Drug & supplement interaction

Lion's Mane Mushroom + Raltegravir

Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir 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 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

Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir

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 Raltegravir and Lion's Mane Mushroom 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.

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.

Lion's Mane Mushroom safety at a glance

Lion's Mane Mushro... overall Use caution Generally well tolerated as a food, but supplement safety has not been well studied long-term.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety data, so it is best to avoid during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety data, so it is best to avoid while breastfeeding.

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

Still wondering about combining Raltegravir and Lion's Mane Mushroom? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Raltegravir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications — including integrase inhibitors, glucuronidated drugs, oral drugs. Lion's Mane Mushroom has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), antidiabetes drugs (moderate) and immunosuppressants (moderate) — and none of Raltegravir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Lion's Mane Mushroom Does Interact With Other Medications

Lion's Mane Mushroom has 327 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lion's Mane Mushroom

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Lion's Mane Mushroom. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir 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.

  • Nausea Additional detail

    Lion's Mane Mushroom

    “Orally, lion's mane mushroom may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and nausea.”

    Lion's Mane Mushroom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    2 sources cited
    1. 91999. Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2009;23(3):367-72.
    2. 105546. Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, et al. Prevention of early Alzheimer's disease by erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia pilot double-blind placebo-controlled study. Front Aging Neurosci 2020 Jun 3;12:155. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155. PubMed

    Raltegravir

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

Reported for Lion's Mane Mushroom but not commonly for Raltegravir: stomach upset and a skin rash.

Effects for Raltegravir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Lion's Mane Mushroom come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 16,361 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Raltegravir 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.

Overlapping uses

What Raltegravir Is Prescribed For, and What Lion's Mane Mushroom Has Been Studied For

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

Raltegravir is prescribed for: Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own. Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Lion's Mane Mushroom has been studied for:

  • Cancer studied, not established Lion's Mane Mushroom has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Lion's Mane Mushroom for cancer

    Although there is interest in using oral lion's mane mushroom for cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of lions mane mushroom for this purpose.

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 Raltegravir on your own; if you are taking Lion's Mane Mushroom for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Lion's Mane Mushroom or Raltegravir

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Lion's Mane Mushroom or Raltegravir, 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 Raltegravir

This page covers Lion's Mane Mushroom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page

“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Raltegravir interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Lion's Mane Mushroom as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,338 real supplement products containing Lion's Mane Mushroom, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lion's Mane Mushroom. Even though Lion's Mane Mushroom itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, 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 Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir 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 Lion's Mane Mushroom
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Raltegravir
Top half

#1,132 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 Lion's Mane Mushroom reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir 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 Lion's Mane Mushroom

What is Lion's Mane Mushroom?

Lion's Mane Mushroom
  • Memory and cognitive support
  • Nerve health
  • Mood and anxiety
  • Immune support
  • General wellness/antioxidant

Lion's mane is an edible mushroom that is popular as a 'nootropic' for memory, focus, and nerve health, but solid human evidence is still limited and early. It is generally well tolerated as a food and supplement, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have allergies.

Hericium erinaceus · Hericiaceae · Fruiting body and mycelium · Capsules, powders, tablets, tinctures, teas, and as a culinary mushroom

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

Lion's Mane Mushroom: dosing

There is no official or standardized dose for lion's mane. The amounts used in studies have varied widely depending on the form (whole mushroom, fruiting body extract, or mycelium).The best advice is to follow the directions on the product label and not to exceed them. Because products differ a lot in strength and quality, look for brands that use third-party testing.

From our Lion's Mane Mushroom monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Lion's Mane Mushroom monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Raltegravir

What Is Raltegravir Used For?

Brand name: Isentress

Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.

Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Foetal exposure during pregnancy 1,078 reports
Depression 1,017 reports
Anxiety 966 reports
Emotional distress 789 reports
Anhedonia 708 reports
See full Raltegravir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lion's Mane Mushroom

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

0Major
327Moderate
0Minor
2,502No known interaction
Moderate

327 interactions

Showing 60 of 327 moderate interactions — see all 327 on the Lion's Mane Mushroom page.

No interaction 2,502 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Lion's Mane Mushroom References

The 6 references that drive our Lion's Mane Mushroom 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. Product information for <em>Niaspan</em>. Abbott Laboratories. North Chicago, IL 60064. April 2015.
  2. Liang B, Guo Z, Xie F, Zhao A. Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus in experimental diabetic rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013;13:253. PubMed
  3. Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2009;23(3):367-72.
  4. Mori K, Kikuchi H, Obara Y, et al. Inhibitory effect of hericenone B from Hericium erinaceus on collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(14):1082-5. PubMed
  5. Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, et al. Prevention of early Alzheimer's disease by erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia pilot double-blind placebo-controlled study. Front Aging Neurosci 2020 Jun 3;12:155. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155. PubMed
  6. Tian B, Liu R, Xu T, et al. Modulating effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides on the immune response by regulating gut microbiota in cyclophosphamide-treated mice. J Sci Food Agric 2023;103(6):3050-3064.

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 Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Lion's Mane Mushroom with Raltegravir?
We do not list a known interaction between Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir. 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 Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir 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.
Are Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir 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 Lion's Mane Mushroom in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Raltegravir is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Lion's Mane Mushroom and Raltegravir combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications, and Lion's Mane Mushroom has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Raltegravir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Lion's Mane Mushroom interact with any other medications?
Yes. Lion's Mane Mushroom has 327 documented drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Raltegravir has documented interactions with 33 supplements in our database — Lion's Mane Mushroom is not one of them. The Raltegravir 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 Raltegravir and Lion's Mane Mushroom?

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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.