Drug & supplement interaction

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) + Ospemifene

Ospemifene brand name: Osphena.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene 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 Ospemifene 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

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene

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 Ospemifene and Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) at all — not against Ospemifene, 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.

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) safety at a glance

Hydroxymethylbutyr... overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in healthy adults for short-term use, but long-term safety is not well studied.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety data exists, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is no reliable safety information, so avoid use while breastfeeding.

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

Still wondering about combining Ospemifene and Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene May Share a Side Effect

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.

  • Itching Additional detail

    Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)

    “Orally, itching has been reported in two people taking HMB in clinical trials.”

    Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    2 sources cited
    1. 99245. Berton L, Bano G, Carraro S, et al. Effect of oral beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on physical performance in healthy old women over 65 years: An open label randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0141757. PubMed
    2. 102872. Tritto AC, Bueno S, Rodrigues RMP, Gualano B, Roschel H, Artioli GG. Negligible effects of ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate free acid and calcium salt on strength and hypertrophic responses to resistance training: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Int J S PubMed

    Ospemifene

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

Reported for Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) but not commonly for Ospemifene: raised blood pressure, stomach pain, constipation and bloating or gas.

Effects for Ospemifene come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 2,601 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Ospemifene 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 Ospemifene Products Have a Food Rule — Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) Should Not Break It

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

One tablet taken orally once daily with food.

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

This page covers Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ospemifene page lists 155 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), Tiratricol (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 112 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ospemifene page

“Women prescribed ospemifene (Osphena) for painful intercourse after menopause are often the same women reaching for St. John's wort for mood or grapefruit juice at breakfast, and both sit among the four major-rated interactions on this page, so the list deserves genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ospemifene interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)
Steady interest

#1,410 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ospemifene
Steady interest

#2,474 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)

What is Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)?

  • Building or preserving muscle mass
  • Improving strength with resistance training
  • Reducing muscle breakdown
  • Supporting recovery after exercise
  • Preventing muscle loss in older adults or illness

HMB is a compound made in the body from the amino acid leucine and is sold as a supplement mainly to support muscle. The best evidence suggests it may help slow muscle loss in certain situations, such as during illness, bed rest, or aging, but results in healthy athletes are mixed. It appears generally well tolerated for most adults, but you should check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Not applicable (HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine) · Capsules, tablets, powder, drink mixes; available as calcium-HMB (CaHMB) and free-acid HMB

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

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb): dosing

There is no single official dose of HMB, and the best amount depends on the goal and the person. Most research has used HMB taken in divided doses across the day, often alongside resistance training or protein intake.The two common forms are calcium-HMB and free-acid HMB, which may be absorbed differently.

From our Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ospemifene

What Is Ospemifene Used For?

Brand name: Osphena

Osphena (ospemifene) is used to treat two specific symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy — the thinning and drying of vaginal tissues that can happen after menopause. The first is moderate to severe dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and the second is moderate to severe vaginal dryness.

Both of these uses are for postmenopausal women only. Osphena is not used in children or in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Ospemifene

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (2,601 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Hot flush 372 reports
Headache 209 reports
Muscle spasms 194 reports
Vaginal haemorrhage 150 reports
Vaginal discharge 134 reports
See full Ospemifene drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) — 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

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) References

The 3 references that drive our Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) 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. Berton L, Bano G, Carraro S, et al. Effect of oral beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on physical performance in healthy old women over 65 years: An open label randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0141757. PubMed
  2. Tritto AC, Bueno S, Rodrigues RMP, Gualano B, Roschel H, Artioli GG. Negligible effects of ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate free acid and calcium salt on strength and hypertrophic responses to resistance training: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Int J S PubMed
  3. Osuka Y, Kojima N, Sasai H, et al. Effects of exercise and/or ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older women with low muscle mass: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) with Ospemifene?
We do not list a known interaction between Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene. 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to one 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 Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) and Ospemifene at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Ospemifene says to take it with food. If you take Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Ospemifene with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Ospemifene products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Ospemifene interact with any supplements?
Yes. Ospemifene has documented interactions with 155 supplements in our database — Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb) is not one of them. The Ospemifene 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 Ospemifene and Hydroxymethylbutyrate (hmb)?

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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.