Drug & supplement interaction

Ostarine + Etravirine

Etravirine brand name: Intelence.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Etravirine falls into 2 drug categories that Ostarine can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, concomitant use of ostarine with CYP3A4 inducers could decrease the clinical effects of ostarine.

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

Ostarine and Etravirine

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Ostarine interacts with whole categories of medication. Etravirine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Ostarine 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) INDUCERS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Etravirine

Etravirine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) INDUCERS — the group Ostarine interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use of ostarine with CYP3A4 inducers could decrease the clinical effects of ostarine.
Ostarine is partially metabolized by CYP3A4. Clinical research shows that taking rifampin, a potent inducer of CYP3A4, reduces the maximum plasma concentration of ostarine by 23% and the area under the curve by 43%.
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 key thing to know: this interaction works in one direction. Etravirine (Intelence) speeds up an enzyme called CYP3A4, and Ostarine is partly broken down by that same enzyme. So pairing them could make your body clear Ostarine faster, leaving less of it around. In plain terms, the Ostarine would likely work less, not more. This won't change how your HIV medication performs, so your etravirine should keep doing its job.

That said, I'd gently steer you away from Ostarine altogether. It's an unapproved SARM that isn't a real supplement, and it's been tied to liver injury, which is a real concern when you're already managing HIV. Please talk with your pharmacist or HIV provider before adding anything new.

References
  1. Coss CC, Jones A, Dalton JT. Pharmacokinetic drug interactions of the selective androgen receptor modulator GTx-024 (enobosarm) with itraconazole, rifampin, probenecid, celecoxib and rosuvastatin. Invest New Drugs 2016;34(4):458-67. PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Etravirine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, ostarine might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9, although clinical research suggests this is not clinically relevant.
Although in vitro research suggests that ostarine inhibits CYP2C9, more robust clinical research shows that ostarine does not significantly affect CYP2C9.
Severity Minor Likelihood Unlikely Evidence B

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the short version: your HIV medicine etravirine is partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. In a test tube, Ostarine looked like it could block that enzyme, which in theory might let etravirine build up a bit and raise the odds of side effects like nausea, headache, or skin rash. But this is the important part: better human studies show Ostarine doesn't actually slow CYP2C9 in a meaningful way, so a real-world problem here is unlikely.

That said, I can't recommend Ostarine at all. It's an unapproved SARM, banned in sports, and tied to liver injury, which is an extra concern when you're already on HIV therapy. Please loop in your pharmacist or HIV provider before mixing the two.

References
  1. Coss CC, Jones A, Dalton JT. Pharmacokinetic drug interactions of the selective androgen receptor modulator GTx-024 (enobosarm) with itraconazole, rifampin, probenecid, celecoxib and rosuvastatin. Invest New Drugs 2016;34(4):458-67. 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

Ostarine Also Interacts With Other Medications

Ostarine has 439 moderate, 171 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Etravirine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ostarine

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Etravirine

This page covers Ostarine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Etravirine page lists 169 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), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 127 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Etravirine page

“For someone taking etravirine (Intelence), an HIV medicine often used when the virus has already resisted other drugs, keeping a steady blood level is the whole point, and this list of 169 supplements and herbs deserves genuine care. The three major-rated entries come first: St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Etravirine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 33 real supplement products containing Ostarine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Ostarine. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Etravirine too, on top of Ostarine — 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 Ostarine and Etravirine 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 Ostarine
Steady interest

#1,120 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Etravirine
Steady interest

#2,530 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 Ostarine

What is Ostarine?

  • Muscle building
  • Athletic performance
  • Fat loss / body recomposition
  • Bodybuilding cycles

Ostarine (also called MK-2866 or enobosarm) is an experimental, unapproved drug known as a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator), not a true dietary supplement. It is not approved by the FDA, is banned in sports, and has been linked to liver injury and other serious harms, so it is not recommended for general use.

Read the full Ostarine monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Etravirine

What Is Etravirine Used For?

Brand name: Intelence

Etravirine (brand name Intelence) is used to treat HIV-1 infection in people who have already received other antiretroviral (HIV) treatments — meaning it is meant for patients whose HIV has had a chance to develop resistance to earlier therapies. It is always used as part of a combination regimen with other HIV medications, never on its own.

Both the brand Intelence and generic etravirine tablets are approved for adults and for children ages 2 to under 18 who weigh at least 10 kg (about 22 pounds) and who have already been treated with other HIV drugs.

See full Etravirine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ostarine

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

0Major
439Moderate
171Minor
2,219No known interaction
Moderate

439 interactions

Showing 60 of 439 moderate interactions — see all 439 on the Ostarine page.

Minor

171 interactions

Showing 60 of 171 minor interactions — see all 171 on the Ostarine page.

No interaction 2,219 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ostarine and Etravirine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ostarine with Etravirine?
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 Ostarine and Etravirine?
Etravirine belongs to more than one drug category, and Ostarine 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 Ostarine and Etravirine 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

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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.