Drug & supplement interaction

Creatine + Prednisone

Prednisone brand names: Deltasone, Cortan, Orasone, Prednisone, Prednicen-M, and others.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Creatine and Prednisone 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 Prednisone 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

Creatine and Prednisone

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 Prednisone and Creatine 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 Creatine at all — not against Prednisone, 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.

Creatine safety at a glance

Creatine overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in healthy adults, but those with kidney issues should be careful.
Pregnancy Avoid Safety during pregnancy has not been established, so it is best avoided.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is not enough safety information for nursing mothers, so avoid use.

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

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

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Creatine and Prednisone 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. 8 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • An electrolyte imbalance Worth acting on Additional detail

    Creatine

    “Isolated cases of renal dysfunction in patients taking creatine have been reported, including a case of interstitial nephritis in a healthy male and a case of renal insufficiency in a football player. In contrast to these cases, several clinical studies and case reports have shown that creatine does not affect markers of renal function in healthy adults.”

    Creatine · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diabetic nephropathy.

    6 sources cited
    1. 184. Koshy KM, Griswold E, Schneeberger EE. Interstitial nephritis in a patient taking creatine. N Engl J Med 1999;340:814-5. PubMed
    2. 46828. Kuehl K, Goldberg L, and Elliot D. Renal insufficiency after creatine supplementation in a college football athlete. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998;30(5 Suppl ):S235. DOI
    3. 2120. Poortmans JR, Auquier H, Renaut V, et al. Effect of short-term creatine supplementation on renal responses in men (abstract). Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1997;76:566-7. PubMed
    4. 3996. Poortmans JR, Francaux M. Long-term oral creatine supplementation does not impair renal function in healthy athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:1108-10. PubMed
    5. 4573. Earnest CP, Almada AL, Mitchell TL. High-performance capillary electrophoresis-pure creatine monohydrate reduces blood lipids in men and women. Clin Sci (Colch) 1996;91:113-8. PubMed
    6. 16535. Gualano B, Ugrinowitsch C, Novaes RB, et al. Effects of creatine supplementation on renal function: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 2008;103:33-40. PubMed

    Prednisone

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

  • Blood clots Worth acting on Additional detail

    Creatine

    “There are two case reports of creatine-related venous thrombosis in otherwise healthy adults. In the first case, an active 18-year-old male who had been taking an unspecified dose of creatine daily for 3 months was diagnosed with venous thrombosis via MRI. The patient reported increased thirst and fluid consumption when taking creatine.”

    Creatine · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dehydration.

    1 source cited
    1. 90301. Tan CW, Hae Tha M, Joo Ng H. Creatine supplementation and venous thrombotic events. Am J Med 2014;127(8):e7-8. PubMed

    Prednisone

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

  • Hallucinations / Low mood Worth acting on Additional detail

    Creatine

    “Anxiety, irritability, depression, aggression, and nervousness have been reported in clinical research for patients taking creatine, although the effects are not common. A case of acute organic psychosis was reported in a 32-year-old soldier in Iraq who was consuming excessive amounts of caffeine coupled with use of creatine (Creatamax, MaxiNutrition) one tablet twice daily for 3 weeks plus a specific stimulant conta…”

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

    2 sources cited
    1. 46518. Volek, J. S., Duncan, N. D., Mazzetti, S. A., Putukian, M., Gomez, A. L., and Kraemer, W. J. No effect of heavy resistance training and creatine supplementation on blood lipids. Int J Sport Nutr.Exerc.Metab 2000;10(2):144-156. PubMed
    2. 37982. Boos, C. J., White, S. H., Bland, S. A., and McAllister, P. D. Dietary supplements and military operations: caution is advised. J R.Army Med Corps 2010;156(1):41-43. PubMed

    Prednisone

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

  • Heart failure / An irregular heartbeat Worth acting on Additional detail

    Creatine

    “Some research suggests that creatine supplementation can cause edema. In a randomized controlled trial, 26% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) receiving creatine 10 grams daily reported edema after 2 months of treatment compared to 9% with placebo. The difference between groups was statistically significant at 2 months but not at month 4 and beyond.”

    Creatine · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als, lou gehrig's disease).

    3 sources cited
    1. 46647. Groeneveld, G. J., Beijer, C., Veldink, J. H., Kalmijn, S., Wokke, J. H., and van den Berg, L. H. Few adverse effects of long-term creatine supplementation in a placebo-controlled trial. Int J Sports Med 2005;26(4):307-313. PubMed
    2. 13187. Kammer RT. Lone atrial fibrillation associated with creatine monohydrate supplementation. Pharmacotherapy 2005;25:762-4. PubMed
    3. 95959. Galvan E, Walker Dk, Simbo SY, et al. Acute and chronic safety and efficacy of dose dependent creatine nitrate supplementation and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016 Mar 31;13:12. PubMed

    Prednisone

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

  • Fainting Worth acting on Additional detail

    Creatine

    “In clinical research, thirst, sleepiness, mild headache, and syncope have been reported for patients taking creatine, although the events were uncommon. More serious adverse events have been reported for patients taking creatine in combination with other ingredients.”

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

    5 sources cited
    1. 46578. Kilduff, L. P., Vidakovic, P., Cooney, G., Twycross-Lewis, R., Amuna, P., Parker, M., Paul, L., and Pitsiladis, Y. P. Effects of creatine on isometric bench-press performance in resistance-trained humans. Med Sci.Sports Exerc. 2002;34(7):1176-1183. PubMed
    2. 46615. Volek, J. S., Ratamess, N. A., Rubin, M. R., Gomez, A. L., French, D. N., McGuigan, M. M., Scheett, T. P., Sharman, M. J., Hakkinen, K., and Kraemer, W. J. The effects of creatine supplementation on muscular performance and body composition responses to
    3. 46820. Vandebuerie, F., Vanden Eynde, B., Vandenberghe, K., and Hespel, P. Effect of creatine loading on endurance capacity and sprint power in cyclists. Int J Sports Med 1998;19(7):490-495. PubMed
    4. 1275. Vahedi K, Domingo V, Amarenco P, Bousser MG. Ischemic stroke in a sportsman who consumed MaHuang extract and creatine monohydrate for bodybuilding. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 2000;68:112-3.
    5. 90318. Young C, Oladipo O, Frasier S, et al. Hemorrhagic stroke in young healthy male following use of sports supplement Jack3d. Mil Med 2012;177(12):1450-4. PubMed

    Prednisone

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

  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail

    Creatine

    “There have been reports of heat intolerance with oral creatine supplementation. Increases in formaldehyde production have been reported with creatine use. A-24 year-old man taking supratherapeutic doses of creatine monophosphate in combination with an energy supplement developed malignant hyperthermia after undergoing anesthesia. His symptoms included tachycardia, hypertension, hypercarbia, and hyperthermia.”

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

    6 sources cited
    1. 46505. Juhn, M. S., O'Kane, J. W., and Vinci, D. M. Oral creatine supplementation in male collegiate athletes: a survey of dosing habits and side effects. J Am.Diet.Assoc 1999;99(5):593-595.
    2. 46717. Parness, J. You're "hot" from pumping iron? Anesth.Analg. 2009;108(3):711-713. PubMed
    3. 93628. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hyperthermia and dehydration-related deaths associated with rapid weight loss in three collegiate wrestlers - North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Michigan, November-December 1997. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1998
    4. 12820. Robinson SJ. Acute quadriceps compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis in a weight lifter using high-dose creatine supplementation. J Am Board Fam Pract 2000;13:134-7. PubMed
    5. 93629. Litsky F. Collegiate wrestling deaths raise fears about training. The New York Times. December 19, 1997. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/19/sports/wrestling-collegiate-wrestling-deaths-raise-fears-about-training.html.
    6. 93630. The Associated Press. Creatine ruled out in athletes' deaths. The New York Times. May 2, 1998. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/02/sports/plus-college-wrestling-creatine-ruled-out-in-athletes-deaths.html.

    Prednisone

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

  • Weight gain Additional detail

    Creatine

    “Creatine-associated increase in body mass is well documented in randomized, controlled clinical trials and is often as large as 1-2 kg during the five-day loading period of creatine. This may be considered an unwanted adverse reaction in some individuals and a desired effect of supplementation in others. This weight gain may interfere with mass-dependent activities such as running and swimming.”

    Creatine · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in muscle breakdown.

    6 sources cited
    1. 2101. Vandenberghe K, Goris M, Van Hecke P, et al. Long-term creatine intake is beneficial to muscle performance during resistance training (abstract). J Appl Physiol 1997;83:2055-63. PubMed
    2. 4569. Mihic S, MacDonald JR, McKenzie S, Tarnopolsky MA. Acute creatine loading increases fat-free mass, but does not affect blood pressure, plasma creatinine, or CK activity in men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000;32:291-6. PubMed
    3. 4589. Green AL, Hultman E, Macdonald IA, et al. Carbohydrate ingestion augments skeletal muscle creatine accumulation during creatine supplementation in humans. Am J Physiol 1996;271:E821-6. PubMed
    4. 4591. Balsom PD, Soderlund K, Sjodin B, Ekblom B. Skeletal muscle metabolism during short duration high-intensity exercise: influence of creatine supplementation. Acta Physiol Scand 1995;154:303-10. PubMed
    5. 4600. Snow RJ, McKenna MJ, Selig SE, et al. Effect of creatine supplementation on sprint exercise performance and muscle metabolism. (abstract) J Appl Physiol 1998;84:1667-73. PubMed
    6. 4605. McNaughton LR, Dalton B, Tarr J. The effects of creatine supplementation on high-intensity exercise performance in elite performers. (abstract) Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1998;78:236-40. PubMed

    Prednisone

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

  • Weight loss Additional detail

    Creatine

    Recorded for Creatine in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Raised blood pressure above.

    Prednisone

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

Showing the 10 most notable of 21 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Creatine but not commonly for Prednisone: kidney problems, a stroke or mini-stroke, liver problems and increased thirst.

Effects for Prednisone come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Creatine come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 491,135 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Prednisone that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

How to take them

Some Prednisone Products Have a Food Rule — Creatine Should Not Break It

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

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Gastric irritation may be reduced if taken before, during, or immediately after meals or with food or milk.

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Creatine or Prednisone

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

This page covers Creatine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Prednisone page lists 208 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 4 major · 168 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Prednisone page

“Prednisone (Deltasone) suppresses the immune system to control inflammation, and that mechanism shapes most of what can go wrong on this 208-ingredient list, which I read as one to approach carefully rather than casually. Four entries rate major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Prednisone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3,825 real supplement products containing Creatine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Creatine. Even though Creatine itself has no known interaction with Prednisone, 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 Creatine and Prednisone 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 Creatine
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Prednisone
Top 1%

#22 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 Creatine reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Creatine and Prednisone 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 Creatine

What is Creatine?

Creatine
  • Improving high-intensity exercise performance
  • Building muscle strength and size
  • Sports and athletic training
  • Recovery from workouts
  • Possible support for brain and cognitive function

Creatine is one of the most studied sports supplements, with solid evidence that it can boost strength and performance during short, high-intensity activities like weightlifting and sprinting. It is generally well tolerated in healthy adults, though it can cause water retention and minor stomach upset. People with kidney problems and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should check with a doctor before using it.

Not applicable (a compound made in the body and found in meat and fish) · Powder, capsules, tablets, chewables, and drink mixes

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

Creatine: dosing

There is no single official dose for everyone, and the right amount can depend on your body size, diet, and goals. Many products suggest an optional short 'loading' period followed by a smaller daily 'maintenance' amount, but a steady daily approach also works for building muscle creatine over time.The best advice is to follow the directions on the product label and choose a reputable brand, ideally one tested by a third party. Creatine monohydrate is the most studied and usually the most affordable form.

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

Read the full Creatine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Prednisone

What Is Prednisone Used For?

Brand names: Deltasone, Cortan, Orasone, Prednisone, Prednicen-M, Meticorten, Sterapred, Rayos

Prednisone treats a broad range of conditions where the body's immune system is overactive or inflammation needs to be controlled. It works across many organ systems, from the lungs and skin to the joints and blood.

Doctors prescribe it for conditions like asthma, severe allergies, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis flares, certain cancers, and to prevent organ rejection after transplant, among many others.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Prednisone

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (499,938 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 40,822 reports
Dyspnea 34,944 reports
Arthralgia 33,224 reports
Nausea 28,568 reports
Diarrhea 28,439 reports
See full Prednisone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Creatine

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Creatine — 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

Creatine References

The 86 references that drive our Creatine 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. Koshy KM, Griswold E, Schneeberger EE. Interstitial nephritis in a patient taking creatine. N Engl J Med 1999;340:814-5. PubMed
  2. Vahedi K, Domingo V, Amarenco P, Bousser MG. Ischemic stroke in a sportsman who consumed MaHuang extract and creatine monohydrate for bodybuilding. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 2000;68:112-3.
  3. Greenhaff P. Renal dysfunction accompanying oral creatine supplements. Lancet 1998;352:233-4. PubMed
  4. Vandenberghe K, Goris M, Van Hecke P, et al. Long-term creatine intake is beneficial to muscle performance during resistance training (abstract). J Appl Physiol 1997;83:2055-63. PubMed
  5. Hultman E, Soderlund K, Timmons JA, et al. Muscle creatine loading in men. J Appl Physiol 1996;81:232-7. PubMed
  6. Pritchard NR, Kalra PA. Renal dysfunction accompanying oral creatine supplements. Lancet 1998;351:1252-3. PubMed
  7. Poortmans JR, Auquier H, Renaut V, et al. Effect of short-term creatine supplementation on renal responses in men (abstract). Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1997;76:566-7. PubMed
  8. Poortmans JR, Francaux M. Long-term oral creatine supplementation does not impair renal function in healthy athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:1108-10. PubMed
  9. Mihic S, MacDonald JR, McKenzie S, Tarnopolsky MA. Acute creatine loading increases fat-free mass, but does not affect blood pressure, plasma creatinine, or CK activity in men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000;32:291-6. PubMed
  10. Rawson ES, Wehnert ML, Clarkson PM. Effects of 30 days of creatine ingestion in older men. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1999;80:139-44. PubMed
  11. Earnest CP, Almada AL, Mitchell TL. High-performance capillary electrophoresis-pure creatine monohydrate reduces blood lipids in men and women. Clin Sci (Colch) 1996;91:113-8. PubMed
  12. Juhn MS. Oral creatine supplementation. Separating fact from hype. Phys Sportsmed 1999;27:47-50,53-54,56,61,89. PubMed
  13. Juhn MS, O'Kane JW, Vinci DM. Oral creatine supplementation in male collegiate athletes: a survey of dosing habits and side effects. J Am Diet Assoc 1999;99:593-5.
  14. Green AL, Hultman E, Macdonald IA, et al. Carbohydrate ingestion augments skeletal muscle creatine accumulation during creatine supplementation in humans. Am J Physiol 1996;271:E821-6. PubMed
  15. Balsom PD, Soderlund K, Sjodin B, Ekblom B. Skeletal muscle metabolism during short duration high-intensity exercise: influence of creatine supplementation. Acta Physiol Scand 1995;154:303-10. 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 Creatine and Prednisone Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Creatine with Prednisone?
We do not list a known interaction between Creatine and Prednisone. 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 Creatine and Prednisone have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 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 Creatine and Prednisone at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Prednisone says to take it with food. If you take Creatine on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Prednisone with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Prednisone products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Prednisone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Prednisone has documented interactions with 208 supplements in our database — Creatine is not one of them. The Prednisone 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 Prednisone and Creatine?

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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.