Drug & supplement interaction

Apoaequorin + Desvenlafaxine

Desvenlafaxine brand names: Pristiq, Khedezla.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine 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 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

Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine

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 Desvenlafaxine and Apoaequorin 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Apoaequorin at all — not against Desvenlafaxine, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Apoaequorin safety at a glance

Apoaequorin overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in short-term studies, but long-term safety is not well established.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Pharmacist analysis
Prevagen bottle

Based on the current research available, apoaequorin, the protein derived from jellyfish that is the active ingredient in Prevagen, is not known to interact with any drugs.

This lack of interactions is likely due to the fact that apoaequorin is a relatively small and simple protein that does not have any known drug-binding sites or enzymatic activity.

Additionally, safety studies in animals have shown that even very large doses of apoaequorin don't appear to affect any organs or blood chemistry.

However, overall, there is limited data on its potential interactions with other drugs.

If someone is taking apoaequorin as a dietary supplement, they should still consult with a healthcare professional before starting to take it, especially if they are currently taking any medications or have any underlying medical conditions.

As with any dietary supplement, it is important to follow recommended dosages and to use it only as directed.

References

  • Subchronic toxicity of lyophilized apoaequorin protein powder in Sprague-Dawley rats. Sage Journals
  • Safety assessment of Apoaequorin, a protein preparation: subchronic toxicity study in rats. PubMed

Safe With Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine)?

Studies conducted on Prevagen, a dietary supplement marketed to improve cognitive function, have found no evidence of interaction with antidepressants, including Pristiq (desvenlafaxine).

Although desvenlafaxine and Prevagen haven't specifically been studied together, a clinically significant interaction is very unlikely due to Prevagen's lack of impact on serotonin and norepinephrine, the primary neurotransmitters targeted by desvenlafaxine.

Moreover, Prevagen does not appear to influence the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for metabolizing desvenlafaxine and other drugs in the liver.

As a result, Prevagen is not believed to have any significant effect on the pharmacological actions of desvenlafaxine in the human body.

Unless further research or insight comes to light, desvenlafaxine appears safe to take with Prevagen.

—

Still wondering about combining Desvenlafaxine and Apoaequorin? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine 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.

  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) has been reported to cause hypertension, hypotension, chest pain, and irregular heart rate, but it is unclear if these events were due to apoaequorin.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypertension.

    1 source cited
    1. 89624. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

    Desvenlafaxine

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

  • Anxiety or restlessness Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) was reported to cause mild anxiety in one clinical study.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    1 source cited
    1. 89624. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

    Desvenlafaxine

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

  • Trouble sleeping Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) has been reported to cause headache and dizziness in one clinical study at a rate of 18.8% and 7.6%, respectively. Memory impairment and insomnia were also reported. However, it is unclear how these rates compare with placebo.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 89624. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

    Desvenlafaxine

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

  • Dizziness / Headache Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, apoaequorin seems to be well tolerated.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally: Dizziness, headache, and nausea.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    Desvenlafaxine

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

  • Nausea Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) was reported to cause mild diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain in one study. Nausea occurred at a rate of 6.8%, diarrhea at a rate of 3.2%, and stomach pain at a rate of 2.2%. However, it is unclear how these rates compare with placebo.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    1 source cited
    1. 89624. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

    Desvenlafaxine

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

Reported for Apoaequorin but not commonly for Desvenlafaxine: memory problems, stomach pain, low blood pressure and chest pain.

Effects for Desvenlafaxine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Apoaequorin 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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Apoaequorin or Desvenlafaxine

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

This page covers Apoaequorin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Desvenlafaxine page lists 109 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 8 major · 81 moderate · 20 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Desvenlafaxine page

“Plenty of people taking desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla) for depression also shop the supplement aisle for mood support, and that is exactly where this list bites hardest. Eight of the 109 entries rate major, which puts it firmly in the be-careful column.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Desvenlafaxine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 28 real supplement products containing Apoaequorin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Apoaequorin. Even though Apoaequorin itself has no known interaction with Desvenlafaxine, 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 Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine 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 Apoaequorin
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Desvenlafaxine
Top half

#802 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 Apoaequorin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine 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 Apoaequorin

What is Apoaequorin?

Apoaequorin
  • Age-related memory concerns
  • General cognitive support
  • Brain health
  • Mild forgetfulness

Apoaequorin is a jellyfish-derived protein marketed (as Prevagen) to support memory and brain health. The scientific evidence that it improves memory is weak and largely comes from industry-funded studies, and as a protein it is likely broken down during digestion. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have memory problems that need medical evaluation.

A synthetic version of a protein originally found in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria · Capsules, chewable tablets

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

Apoaequorin: dosing

There is no officially established or standardized dose for apoaequorin. Taking more than the labeled amount has no proven benefit and is not recommended.

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

Read the full Apoaequorin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Desvenlafaxine

What Is Desvenlafaxine Used For?

Brand names: Pristiq, Khedezla

Desvenlafaxine extended-release tablets — sold under brand names including Pristiq, Desvenlafaxine ER, Desvenlafaxine Succinate, and others — are approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.

This medication is not approved for use in children or adolescents. Its effectiveness was studied in clinical trials of adult outpatients who met standard diagnostic criteria for MDD.

See full Desvenlafaxine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Apoaequorin

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Apoaequorin list.

See the full Apoaequorin interactions page
See every supplement checked against Desvenlafaxine, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Apoaequorin References

The 1 references that drive our Apoaequorin 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. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

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 Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Apoaequorin with Desvenlafaxine?
We do not list a known interaction between Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine. 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 Apoaequorin and Desvenlafaxine 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.
Does Desvenlafaxine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Desvenlafaxine has documented interactions with 109 supplements in our database — Apoaequorin is not one of them. The Desvenlafaxine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Apoaequorin monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Desvenlafaxine drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Desvenlafaxine supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Desvenlafaxine, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 1 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Desvenlafaxine and Apoaequorin?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.