Herb & supplement monograph

Lychee Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Lychee interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Lychee is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Lychee is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Lychee Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Lychee drug interaction appears low for most people. None of the listed interactions are rated major, most are minor, and even the moderate ones rest on animal or lab research rather than solid human studies.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The main combination worth watching is with diabetes medications. Animal research suggests lychee seed extract can lower blood sugar, and some research in children has linked lychee to low blood sugar, so adding lychee could in theory push blood sugar lower than intended in people whose levels are closely managed. There is also a lab-based suggestion that lychee could slightly dampen the effect of immunosuppressants, but this has never been seen in people and is rated minor.

What the rest of the list means

Although lychee appears alongside a long list of medications, that does not mean each pairing is harmful. Nearly all of these entries are theoretical, extended from how lychee might behave based on animal or test-tube findings. None have been confirmed as clinically meaningful problems in human studies so far.

Check your medications against Lychee

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Lychee interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Lychee

207 medications have a known interaction with Lychee, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Lychee using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Lychee interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction 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.
Possible. 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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Lychee combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Lychee affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Lychee is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 2 drug categories Lychee interacts with

Antidiabetes DrugsImmunosuppressants

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, lychee seed might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that an aqueous extract of lychee seed reduces fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and improves impaired glucose tolerance in rats with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, retrospective research in children has found an association between lychee consumption and increased odds of acute hypoglycemic encephalopathy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, lychee might reduce the effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs.
In vitro, flavonoids extracted from lychee show immunostimulant effects. So far, this effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Lychee: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Lychee is a sweet tropical fruit that is nutritious and a source of vitamin C and antioxidant plant compounds. While the fruit is a healthy food for most people, supplement-strength extracts have only limited research behind specific health claims, and eating large amounts of unripe lychee on an empty stomach has been linked to dangerous low blood sugar in undernourished children. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using lychee extracts for any health condition.

Scientific name: Litchi chinensis
Family: Sapindaceae
Part used: Fruit (pulp), seed, and peel; sometimes flowers and leaves
Common forms: Fresh or dried fruit, juice, extract capsules, seed powder, teas

People commonly use it for

General nutrition and antioxidant support
Digestive complaints (traditional use)
Cough and sore throat (traditional use)
Blood sugar support (preliminary)
Weight and metabolic support (preliminary)

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

The fruit is generally safe as food, but concentrated extracts are not well studied and unripe fruit carries specific risks.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a small, sweet, juicy tropical fruit with a rough red or pink skin and a single large seed. It comes from an evergreen tree in the soapberry family and is native to southern China and Southeast Asia. Today it is also grown in India, parts of Africa, Australia, and other warm regions.

People mostly enjoy lychee as a fresh or canned fruit, juice, or dried snack. In traditional medicine systems, different parts of the plant — including the fruit, seed, and peel — have been used for digestion, coughs, and other complaints. More recently, lychee fruit and peel extracts have been sold as supplements that are promoted for antioxidant and metabolic support.

Uses & effectiveness

As a food, lychee is a good source of vitamin C and natural plant antioxidants, and it can be part of a healthy diet. This is its best-supported and most common use.

For supplement uses, the evidence is much weaker. Some early laboratory and animal studies suggest lychee compounds may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and a few small human studies have looked at lychee extracts for blood sugar, body weight, or exercise recovery. These studies are preliminary, small, or low quality, so we cannot say lychee extracts are proven to treat or prevent any health condition.

In short: lychee is a healthy fruit, but the science does not yet support taking lychee supplements for specific medical problems.

How it works

Lychee contains vitamin C and a variety of plant compounds called polyphenols, including flavonoids and proanthocyanidins (especially in the peel and seed). In the lab, these compounds can act as antioxidants, meaning they help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals.

Researchers have proposed that these antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects might help with things like blood sugar control and metabolism. However, most of this work has been done in test tubes or animals, and what happens in a lab dish does not always translate to real benefits in people.

Unripe lychee also contains natural substances (such as hypoglycin A and a related compound) that can lower blood sugar. While this is part of the antioxidant story, these same compounds explain some of the safety concerns below.

Safety & precautions

Ripe lychee fruit eaten in normal amounts is generally safe for most people. The main known danger involves eating large amounts of unripe lychee on an empty stomach, especially in malnourished children. This has been linked to outbreaks of severe, sometimes fatal, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and brain swelling in certain regions. Eating ripe fruit in moderation, and not skipping meals, lowers this risk.

People with diabetes or those taking blood-sugar-lowering medicine should be cautious, since lychee may affect blood sugar. Anyone with a known allergy to lychee or related fruits should avoid it.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Eating lychee fruit in normal food amounts is likely fine. However, concentrated lychee extracts and supplements have not been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding people, so it is safest to avoid them and stick to the fruit. When in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects

Lychee fruit is usually well tolerated. Some people may have an allergic reaction, with itching, hives, swelling, or in rare cases trouble breathing — seek medical help right away if this happens.

Eating a lot of lychee, particularly unripe fruit or on an empty stomach, can cause low blood sugar, which may lead to dizziness, sweating, confusion, or fainting. Because lychee is high in natural sugar, eating large amounts may also raise blood sugar in people with diabetes and add extra calories.

There is little safety information on long-term use of concentrated lychee extracts, so side effects from supplements are not well known.

Lychee: Reported Adverse Effects

Documented safety reports on Lychee from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.

Reports by condition

Dermatitis Immunologic

Orally, lychee can cause allergic reactions such as urticaria, dermatitis, tongue and lip swelling, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis.

Topically, contact with lychee fruit can cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Epilepsy Neurologic/CNS

Orally, lychee has been linked to hypoglycemic encephalopathy. A 20-year retrospective review of cases from India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh found an association between lychee consumption and increased risk of acute hypoglycemic encephalopathy in children, especially in those who were malnourished. They presented with seizures and other neurological symptoms and had a high mortality rate. The association has been questioned, but is supported by the presence in the children's urine of hypoglycin A (MCPA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), constituents of unripe lychee fruit, which can cause hypoglycemic encephalopathy in animal models.

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.

Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

Dosing

There is no established standard dose for lychee supplements or extracts. The fruit itself can be eaten as a normal part of the diet in moderation.

If you use a lychee extract or capsule product, follow the directions on the product label, and do not exceed the recommended amount. Because supplement strengths vary and are not standardized, it is a good idea to check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you have diabetes, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take other medicines.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Lychee & Pregnancy

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Lychee & Breastfeeding

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 12 references that drive our Lychee 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.

Niggemann B, Reibel S, Hipler C, Wahn U. Anaphylactic reaction to lychee in a 12-year-old girl: cross-reactivity to latex? Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2002;13(1):64-7. PubMed
Giannattasio M, Serafini M, Guarrera P, et al. Contact urticaria from litchi fruit (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(1):67.
Raap U, Schaefer T, Kapp A, Wedi B. Exotic food allergy: anaphylactic reaction to lychee. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2007;17(3):199-201.
Guo JW. Effects of Litchi seed on enhancing insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic-insulin resistant rats. Chinese J New Drugs 2003;12:526-9.
Zhao M, Yang B, Wang J, et al. Immunomodulatory and anticancer activities of flavonoids extracted from litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn) pericarp. Int Immunopharmacol 2007;7(2):162-6. PubMed
John TJ, Das M. Outbreaks of Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur, India: Are These Caused by Toxins in Litchi Fruit?: The Point. Indian Pediatr. 2016;53(5):399.
John TJ. Exploration of Association between Litchi Consumption and Seasonal Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome: Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist's Viewpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2017;54(4):323-325. DOI
Mathew JL. Exploration of Association between Litchi Consumption and Seasonal Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome: Evidence-based Medicine Viewpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2017;54(4):319-323. PubMed
Shrivastava A, Kumar A, Thomas JD, et al. Association of acute toxic encephalopathy with litchi consumption in an outbreak in Muzaffarpur, India, 2014: a case-control study. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(4):e458-e466.
Spencer PS, Palmer VS, Mazumder R. Probable toxic cause for suspected lychee-linked viral encephalitis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015;21(5):904-5. DOI
Valsecchi R, Leghissa P. Contact allergy due to lychee. Acta Derm Venereol. 2013;93(1):90-1. PubMed
Vashishtha VM. Outbreaks of Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur, India: Are These Caused by Toxins in Litchi Fruit?: The Counterpoint. Indian Pediatr. 2016 May 8;53(5):399-402.

Keep reading

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.

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.

Brand directory

Brands that make products with Lychee

49 brands in our database make a supplement containing Lychee.

Lichi Super Fruit 3 products Life Extension 1,966 products MaritzMayer Laboratories 153 products Monterey Bay Nutraceuticals 3 products My Cup of Tee 16 products Natrol 763 products Nature's Secret 76 products NewtonEverett 419 products PrimeGENIX 8 products Pro-Nutra 21 products Pure Encapsulations 2,122 products Quality Of Life 111 products RightWay Nutrition 31 products Ron Teeguarden's Dragon Herbs 300 products Ron Teeguarden's Dragon Herbs My Cup of Tee 29 products SEI 4 products Shredz 15 products Shredz Supplements 7 products Trace Minerals Research 311 products Tummydrops 17 products Vitality For Life 26 products Wellnx Life Sciences 2 products Whitaker Nutrition 111 products Windmill Health Products 32 products

Product directory

Supplement products with Lychee

106 products in our database contain Lychee. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Lychee: Common Questions

Does Lychee interact with prescription medications?

Yes. We list 207 medications with a known interaction with Lychee. Use the checker above to see how Lychee interacts with a specific drug.

How are Lychee interactions rated?

Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.

Is it safe to take Lychee with my medications?

It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.

Where does this Lychee interaction information come from?

Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.

Is Lychee good for you?

Yes, as a food. Lychee is low in fat, provides vitamin C and antioxidant plant compounds, and can be part of a healthy diet when eaten in moderation.

Is it dangerous to eat Lychee on an empty stomach?

For most well-fed adults, eating ripe Lychee in moderation is fine. The serious risk of dangerous low blood sugar has been seen mainly in malnourished children who ate large amounts of unripe Lychee while skipping meals.

Can I take Lychee supplements to treat a health condition?

There isn't strong evidence that Lychee extracts treat or prevent any specific medical condition. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using Lychee supplements, and don't use them in place of proven treatments.

Can I eat Lychee while pregnant?

Eating Lychee fruit in normal food amounts is likely fine during pregnancy, but concentrated extracts and supplements have not been studied, so it's safest to avoid those and check with your doctor.

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

Keep exploring

Products that contain Lychee

A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Lychee — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.

See all 106 products with Lychee →

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Lychee Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Your Choice:

Lychee Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

Drugs that interact with Lychee

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Where This Data Comes From

The kinds of drugs Lychee affects

Lychee: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Overview

Uses & effectiveness

How it works

Safety & precautions

Side effects

Lychee: Reported Adverse Effects

Dosing

Lychee & Pregnancy

Lychee & Breastfeeding

References & further reading

Brands that make products with Lychee

Supplement products with Lychee

Lychee: Common Questions

Related supplements & herbs

Products that contain Lychee

Have a question about Lychee?