Drug & supplement interaction

Nickel + Sevelamer

Sevelamer brand name: Renagel.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Nickel and Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer

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 Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer and Nickel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Sevelamer

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Sevelamer is filed under 2 classifications — including oral drugs. Nickel has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being disulfiram (antabuse) (moderate) — and none of Sevelamer’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 — Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer 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.

  • An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally and topically, nickel can cause dermatitis and other hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized individuals. Nickel exposure may cause systemic contact dermatitis. Orally, nickel sulfate has been associated with classic systemic allergic contact eczema. Topical exposure can occur from the use of common equipment containing nickel.”

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

    6 sources cited
    1. 65045. Sunderman, F. W., Jr. A review of the metabolism and toxicology of nickel. Ann.Clin.Lab Sci. 1977;7(5):377-398.
    2. 65017. Nijhawan, R. I., Molenda, M., Zirwas, M. J., and Jacob, S. E. Systemic contact dermatitis. Dermatol.Clin. 2009;27(3):355-64, vii. PubMed
    3. 64916. 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
    4. 99665. Maridet C, Atge B, Amici JM, Taïeb A, Milpied B. The electronic cigarette: the new source of nickel contact allergy of the 21st century? Contact Dermatitis. 2015 Jul;73(1):49-50. Epub 2015 Mar 20. PubMed
    5. 99669. Shim TN, Kosztyuova T. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Electronic Cigarette. Dermatitis. 2018 Mar/Apr;29(2):94-95. PubMed
    6. 99671. Ledon JA, Tosti A. CrossFit-Associated Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2017 Nov/Dec;28(6):368. PubMed

    “Orally and topically, nickel can cause hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized individuals. Nickel sensitivity, which can cause dermatologic and gastrointestinal symptoms, has an estimated prevalence of 11% in the general population, with a higher overall incidence in females than in males. About 10% of nickel-sensitive people react to ingestion of 550-1300 mcg.”

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

    6 sources cited
    1. 64916. 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
    2. 65017. Nijhawan, R. I., Molenda, M., Zirwas, M. J., and Jacob, S. E. Systemic contact dermatitis. Dermatol.Clin. 2009;27(3):355-64, vii. PubMed
    3. 65045. Sunderman, F. W., Jr. A review of the metabolism and toxicology of nickel. Ann.Clin.Lab Sci. 1977;7(5):377-398.
    4. 99668. Alinaghi F, Bennike NH, Egeberg A, Thyssen JP, Johansen JD. Prevalence of contact allergy in the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contact Dermatitis. 2019 Feb;80(2):77-85. PubMed
    5. 64994. Thyssen, J. P., Linneberg, A., Menne, T., and Johansen, J. D. The epidemiology of contact allergy in the general population--prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis 2007;57(5):287-299. PubMed
    6. 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

    Sevelamer

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Sevelamer. 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

    Sevelamer

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

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally, nickel is well tolerated when taken in amounts found in foods, which are typically below the tolerable upper intake level (UL). However, doses above the UL can cause serious adverse effects.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    All routes of administration: Contact dermatitis.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Chronic consumption of large quantities of nickel might increase the risk of cancers of the lung, nose…”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    Sevelamer

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

Reported for Nickel but not commonly for Sevelamer: a severe allergic reaction, kidney problems, hives and a stuffy or runny nose.

Effects for Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer Products Have a Food Rule — Nickel Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Sevelamer says to take it with food. If you take Nickel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer 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 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Starting dose of Renvela is 0.8 or 1.6 grams administered orally three times per day with meals based on serum phosphorus levels for adult patients and based on body surface area (BSA) category for pediatric patients.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Sevelamer — 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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Sevelamer

This page covers Nickel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sevelamer page lists 18 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 · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sevelamer page

“Kidney patients who take sevelamer (Renagel) to control phosphorus have a real reason to pause over this page, and activated charcoal is why. It carries the only major rating here because it can trap medicines in the gut and sharply cut the amount the body actually gets.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer, 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 Sevelamer 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Sevelamer
Steady interest

#2,021 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 Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer

What Is Sevelamer Used For?

Brand name: Renagel

Sevelamer is used to control serum phosphorus (the level of phosphorus in your blood) in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis. High phosphorus is a serious problem for dialysis patients and needs to be managed with medication and diet.

Sevelamer carbonate tablets and Renvela® (sevelamer carbonate) oral suspension are approved for adults and children 6 years of age and older. Sevelamer hydrochloride tablets are indicated for adults with CKD on dialysis; their safety and effectiveness in CKD patients not on dialysis have not been studied.

See full Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Nickel with Sevelamer?
We do not list a known interaction between Nickel and Sevelamer. 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 Sevelamer have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 6 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 Sevelamer at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Sevelamer says to take it with food. If you take Nickel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Sevelamer with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Sevelamer products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Nickel and Sevelamer combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Sevelamer is filed under 2 classifications, and Nickel has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Sevelamer'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 — Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer interact with any supplements?
Yes. Sevelamer has documented interactions with 18 supplements in our database — Nickel is not one of them. The Sevelamer 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 Sevelamer 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.