Drug & supplement interaction

Idebenone + Brexanolone

Brexanolone brand name: Zulresso.

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 Idebenone and Brexanolone 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.

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Interaction report

Idebenone and Brexanolone

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 Brexanolone and Idebenone 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 Idebenone at all — not against Brexanolone, 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.

Idebenone safety at a glance

Idebenone overall Use caution Generally tolerated in studies but long-term supplement safety is not well established.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so avoid use during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is not enough 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 Brexanolone and Idebenone? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Idebenone Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Brexanolone. It is the side-effect record for Idebenone on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Idebenone, this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    “There is a case report of allergic contact dermatitis related to topical use of a cream containing idebenone. The 38-year old woman applied a facial cream (Prevage MD, Elizabeth Arden, Inc.) with reactions appearing with the second dose. Symptoms included a red, itchy, burning, swollen face. She was treated with topical hydrocortisone. She reacted to idebenone with patch testing.”

    Idebenone · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    1 source cited
    1. 96035. Mc Aleer MA, Collins P. Allergic contact dermatitis to hydroxydecyl ubiquinone (idebenone) following application of anti-ageing cosmetic cream. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;59(3):178-9. PubMed
  • Increased appetite / Weight gain Additional detail

    “Orally, adverse effects related to idebenone have included nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, elevated alkaline phosphatase, and loose stools. Increased appetite leading to weight gain has also been reported.”

    Idebenone · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    5 sources cited
    1. 96028. Buyse GM, Voit T, Schara U, DELOS Study Group. Efficacy of idebenone on respiratory function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy not using glucocorticoids (DELOS): a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2015;385(9979) PubMed
    2. 96034. Lynch DR, Perlman SL, Meier T. A phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of idebenone in friedreich ataxia. Arch Neurol. 2010;67(8):941-7. PubMed
    3. 105705. Catarino CB, von Livonius B, Priglinger C, et al. Real-world clinical experience with idebenone in the treatment of leber hereditary optic neuropathy. J Neuroophthalmol. 2020 Dec;40(4):558-565.
    4. 105708. Zhao X, Zhang Y, Lu L, Yang H. Therapeutic effects of idebenone on leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Curr Eye Res. 2020 Oct;45(10):1315-1323. PubMed
    5. 11413. Hausse AO, Aggoun Y, Bonnet D, et al. Idebenone and reduced cardiac hypertrophy in Friedreich's ataxia. Heart 2002;87:346-9. PubMed
  • A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

    “In a clinical trial, tachycardia was reported by a single person taking idebenone orally. Treatment was not required.”

    Idebenone · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in irregular heartbeat.

    1 source cited
    1. 11410. Mariotti C, Solari A, Torta D, et al. Idebenone treatment in Friedreich patients: one-year-long randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 2003;60:1676-9. PubMed
  • Stomach pain / Diarrhea / Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail

    “Orally, idebenone seems to be well-tolerated. In clinical studies, there have been no reports of serious adverse effects occurring more frequently than with placebo. Some people who take idebenone have experienced nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, elevated alkaline phosphatase, and loose stools; however, these side effects are not common.”

    Idebenone · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    6 sources cited
    1. 11410. Mariotti C, Solari A, Torta D, et al. Idebenone treatment in Friedreich patients: one-year-long randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 2003;60:1676-9. PubMed
    2. 11413. Hausse AO, Aggoun Y, Bonnet D, et al. Idebenone and reduced cardiac hypertrophy in Friedreich's ataxia. Heart 2002;87:346-9. PubMed
    3. 11421. Weyer G, Babej-Dolle RM, Hadler D, et al. A controlled study of 2 doses of idebenone in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychobiology 1997;36:73-82. . PubMed
    4. 11424. Pisano P, Durand A, Autret E, et al. Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of idebenone and its metabolites following single and repeated doses in young patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1996;51:167-9. PubMed
    5. 11427. Gutzmann H, Hadler D. Sustained efficacy and safety of idebenone in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: update on a 2-year double-blind multicentre study. J Neural Transm 1998;54:301-10. PubMed
    6. 15703. Di Prospero NA, Sumner CJ, Penzak SR, et al. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of high-dose idebenone in patients with Friedreich ataxia. Arch Neurol 2007;64:803-8. PubMed
  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Recorded for Idebenone in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Stomach pain / Diarrhea / Vomiting / Nausea above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Idebenone — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Brexanolone to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Brexanolone.

Overlapping uses

What Brexanolone Is Prescribed For, and What Idebenone Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Brexanolone is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Idebenone is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Idebenone has been studied for:

  • Depression studied, not established Idebenone has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Idebenone for depression

    Preliminary clinical research in adults aged 55-75 years with post-stroke depression suggests that adding idebenone 30 mg three times daily to paroxetine treatment for 12 weeks increases the effectiveness (cured or improved) rate, as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, from 62% with paroxetine alone to 82% with the combination.

    1 source cited
    1. 112059. Yuan LL, Chen TY, Huang ZQ. Effects of paroxetine hydrochloride combined with idebenone on inflammatory factors and antioxidant molecules in treatment of depression after ischemic stroke. Pak J Med Sci 2023;39(1):17-22. PubMed

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Brexanolone on your own; if you are taking Idebenone for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Brexanolone

This page covers Idebenone only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Brexanolone page lists 79 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major), Kava (major) and L-tryptophan (major).

By severity: 6 major · 67 moderate · 6 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Brexanolone page

“Brexanolone (Zulresso) is an IV infusion for postpartum depression, and it already carries a boxed warning for excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness during treatment. That built-in risk is exactly what most of these 79 supplements press on, so treat this list with genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Brexanolone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 17 real supplement products containing Idebenone, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Idebenone. Even though Idebenone itself has no known interaction with Brexanolone, 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 Idebenone and Brexanolone 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 Idebenone
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Brexanolone
Top half

#1,221 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 Idebenone reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Idebenone and Brexanolone 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 Idebenone

What is Idebenone?

  • Antioxidant support
  • Brain and memory health
  • Mitochondrial disorders
  • Anti-aging skin care
  • General energy support

Idebenone is a synthetic, lab-made antioxidant related to coenzyme Q10. It has been studied mostly as a prescription drug for certain rare mitochondrial and neurological conditions, and is also used in some skin-care products, but evidence for over-the-counter supplement use is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Synthetic compound (a lab-made analog of coenzyme Q10) · Capsules, tablets, topical creams and serums

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

Idebenone: dosing

There is no standard supplement dose of idebenone that experts agree on. Doses used in medical studies for specific diseases were set by researchers and differ from what is found in over-the-counter products.If you choose to use an idebenone supplement, follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed the recommended amount.

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

Read the full Idebenone monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Brexanolone Injection

What Is Brexanolone Injection Used For?

Brand name: Zulresso

  • Brexanolone injection is used for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) in adults. Brexanolone injection is in a class of medications called neurosteroid antidepressants. It works by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain.

See full Brexanolone Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Idebenone

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Idebenone — 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 Idebenone 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 Idebenone list.

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

Idebenone References

The 25 references that drive our Idebenone 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. Mariotti C, Solari A, Torta D, et al. Idebenone treatment in Friedreich patients: one-year-long randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 2003;60:1676-9. PubMed
  2. Filla A, Moss AJ. Idebenone for treatment of Friedreich's ataxia? Neurology 2003;60:1569-70. PubMed
  3. Hausse AO, Aggoun Y, Bonnet D, et al. Idebenone and reduced cardiac hypertrophy in Friedreich's ataxia. Heart 2002;87:346-9. PubMed
  4. Schols L, Vorgerd M, Schillings M, et al. Idebenone in patients with Friedreich ataxia. Neurosci Lett 2001;306:169-72. PubMed
  5. Lerman-Sagie T, Rustin P, Lev D, et al. Dramatic improvement in mitochondrial cardiomyopathy following treatment with idebenone. J Inherit Metab Dis 2001;24:28-34. PubMed
  6. Rustin P, von Kleist-Retzow JC, Chantrel-Groussard K, et al. Effect of idebenone on cardiomyopathy in Friedreich's ataxia: a preliminary study. Lancet 1999;354:477-9. PubMed
  7. Weyer G, Babej-Dolle RM, Hadler D, et al. A controlled study of 2 doses of idebenone in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychobiology 1997;36:73-82. . PubMed
  8. Ikejiri Y, Mori E, Ishii K, et al. Idebenone improves cerebral mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in a patient with MELAS. Neurology 1996;47:583-5. PubMed
  9. Pisano P, Durand A, Autret E, et al. Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of idebenone and its metabolites following single and repeated doses in young patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1996;51:167-9. PubMed
  10. Ihara Y, Namba R, Kuroda S, et al. Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (MELAS): pathological study and successful therapy with coenzyme Q10 and idebenone. J Neurol Sci 1989;90:263-71. PubMed
  11. Gutzmann H, Hadler D. Sustained efficacy and safety of idebenone in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: update on a 2-year double-blind multicentre study. J Neural Transm 1998;54:301-10. PubMed
  12. Di Prospero NA, Sumner CJ, Penzak SR, et al. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of high-dose idebenone in patients with Friedreich ataxia. Arch Neurol 2007;64:803-8. PubMed
  13. Buyse GM, Voit T, Schara U, DELOS Study Group. Efficacy of idebenone on respiratory function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy not using glucocorticoids (DELOS): a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2015;385(9979) PubMed
  14. Corben LA, Lynch D, Pandolfo M, Schulz JB, Delatycki MB; Clinical Management Guidelines Writing Group. Consensus clinical management guidelines for Friedreich ataxia. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2014;9:184. DOI
  15. Di Prospero NA, Baker A, Jeffries N, Fischbeck KH. Neurological effects of high-dose idebenone in patients with Friedreich's ataxia: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2007;6(10):878-86. 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 Idebenone and Brexanolone Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Idebenone with Brexanolone?
We do not list a known interaction between Idebenone and Brexanolone. 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.
Are Idebenone and Brexanolone used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Idebenone in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Brexanolone is being adjusted to a target.
Does Brexanolone interact with any supplements?
Yes. Brexanolone has documented interactions with 79 supplements in our database — Idebenone is not one of them. The Brexanolone 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

Idebenone monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Brexanolone Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Brexanolone supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Brexanolone, 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 25 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Brexanolone and Idebenone?

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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.