Drug & supplement interaction

Quillaia + Fingolimod

Fingolimod brand names: Gilenya, Tascenso ODT.

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

Quillaia has a moderate interaction with Fingolimod. Theoretically, concomitant use of quillaia with immunosuppressant drugs might decrease the effectiveness of these drugs.

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

Quillaia and Fingolimod

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

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Fingolimod

Fingolimod falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Quillaia interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of quillaia with immunosuppressant drugs might decrease the effectiveness of these drugs.
In vitro research shows that some quillaia constituents have immunostimulant 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 gist for anyone on fingolimod (Gilenya, Tascenso ODT): this medicine works by quieting down immune cells that attack your nerves. The concern with quillaia is the opposite direction. Some of its saponins, the soap-like plant chemicals, have shown immune-stimulating activity in lab dishes. In theory, revving the immune system up could work against what fingolimod is trying to do, which might mean less protection against MS relapses.

I want to be straight with you though: this is purely theoretical, based on test-tube studies, not real patients. The small amounts of quillaia used to make foam in sodas and foods almost certainly won't matter. Before adding any concentrated quillaia supplement, just run it by your pharmacist or neurologist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. Wu JY, Gardner BH, Murphy CI, et al. Saponin adjuvant enhancement of antigen-specific immune responses to an experimental HIV-1 vaccine. J Immunol 1992;148:1519-25. DOI
  4. Fleck JD, Betti AH, da Silva FP, et al. Saponins from Quillaja saponaria and Quillaja brasiliensis: particular chemical characteristics and biological activities. Molecules 2019;24(1). pii: E171. 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

Quillaia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Quillaia has 120 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Fingolimod one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 120 No known interaction 2,710 (incl. Fingolimod)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Quillaia

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Quillaia or Fingolimod

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

This page covers Quillaia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Fingolimod page lists 106 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 92 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Fingolimod page

“Fingolimod (Gilenya, Tascenso ODT) reins in the immune system to keep multiple sclerosis quiet, and its supplement file calls for genuine wariness. Half of the entries are herbs and extracts thought to stimulate immunity, which could blunt the drug's whole purpose.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Fingolimod interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Quillaia and Fingolimod 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 Quillaia
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Fingolimod
Steady interest

#2,060 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 Quillaia

What is Quillaia?

  • Cough and chest congestion
  • Foaming agent in beverages
  • Vaccine adjuvant (in pharmaceutical manufacturing)
  • Washing and cleansing (traditional soap)
  • Skin conditions

Quillaia (soap bark tree) is a plant whose bark contains foaming compounds called saponins, and it is widely used as an emulsifier in foods and drinks. As a supplement or herbal remedy its benefits are not well proven, and large amounts can be irritating or toxic, so it should be used cautiously and only as directed.

Read the full Quillaia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Fingolimod

What Is Fingolimod Used For?

Brand names: Gilenya, Tascenso ODT

Fingolimod — available as capsules (Fingolimod, Fingolimod Hydrochloride, and Gilenya) and as an orally disintegrating tablet (Tascenso ODT) — is approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients 10 years of age and older. This includes clinically isolated syndrome (a first MS episode), relapsing-remitting MS (the most common type with flare-ups and periods of stability), and active secondary progressive MS (a later stage where disability gradually worsens but relapses still occur).

All supported formulations share these same approved uses. The goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency of relapses and slow disease activity.

See full Fingolimod drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Quillaia

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

0Major
120Moderate
0Minor
2,709No known interaction
120 Moderate 2,709 No interaction
Moderate

120 interactions

Showing 60 of 120 moderate interactions — see all 120 on the Quillaia page.

No interaction 2,709 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,709 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Quillaia list.

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

Can you take Quillaia with Fingolimod?
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 Quillaia and Fingolimod 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 Fingolimod and Quillaia?

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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.