Drug & supplement interaction

Canthaxanthin + Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir brand name: Vosevi.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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

Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir and Canthaxanthin 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 Canthaxanthin at all — not against Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir, 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.

Canthaxanthin safety at a glance

Canthaxanthin overall Use caution Generally fine in small food-coloring amounts, but high-dose supplements have been linked to eye and other problems.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When consumed in doses to treat and reduce photosensitivities due to reported retinal changes with use; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When consumed in doses to treat and reduce photosensitivities due to reported retinal changes with use; avoid using. 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir and Canthaxanthin? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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.

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Canthaxanthin

    “Orally, large amounts of canthaxanthin can cause orange-brown coloration of the skin, brick-red coloration of stools, orange discoloration of plasma, discolored body secretions, diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, dry and itchy skin, urticaria, welts, gold and yellow crystalline deposits around the macula of the retina, and hepatitis.”

    Canthaxanthin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anemia.

    6 sources cited
    1. 5632. Lober CW. Canthaxanthin- the "tanning" pill. J Am Acad Dermatol 1985;13:660. PubMed
    2. 5631. Jackson R. Quick suntan pills in Canada. J Am Acad Dermatol 1981;4:233. PubMed
    3. 5634. Rock GA, Decary F, Cole RS. Orange plasma from tanning capsules. Lancet 1981;1:1419-20. PubMed
    4. 5637. Herbert V. Canthaxanthin toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;53:573-4. DOI
    5. 5635. Bluhm R, Branch R, Johnston P, Stein R. Aplastic anemia associated with canthaxanthin ingested for 'tanning' purposes. JAMA 1990;264:1141-2. DOI
    6. 5636. Harnois C, Samson J, Malenfant M, Rousseau A. Canthaxanthin retinopathy. Anatomic and funtional reversibility. Arch Ophthalmol 1989;107:538-40. DOI

    “Orally, large amounts of canthaxanthin can cause hepatitis.”

    Canthaxanthin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hepatitis.

    1 source cited
    1. 5635. Bluhm R, Branch R, Johnston P, Stein R. Aplastic anemia associated with canthaxanthin ingested for 'tanning' purposes. JAMA 1990;264:1141-2. DOI

    Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea / Nausea Additional detail

    Canthaxanthin

    “Orally, canthaxanthin can cause orange or brick-red discoloration of stools. Large amounts of canthaxanthin orally can cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps.”

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

    4 sources cited
    1. 5631. Jackson R. Quick suntan pills in Canada. J Am Acad Dermatol 1981;4:233. PubMed
    2. 39713. Gupta, A. K., Haberman, H. F., Pawlowski, D., Shulman, G., and Menon, I. A. Canthaxanthin. Int.J.Dermatol. 1985;24(8):528-532.
    3. 34657. Suhonen, R. and Plosila, M. The effect of beta-carotene in combination with canthaxanthin, Ro 8-8427 (Phenoro), in treatment of polymorphous light eruptions. Dermatologica 1981;163(2):172-176. PubMed
    4. 5634. Rock GA, Decary F, Cole RS. Orange plasma from tanning capsules. Lancet 1981;1:1419-20. PubMed

    Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Canthaxanthin but not commonly for Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir: stomach pain, itching, hives and anemia.

Effects for Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Canthaxanthin 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

Canthaxanthin in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When consumed in doses to treat and reduce photosensitivities due to reported retinal changes with use; avoid using.

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally in large amounts for artificial tanning purposes due to reported retinal changes with use; avoid using.

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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir Products Have a Food Rule — Canthaxanthin Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir says to take it with food. If you take Canthaxanthin on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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.

( 2.1 ) Recommended dosage: One tablet (400 mg of sofosbuvir, 100 mg of velpatasvir, and 100 mg of voxilaprevir) taken orally once daily with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir — 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir

This page covers Canthaxanthin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir page lists 173 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 130 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir page

“Vosevi (sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir) cures hepatitis C over a single short course, and that is exactly why I would be genuinely careful with supplements while taking it. Anything that drags its blood levels down can cost you the cure itself.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1 real supplement products containing Canthaxanthin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Canthaxanthin. Even though Canthaxanthin itself has no known interaction with Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir, 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 Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Canthaxanthin
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir
Steady interest

#1,809 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 Canthaxanthin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Canthaxanthin

What is Canthaxanthin?

  • Skin coloring or 'tanning pills'
  • Food and feed coloring (e.g., to color farmed fish/poultry)
  • Antioxidant supplement
  • Erythropoietic protoporphyria (light sensitivity, historical/medical use)

Canthaxanthin is a reddish-orange carotenoid pigment used mainly as a coloring agent and in 'tanning pills.' There is little good evidence it provides health benefits, and high doses have been linked to a serious eye problem called canthaxanthin retinopathy, so the tanning-pill use is widely discouraged.

Carotenoid pigment (synthetic or from sources like the mushroom Cantharellus cinnabarinus, certain algae, and crustaceans) · Oral tablets and capsules, often marketed as 'tanning pills'; also used as a food coloring additive

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

Canthaxanthin: dosing

There is no established, recommended supplement dose of canthaxanthin for any health condition, and the high doses once used for skin coloring are not considered safe. Given the known risks at high doses, most people are better off avoiding supplemental canthaxanthin entirely.

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

Read the full Canthaxanthin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir

What Is Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir Used For?

Brand name: Vosevi

Vosevi is used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults who do not have cirrhosis or who have compensated cirrhosis (mild liver scarring that is still functioning). It is specifically for people who have already been treated with an HCV regimen before and need a different option.

Vosevi is approved for adults with HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 who previously took a medicine that included an NS5A inhibitor. It is also approved for adults with genotype 1a or 3 who previously took sofosbuvir without an NS5A inhibitor.

See full Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Canthaxanthin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Canthaxanthin — 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
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Canthaxanthin References

The 21 references that drive our Canthaxanthin 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. Mathews-Roth MM. Carotenoids in erythropoietic protoporphyria and other photosensitivity diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1993; 691:127-38. PubMed
  2. Jackson R. Quick suntan pills in Canada. J Am Acad Dermatol 1981;4:233. PubMed
  3. Lober CW. Canthaxanthin- the "tanning" pill. J Am Acad Dermatol 1985;13:660. PubMed
  4. Rock GA, Decary F, Cole RS. Orange plasma from tanning capsules. Lancet 1981;1:1419-20. PubMed
  5. Bluhm R, Branch R, Johnston P, Stein R. Aplastic anemia associated with canthaxanthin ingested for 'tanning' purposes. JAMA 1990;264:1141-2. DOI
  6. Harnois C, Samson J, Malenfant M, Rousseau A. Canthaxanthin retinopathy. Anatomic and funtional reversibility. Arch Ophthalmol 1989;107:538-40. DOI
  7. Herbert V. Canthaxanthin toxicity. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;53:573-4. DOI
  8. White GL Jr, Beesley R, Thiese SM, Murdock RT. Retinal crystals and oral tanning agents. Am Fam Physician 1988;37:125-6.
  9. Chang TS, Aylward W, Clarkson JG, Gass JD. Asymmetric canthaxanthin retinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 1995;119:801-2. PubMed
  10. Leyon H, Ros AM, Nyberg S, Algvere P. Reversibility of canthaxanthin deposits within the retina. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1990;68:607-11. PubMed
  11. Espaillat A, Aiello LP, Arrigg PG, et al. Canthaxanthine retinopathy. Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:412-3.. PubMed
  12. Anon. Porphyria information for patients and their families. University of Cape Town / Medical Research Council - Liver Research Center 2000. Available at: http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/porphyria/
  13. Thomsen, K., Schmidt, H., and Fischer, A. Beta-carotene in erythropoietic protoporphyria: 5 years' experience. Dermatologica 1979;159(1):82-86. PubMed
  14. Haeger-Aronsen, B., Krook, G., and Abdulla, M. Oral carotenoids for photohypersensitivity in patients with erythrohepatic protoporphyria, polymorphous light eruptions and lupus erythematodes discoides. Int.J.Dermatol. 1979;18(1):73-82. PubMed
  15. Suhonen, R. and Plosila, M. The effect of beta-carotene in combination with canthaxanthin, Ro 8-8427 (Phenoro), in treatment of polymorphous light eruptions. Dermatologica 1981;163(2):172-176. 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 Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Canthaxanthin with Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir?
We do not list a known interaction between Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir. 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 Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 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 Canthaxanthin and Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir says to take it with food. If you take Canthaxanthin on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir has documented interactions with 173 supplements in our database — Canthaxanthin is not one of them. The Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir 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 Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Voxilaprevir and Canthaxanthin?

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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.