Drug & supplement interaction

Diosmin + Saquinavir

Saquinavir brand names: Invirase, Fortovase.

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

Saquinavir falls into 2 drug categories that Diosmin can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, diosmin might inhibit the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Diosmin and Saquinavir

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Diosmin interacts with whole categories of medication. Saquinavir falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Diosmin in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 2

Why this applies to Saquinavir

Saquinavir falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Diosmin interacts with.

Theoretically, diosmin might inhibit the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.
Laboratory research is conflicting with respect to the effects of diosmin on CYP3A4. Some research suggests that diosmin does not affect CYP3A4 activity. However, other research suggests that diosmin alters the metabolism of carbamazepine, a CYP3A4 substrate. Laboratory and animal research show that oral administration of diosmin for 7 days prior to oral administration of carbamazepine increases plasma concentrations of carbamazepine, decreases the clearance of carbamazepine, and decreases the formation of carbamazepine's active metabolite. Additionally, pharmacokinetic research in healthy male subjects shows that taking diosmin (Venex) 500 mg daily for 10 days prior to oral administration of carbamazepine 200 mg increases blood levels of carbamazepine by approximately 58% and decreases carbamazepine clearance by 42%. It is speculated that diosmin reduces the metabolism of carbamazepine by inhibiting CYP3A4. Diosmetin, a metabolite of diosmin, may also inhibit CYP3A4.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 saquinavir (Invirase): your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to break this medicine down. Diosmin may gently block that enzyme. If it does, less saquinavir gets cleared and levels in your blood could creep up. That isn't the active-drug-loss situation you see with prodrugs; saquinavir is already the working form, so higher levels mean stronger effects and a bigger chance of side effects like nausea, diarrhea, belly upset, or, with protease inhibitors generally, heart-rhythm concerns.

Honestly, the evidence here is mostly theoretical and the lab studies disagree, so this may not amount to much. Still, since saquinavir is part of an HIV regimen you don't want to disturb, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding diosmin.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Bedada SK, Neerati P. Modulation of CYP3A enzyme activity by diosmin and its consequence on carbamazepine pharmacokinetics in rats. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2018;391(2):115-21. PubMed
  2. Burkina V, Zlabek V, Halsne R, Ropstad E, Zamaratskaia G. In vitro effects of the citrus flavonoids diosmin, naringenin and naringin on the hepatic drug-metabolizing CYP3A enzyme in human, pig, mouse and fish. Biochem Pharmacol. 2016;110-111:109-16 PubMed
  3. Bedada SK, Boga PK. Influence of diosmin on the metabolism and disposition of carbamazepine in healthy subjects. Xenobiotica. 2017;47(10):879-84. PubMed
Moderate

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Saquinavir also falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, diosmin might increase levels of drugs that are substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp).
Preliminary laboratory research suggests that diosmin inhibits P-gp. Additionally, pharmacokinetic research in healthy male subjects shows that taking diosmin (Venex) 500 mg daily for 10 days prior to oral administration of fexofenadine 120 mg increases blood levels of fexofenadine, a P-gp substrate, by approximately 49% and decreases the apparent oral clearance of fexofenadine by 41%. The time taken to reach maximum plasma concentration, the half-life, and the apparent renal clearance of fexofenadine are not affected. For this reason, it is speculated that diosmin inhibits P-gp in the intestine, but not in the kidney or liver.
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 simple version. Saquinavir relies on a tiny pump in your gut wall called P-glycoprotein, which normally shuttles some of the drug back out before it gets absorbed. Diosmin appears to slow that pump down a bit. If less of the drug is being pushed back out, a little more saquinavir could get into your bloodstream, which in theory means stronger effects and possibly more side effects like nausea, diarrhea, belly upset, or headache.

I want to keep this in perspective, though. This concern comes only from lab and early human studies using a different drug, so it's more of a theoretical heads-up than a proven problem. Saquinavir is already a carefully dosed HIV medicine, so don't start or stop anything on your own. Just run diosmin by your pharmacist or HIV provider first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Yoo HH, Lee M, Chung HJ, Lee SK, Kim DH. Effects of diosmin, a flavonoid glycoside in citrus fruits, on P-glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Sep 5;55(18):7620-5. PubMed
  2. Bedada SK, Boga PK, Kotakonda HK. The effect of diosmin on the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine in healthy human volunteers. Xenobiotica. 2017;47(3):230-35. 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

Diosmin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Diosmin has 883 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Saquinavir one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 883 No known interaction 1,947 (incl. Saquinavir)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Diosmin

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Diosmin or Saquinavir

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

This page covers Diosmin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Saquinavir page lists 175 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Sweet Orange (major).

By severity: 5 major · 130 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Saquinavir page

“Saquinavir (Invirase), a protease inhibitor for HIV, only works while its blood level stays steady, which makes this a list to read carefully rather than skim. Five of the 175 ingredients carry a major rating, and several are ordinary drinks.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Saquinavir interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 121 real supplement products containing Diosmin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Diosmin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Saquinavir too, on top of Diosmin — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Diosmin and Saquinavir 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 Diosmin
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Saquinavir
Top half

#842 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 Diosmin

What is Diosmin?

  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Leg swelling and heaviness
  • Varicose veins
  • Spider veins

Diosmin is a citrus-derived flavonoid most often used for vein-related problems such as chronic venous insufficiency and hemorrhoids, and it is usually combined with a related flavonoid called hesperidin. Some studies suggest it may help relieve leg swelling and hemorrhoid symptoms, but quality varies. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Read the full Diosmin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Saquinavir

What Is Saquinavir Used For?

Brand names: Invirase, Fortovase

  • Saquinavir is used in combination with ritonavir (Norvir) and other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Saquinavir is in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood. Although saquinavir does not cure HIV, it may decrease your chance of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses such as serious infections or cancer. Taking these medications along with practicing safer sex and making other lifestyle changes may decrease the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to other people.

See full Saquinavir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Diosmin

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

0Major
883Moderate
0Minor
1,946No known interaction
883 Moderate 1,946 No interaction
Moderate

883 interactions

Showing 60 of 883 moderate interactions — see all 883 on the Diosmin page.

No interaction 1,946 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,946 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Diosmin list.

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

Can you take Diosmin with Saquinavir?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Diosmin and Saquinavir?
Saquinavir belongs to more than one drug category, and Diosmin interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Diosmin and Saquinavir 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 Saquinavir and Diosmin?

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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.