann Med. 2014 Feb;46(1):31-7. Epub 2013 Nov 21. PubMed

    Ferric Citrate

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ferric Citrate. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Nickel but not commonly for Ferric Citrate: a severe allergic reaction, an allergic reaction, a skin rash and hives.

Effects for Ferric Citrate come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Nickel come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Nickel in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When used orally and appropriately. Nickel is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 1 mg daily. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of nickel when taken in doses above the UL during pregnancy and lactation.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Ferric Citrate Products Have a Food Rule — Nickel Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Ferric Citrate says to take it with food. If you take Nickel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Ferric Citrate with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Ferric Citrate 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.

( 2.2 ) 2.1 Dosage for Hyperphosphatemia in Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis The recommended starting dose is 2 tablets, swallowed whole, 3 times per day with meals.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Ferric Citrate — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

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 Ferric Citrate Is Prescribed For, and What Nickel Has Been Studied For

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

Ferric Citrate is prescribed for: Ferric citrate tablets — sold as Auryxia and under the generic name Ferric Citrate — are approved for two related uses in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). For patients on dialysis, they work as a phosphate binder to control high phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia) levels in the blood. For patients with CKD who are not on dialysis, they serve as an iron replacement to treat iron deficiency anemia.

Nickel has been studied for:

  • Iron deficiency anemia studied, not established Nickel has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Nickel for iron deficiency anemia

    Although there has been interest in using oral nickel to improve iron absorption in patients with iron deficiency anemia, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of nickel for this purpose.

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 Ferric Citrate on your own; if you are taking Nickel 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 Ferric Citrate

This page covers Nickel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ferric Citrate page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ferric Citrate page

“Ferric citrate (Auryxia) does its work in the gut, binding dietary phosphate in kidney disease or supplying iron, and all 17 supplements on this list can interfere with how oral medicines get absorbed. That is worth real caution, starting with the single major-rated entry, activated charcoal, which adsorbs many drugs directly and can m…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ferric Citrate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 685 real supplement products containing Nickel, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Nickel. Even though Nickel itself has no known interaction with Ferric Citrate, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Nickel and Ferric Citrate 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 Nickel
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ferric Citrate
Steady interest

#1,788 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 Nickel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Nickel and Ferric Citrate 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 .
Supplement

About Nickel

What is Nickel?

  • General trace-mineral supplementation
  • Supporting iron and other nutrient metabolism (theoretical)
  • Marketed for bone or hormone support

Nickel is a trace element found in tiny amounts in many foods, and most people get plenty through diet. There is no proven need for nickel supplements, and because nickel is a common cause of allergic reactions and can be toxic in higher amounts, most people should not take it. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using any nickel-containing supplement.

Trace mineral (metallic element) · Tablets, capsules, and as part of some multivitamin or trace-mineral supplements (often as nickel sulfate or nickel chloride)

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

Nickel: dosing

There is no established recommended supplement dose of nickel, because a clear human requirement has not been proven and most people get enough from food. Health authorities have set upper limits to help avoid harmful exposure, but this does not mean people need to take supplements to reach any amount.If a product contains nickel, follow the label and do not take more than directed.

From our Nickel monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Nickel monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ferric Citrate

What Is Ferric Citrate Used For?

Brand name: Auryxia

Ferric citrate tablets — sold as Auryxia and under the generic name Ferric Citrate — are approved for two related uses in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

For patients on dialysis, they work as a phosphate binder to control high phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia) levels in the blood. For patients with CKD who are not on dialysis, they serve as an iron replacement to treat iron deficiency anemia.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Ferric Citrate

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Diarrhea 307 reports
Serum ferritin increased 228 reports
Transferrin saturation increased 169 reports
Faeces discoloured 118 reports
Constipation 83 reports
See full Ferric Citrate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Nickel

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

0Major
1Moderate
0Minor
2,828No known interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

No interaction 2,828 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Nickel References

The 76 references that drive our Nickel 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.

  1. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002.
  2. Sharma AD. Disulfiram and low nickel diet in the management of hand eczema: a clinical study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2006;72:113-8. PubMed
  3. Denkhaus E, Salnikow K. Nickel essentiality, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2002;42:35-56. PubMed
  4. Barceloux DG. Nickel. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999;37:239-58.
  5. Sunderman, F. W., Jr. Nasal toxicity, carcinogenicity, and olfactory uptake of metals. Ann.Clin.Lab Sci 2001;31(1):3-24.
  6. Hayes, R. B. The carcinogenicity of metals in humans. Cancer Causes Control 1997;8(3):371-385. PubMed
  7. Nemery, B. Metal toxicity and the respiratory tract. Eur Respir.J 1990;3(2):202-219. DOI
  8. Andersen, A., Barlow, L., Engeland, A., Kjaerheim, K., Lynge, E., and Pukkala, E. Work-related cancer in the Nordic countries. Scand.J.Work Environ.Health 1999;25 Suppl 2:1-116.
  9. Haber, L. T., Erdreicht, L., Diamond, G. L., Maier, A. M., Ratney, R., Zhao, Q., and Dourson, M. L. Hazard identification and dose response of inhaled nickel-soluble salts. Regul.Toxicol.Pharmacol. 2000;31(2 Pt 1):210-230. PubMed
  10. Kelleher, P., Pacheco, K., and Newman, L. S. Inorganic dust pneumonias: the metal-related parenchymal disorders. Environ.Health Perspect. 2000;108 Suppl 4:685-696. PubMed
  11. Seilkop, S. K. Occupational exposures and pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis. Occup.Environ.Med. 2001;58(1):63-64. PubMed
  12. Williams, M. D. and Sandler, A. B. The epidemiology of lung cancer. Cancer Treat.Res. 2001;105:31-52. PubMed
  13. Laffargue, P., Hildebrand, H. F., Lecomte-Houcke, M., Biehl, V., Breme, J., and Decoulx, J. [Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone 20 years after femoral fracture treated by plate-screw fixation: analysis of corrosion products and their role in malignan
  14. Ring, J., Brockow, K., and Behrendt, H. Adverse reactions to foods. J.Chromatogr.B Biomed.Sci.Appl. 5-25-2001;756(1-2):3-10. PubMed
  15. Egedahl, R., Carpenter, M., and Lundell, D. Mortality experience among employees at a hydrometallurgical nickel refinery and fertiliser complex in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta (1954-95). Occup.Environ.Med. 2001;58(11):711-715. 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 Nickel and Ferric Citrate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Nickel with Ferric Citrate?
We do not list a known interaction between Nickel and Ferric Citrate. 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.
Do Nickel and Ferric Citrate have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 5 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Nickel and Ferric Citrate at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Ferric Citrate says to take it with food. If you take Nickel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Ferric Citrate with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Ferric Citrate products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Are Nickel and Ferric Citrate 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 Nickel in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Ferric Citrate is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Nickel and Ferric Citrate combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Ferric Citrate is filed under 1 classification, and Nickel has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Ferric Citrate'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 Nickel interact with any other medications?
Yes. Nickel has 1 documented drug interaction in our database — Ferric Citrate 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 Ferric Citrate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Ferric Citrate has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Nickel is not one of them. The Ferric Citrate interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Ferric Citrate and Nickel?

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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.