Drug & supplement interaction

Picamilon + Niacin, Lovastatin

Niacin, Lovastatin brand name: Advicor.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Picamilon has a moderate interaction with Niacin, Lovastatin. Picamilon is broken down into gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and niacin after oral administration.

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

Picamilon and Niacin, Lovastatin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

NIACIN

Picamilon is broken down into gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and niacin after oral administration. Concomitant use with niacin might cause additive effects and adverse effects. However, this interaction is only theoretical and has not been documented in humans.
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 thing to keep in mind: your medication Advicor already contains niacin, and Picamilon is partly built from niacin too. When the body breaks Picamilon down, it releases extra niacin on top of what you're already taking. That means you could end up with more niacin in your system than intended, which can stack the usual niacin side effects, things like flushing, warmth or redness of the skin, itching, and sometimes headache or an upset stomach.

I want to be honest that this concern is theoretical. It's based on how these compounds work, not on real cases in people. Still, since you're already getting a steady niacin dose from Advicor, I'd run any Picamilon use by your pharmacist or doctor first rather than doubling up on your own.

References
  1. Avula B, Chittiboyina AG, Sagi S, et al. Identification and quantification of vinpocetine and picamilon in dietary supplements sold in the United States. Drug Test Anal. 2016;8(3-4):334-43. 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

Picamilon Also Interacts With Other Medications

Picamilon has 2 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Niacin, Lovastatin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Picamilon

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Niacin, Lovastatin

This page covers Picamilon only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Niacin, Lovastatin page lists 188 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 8 major · 141 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Niacin, Lovastatin page

“Advicor pairs niacin with lovastatin to lower cholesterol, and because lovastatin is cleared by a single liver enzyme, CYP3A4, this list earns genuine respect. Of the 188 supplement and herbal ingredients on file, 121 interact through that one enzyme, and eight overall carry a major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Niacin, Lovastatin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 135 real supplement products containing Picamilon, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Picamilon. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Niacin, Lovastatin too, on top of Picamilon — 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 Picamilon and Niacin, Lovastatin 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 Picamilon
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Niacin, Lovastatin
Top half

#712 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 Picamilon

What is Picamilon?

  • Anxiety and stress
  • Mental focus and cognition
  • Low mood
  • Migraine or headache
  • Fatigue and energy

Picamilon is a synthetic compound made by joining niacin (vitamin B3) and GABA, originally developed in the former Soviet Union as a prescription drug. It is sold in some countries as a supplement for anxiety, focus, and mood, but high-quality human evidence is very limited, and U.S. regulators have stated it does not qualify as a legal dietary supplement ingredient. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Picamilon monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Picamilon

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

0Major
2Moderate
0Minor
2,827No known interaction
Moderate

2 interactions

No interaction 2,827 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 Picamilon and Niacin, Lovastatin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Picamilon with Niacin, Lovastatin?
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.
How serious is the Picamilon and Niacin, Lovastatin 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 Niacin, Lovastatin and Picamilon?

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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.