Drug & supplement interaction

Shiitake Mushroom + Tafenoquine

Tafenoquine brand names: Krintafel, Arakoda.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine 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 Tafenoquine 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

Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine

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 Tafenoquine and Shiitake 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.

Shiitake Mushroom safety at a glance

Shiitake Mushroom overall Use caution Generally safe as a food, but concentrated supplements and raw mushrooms can cause reactions in some people.

Pregnancy Use caution Eating shiitake as food is likely fine, but concentrated supplements should be avoided due to lack of safety data.

Breastfeeding Use caution Food amounts are likely fine, but there is not enough data on supplement doses, so caution is advised.

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

Still wondering about combining Tafenoquine and Shiitake Mushroom? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Tafenoquine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Tafenoquine is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Shiitake Mushroom has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being cytochrome p450 2d6 (cyp2d6) substrates (moderate) and immunosuppressants (moderate) — and none of Tafenoquine’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

Shiitake Mushroom Does Interact With Other Medications

Shiitake Mushroom has 312 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Tafenoquine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 312 No known interaction 2,518 (incl. Tafenoquine)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Shiitake Mushroom

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

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. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail
Shiitake Mushroom
“In mushroom workers, hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to shiitake spore inhalation has occurred. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, a dry cough, asthma, and rhinitis.”

Shiitake Mushroom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in asthma.
6 sources cited

1150. Murakami M, Kawabe K, Hosoi Y, et al. Decreased pulmonary perfusion in hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Shiitake mushroom spores. J Intern Med 1997;241:85-8. PubMed

1151. Matsui S, Nakazawa T, Umegae Y, Mori M. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Shiitake mushroom spores. Intern Med 1992;31:1204-6.

74776. Fujiwara, K., Sato, T., Yonei, T., Genba, K., Nogami, N., and Yamadori, I. [A case of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by shiitake mushroom spores]. Nihon Kokyuki.Gakkai Zasshi 2000;38(12):908-913.

74813. Sastre, J., Ibanez, M. D., Lopez, M., and Lehrer, S. B. Respiratory and immunological reactions among Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushroom workers. Clin.Exp.Allergy 1990;20(1):13-19.

94239. Ampere A, Delhaes L, Soots J, Bart F, Wallaert B. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Shiitake mushroom spores. Med Mycol. 2012 Aug;50(6):654-7. PubMed

94241. Boels D, Landreau A, Bruneau C, et al. Shiitake dermatitis recorded by French Poison Control Centers - new case series with clinical observations. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014 Jul;52(6):625-8. PubMed
“Orally, shiitake mushrooms can cause shiitake dermatitis, a skin eruption that resembles whiplash marks, usually found on the trunk and limbs. This dermatitis is thought to be a toxic response to lentinan or other compounds found normally in uncooked or inadequately cooked shiitake mushroom. The rash can be made worse by scratching.”

Shiitake Mushroom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.
6 sources cited

1148. Hanada K, Hashimoto I. Flagellate mushroom (Shiitake) dermatitis and photosensitivity. Dermatol 1998;197:255-7. PubMed

1152. Nakamura T. Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1992;27:65-70.

74782. Lippert, U., Martin, V., Schwertfeger, C., Junghans, V., Ellinghaus, B., and Fuchs, T. Shiitake dermatitis. Br.J Dermatol. 2003;148(1):178-179.

74806. Mak, R. K. and Wakelin, S. H. Shiitake dermatitis: the first case reported from a European country. Br J Dermatol 2006;154(4):800-801. PubMed

94236. Ade R, Sukut C, Wiser HJ, Shockman S, Buescher L. Shiitake dermatitis demonstrating Köebner phenomenon. Int J Dermatol. 2015;54(5):e179-81.

94237. Adler MJ, Larsen WG. Clinical variability of shiitake dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Oct;67(4):e140-1. PubMed
Tafenoquine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tafenoquine. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Nausea / Vomiting reported in 20.0% of FDA reports for Tafenoquine Additional detail
Shiitake Mushroom
“Orally, shiitake mushrooms can cause abdominal discomfort, including bloating, nausea, pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, problems swallowing, or mouth ulcers have been associated with shiitake dermatitis.”

Shiitake Mushroom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.
6 sources cited

1149. Levy AM, Kita H, Phillips SF, et al. Eosinophilia and gastrointestinal symptoms after ingestion of shiitake mushrooms. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;101:613-20. PubMed

30365. Spierings, E. L., Fujii, H., Sun, B., and Walshe, T. A Phase I study of the safety of the nutritional supplement, active hexose correlated compound, AHCC, in healthy volunteers. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 2007;53(6):536-539. PubMed

30375. Sumiyoshi, Y., Hashine, K., Kakehi, Y., Yoshimura, K., Satou, T., Kuruma, H., Namiki, S., and Shinohara, N. Dietary administration of mushroom mycelium extracts in patients with early stage prostate cancers managed expectantly: a phase II study. Jpn.J Cl PubMed

30419. Thaiudom, S., Piyaniran, W., and Chutaputthi, A. A study of the efficacy of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) in the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C patients at Phramongkutklao Hospital. The Medical News (Thailand) 2010;325:13-16.

94241. Boels D, Landreau A, Bruneau C, et al. Shiitake dermatitis recorded by French Poison Control Centers - new case series with clinical observations. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014 Jul;52(6):625-8. PubMed

94256. Nguyen AH, Gonzaga MI, Lim VM, Adler MJ, Mitkov MV, Cappel MA. Clinical features of shiitake dermatitis: a systematic review. Int J Dermatol. 2017 Jun;56(6):610-616. PubMed
Tafenoquine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tafenoquine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Headache reported in 15.7% of FDA reports for Tafenoquine Additional detail
Shiitake Mushroom
“In patients experiencing shiitake dermatitis, other symptoms may include prickling in the hands. Malaise has also been reported following oral intake or contact.

Orally, the shiitake mushroom extract AHCC has been reported to cause mild and transient headache.”

Shiitake Mushroom · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.
4 sources cited

94256. Nguyen AH, Gonzaga MI, Lim VM, Adler MJ, Mitkov MV, Cappel MA. Clinical features of shiitake dermatitis: a systematic review. Int J Dermatol. 2017 Jun;56(6):610-616. PubMed

1151. Matsui S, Nakazawa T, Umegae Y, Mori M. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Shiitake mushroom spores. Intern Med 1992;31:1204-6.

94240. Baran W, Batycka-Baran A, Maj J, Szepietowski JC. Shiitake dermatitis - now also in Poland. Acta Derm Venereol. 2015 Jan;95(1):102-3. PubMed

30365. Spierings, E. L., Fujii, H., Sun, B., and Walshe, T. A Phase I study of the safety of the nutritional supplement, active hexose correlated compound, AHCC, in healthy volunteers. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 2007;53(6):536-539. PubMed
Tafenoquine

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Tafenoquine, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Diarrhea Additional detail

Shiitake Mushroom

Recorded for Shiitake Mushroom in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Nausea / Vomiting above.

Tafenoquine

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

Reported for Shiitake Mushroom but not commonly for Tafenoquine: sun sensitivity, stomach upset, mouth irritation or sores and shortness of breath.

Effects for Tafenoquine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Shiitake Mushroom come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 70 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Tafenoquine 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 Tafenoquine Products Have a Food Rule — Shiitake Mushroom Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Tafenoquine says to take it with food. If you take Shiitake Mushroom on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Tafenoquine 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 Tafenoquine 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.

( 2.1 ) Regimen Name Timing Dosage Loading regimen For each of the 3 days before travel to a malarious area 200 mg (2 of the 100 mg tablets) once daily for 3 days Maintenance regimen While in the malarious area 200 mg (2 of the 100 mg tablets) once weekly – start 7 days after the last loading regimen dose Terminal prophylaxis regimen In the week following exit from the malarious area 200 mg (2 of

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

This page covers Shiitake Mushroom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tafenoquine page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tafenoquine page

“Tafenoquine (Krintafel, Arakoda) protects against malaria, including the relapsing kind that hides in the liver, and every supplement known to interact with it threatens the same thing, how much of the pill actually reaches your blood. That deserves genuine care, since a partly absorbed antimalarial can let parasites survive and resurf…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tafenoquine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,613 real supplement products containing Shiitake Mushroom, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Shiitake Mushroom. Even though Shiitake Mushroom itself has no known interaction with Tafenoquine, 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 Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine 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 Shiitake Mushroom

Top 25%

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

29 days ago today

Medication Tafenoquine

Steady interest

#2,679 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 Shiitake Mushroom reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine 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 Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Shiitake Mushroom

What is Shiitake Mushroom?

Immune support
General wellness and nutrition
Cholesterol and heart health
Adjunct in cancer care (lentinan, AHCC)
Antioxidant support

Shiitake is a popular edible mushroom that is nutritious and safe to eat as food for most people. Some of its extracts (like lentinan and AHCC) have been studied as immune support, mainly alongside cancer treatment, but evidence for most supplement uses is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated shiitake supplements.

Lentinula edodes · Omphalotaceae · Fruiting body (mushroom cap and stem); mycelium extracts · Whole food (fresh or dried mushrooms), capsules, tablets, powders, liquid extracts, and standardized extracts such as lentinan and AHCC

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

Shiitake Mushroom: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for shiitake supplements, and products vary widely in strength and form. Some research used specialized extracts (like lentinan given by injection in a medical setting), which is very different from over-the-counter capsules.If you choose a shiitake supplement, follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed the recommended amount.

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

Read the full Shiitake Mushroom monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Tafenoquine

What Is Tafenoquine Used For?

Brand names: Krintafel, Arakoda

Tafenoquine is used for two distinct purposes depending on the product. Arakoda and Kodatef are used for malaria prophylaxis — that is, preventing malaria in adults 18 and older who are traveling to or living in areas where malaria is present.

Krintafel is used for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria — meaning it prevents the malaria parasite from coming back (relapsing) in patients 16 and older who are already being treated with chloroquine for an active P. vivax infection. Krintafel is not used to treat an active malaria attack on its own, and it should only be used alongside chloroquine, not other antimalarials.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Tafenoquine

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (70 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Depression 20 reports

Anxiety 18 reports

Post-traumatic stress disorder 15 reports

Anger 14 reports

Nausea 14 reports

See full Tafenoquine drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Shiitake Mushroom

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

0Major

312Moderate

0Minor

2,517No known interaction

312 Moderate 2,517 No interaction

Moderate

312 interactions

Showing 60 of 312 moderate interactions — see all 312 on the Shiitake Mushroom page.

No interaction 2,517 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Shiitake Mushroom against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,517 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Shiitake Mushroom list.

See the full Shiitake Mushroom interactions page

See every supplement checked against Tafenoquine, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Shiitake Mushroom References

The 67 references that drive our Shiitake 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.

Hitosugi M, Kitamura O, Takatsu A, Yoshino Y. Autopsy case of duodenal obstruction from impacted mushroom. J Gastroenterol 1998;33:562-5. PubMed
Hanada K, Hashimoto I. Flagellate mushroom (Shiitake) dermatitis and photosensitivity. Dermatol 1998;197:255-7. PubMed
Levy AM, Kita H, Phillips SF, et al. Eosinophilia and gastrointestinal symptoms after ingestion of shiitake mushrooms. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;101:613-20. PubMed
Murakami M, Kawabe K, Hosoi Y, et al. Decreased pulmonary perfusion in hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Shiitake mushroom spores. J Intern Med 1997;241:85-8. PubMed
Matsui S, Nakazawa T, Umegae Y, Mori M. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Shiitake mushroom spores. Intern Med 1992;31:1204-6.
Nakamura T. Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1992;27:65-70.
Ueda A, Obama K, Aoyama K, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis in shiitake (Lentinus edodes (Berk) Sing) growers. Contact Dermatitis 1992;26:228-33.
Burikhanov, R. B., Wakame, K., Igarashi, Y., Wang, S., and Matsuzaki, S. Suppressive effect of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) on thymic apoptosis induced by dexamethasone in the rat. Endocr.Regul. 2000;34(4):181-188.
Gao, Y., Zhang, D., Sun, B., Fujii, H., Kosuna, K., and Yin, Z. Active hexose correlated compound enhances tumor surveillance through regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses. Cancer Immunol.Immunother. 2006;55(10):1258-1266. PubMed
Ritz, B. W., Nogusa, S., Ackerman, E. A., and Gardner, E. M. Supplementation with active hexose correlated compound increases the innate immune response of young mice to primary influenza infection. J Nutr. 2006;136(11):2868-2873. PubMed
Aviles, H., O'Donnell, P., Sun, B., and Sonnenfeld, G. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) enhances resistance to infection in a mouse model of surgical wound infection. Surg.Infect.(Larchmt.) 2006;7(6):527-535. PubMed
Spierings, E. L., Fujii, H., Sun, B., and Walshe, T. A Phase I study of the safety of the nutritional supplement, active hexose correlated compound, AHCC, in healthy volunteers. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 2007;53(6):536-539. PubMed
Aviles, H., O'Donnell, P., Orshal, J., Fujii, H., Sun, B., and Sonnenfeld, G. Active hexose correlated compound activates immune function to decrease bacterial load in a murine model of intramuscular infection. Am J Surg. 2008;195(4):537-545. PubMed
Ritz, B. W. Supplementation with active hexose correlated compound increases survival following infectious challenge in mice. Nutr.Rev. 2008;66(9):526-531. PubMed
Terakawa, N., Matsui, Y., Satoi, S., Yanagimoto, H., Takahashi, K., Yamamoto, T., Yamao, J., Takai, S., Kwon, A. H., and Kamiyama, Y. Immunological effect of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) in healthy volunteers: a double-blind, placebo-controll
Mach, C. M., Fugii, H., Wakame, K., and Smith, J. Evaluation of active hexose correlated compound hepatic metabolism and potential for drug interactions with chemotherapy agents. J Soc Integr.Oncol. 2008;6(3):105-109.
Wang, S., Welte, T., Fang, H., Chang, G. J., Born, W. K., O'Brien, R. L., Sun, B., Fujii, H., Kosuna, K., and Wang, T. Oral administration of active hexose correlated compound enhances host resistance to West Nile encephalitis in mice. J Nutr. 2009;139(3 PubMed
Sumiyoshi, Y., Hashine, K., Kakehi, Y., Yoshimura, K., Satou, T., Kuruma, H., Namiki, S., and Shinohara, N. Dietary administration of mushroom mycelium extracts in patients with early stage prostate cancers managed expectantly: a phase II study. Jpn.J Cl PubMed
Yin, Z., Fujii, H., and Walshe, T. Effects of active hexose correlated compound on frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing interferon-gamma and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha in healthy adults. Hum.Immunol. 2010;71(12):1187-1190.
Lee, W. W., Lee, N., Fujii, H., and Kang, I. Active Hexose Correlated Compound promotes T helper (Th) 17 and 1 cell responses via inducing IL-1beta production from monocytes in humans. Cell Immunol. 2012;275(1-2):19-23.
Daddaoua, A., Martinez-Plata, E., Ortega-Gonzalez, M., Ocon, B., Aranda, C. J., Zarzuelo, A., Suarez, M. D., de Medina, F. S., and Martinez-Augustin, O. The nutritional supplement Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) has direct immunomodulatory actio
Roman, B. E., Beli, E., Duriancik, D. M., and Gardner, E. M. Short-term supplementation with active hexose correlated compound improves the antibody response to influenza B vaccine. Nutr Res. 2013;33(1):12-17. PubMed
Uno, K., Kosuna, K., Sun, B., Fujii, H., Wakame, K., Chikumaru, S., Hosokawa, G., and Ueda, Y. Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) Improves Immunological Parameters and Performance Status of Patients with Solid Tumors. Biotherapy 2000;14(3):303-309.
Ghoneum, M., Wimbley, M., Salem, F., McKlain, A., Attallah, N., and Gill, G. Immunomodulatory and anticancer effects of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC). Int J Immunother 1995;11:23-28.
Thaiudom, S., Piyaniran, W., and Chutaputthi, A. A study of the efficacy of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) in the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C patients at Phramongkutklao Hospital. The Medical News (Thailand) 2010;325:13-16.
Smith, J. A., Hunter, R. J., Fujii, H., Wakame, K., and Wolf, J. Defining Synergistic Activity ofthe Combination of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) with Liposomal Doxorubicin (Doxil). Presented at the 18th International Congress on Nutrition and
Sia, G. M. and Candlish, J. K. Effects of shiitake (Lentinus edodes) extract on human neutrophils and the U937 monocytic cell line. Phytother.Res. 1999;13(2):133-137. DOI
Fujiwara, K., Sato, T., Yonei, T., Genba, K., Nogami, N., and Yamadori, I. [A case of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by shiitake mushroom spores]. Nihon Kokyuki.Gakkai Zasshi 2000;38(12):908-913.
Lippert, U., Martin, V., Schwertfeger, C., Junghans, V., Ellinghaus, B., and Fuchs, T. Shiitake dermatitis. Br.J Dermatol. 2003;148(1):178-179.
Lobanok, A. G., Babitskaia, V. G., Plenina, L. V., Puchkova, T. A., and Osadchaia, O. V. [Composition and biological activity of submerged mycelium of the xylotrophic basidiomycete Lentinus edodes]. Prikl.Biokhim.Mikrobiol. 2003;39(1):69-73. DOI
Curnow, P. and Tam, M. Contact dermatitis to Shiitake mushroom. Australas.J.Dermatol. 2003;44(2):155-157. PubMed
Mak, R. K. and Wakelin, S. H. Shiitake dermatitis: the first case reported from a European country. Br J Dermatol 2006;154(4):800-801. PubMed
Sastre, J., Ibanez, M. D., Lopez, M., and Lehrer, S. B. Respiratory and immunological reactions among Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushroom workers. Clin.Exp.Allergy 1990;20(1):13-19.
Liu, M., Li, J., Kong, F., Lin, J., and Gao, Y. Induction of immunomodulating cytokines by a new polysaccharide-peptide complex from culture mycelia of Lentinus edodes. Immunopharmacology 1998;40(3):187-198. PubMed
Ade R, Sukut C, Wiser HJ, Shockman S, Buescher L. Shiitake dermatitis demonstrating Köebner phenomenon. Int J Dermatol. 2015;54(5):e179-81.
Adler MJ, Larsen WG. Clinical variability of shiitake dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Oct;67(4):e140-1. PubMed
Adriano AR, Acosta ML, Azulay DR, Quiroz CD, Talarico SR. Shiitake dermatitis: the first case reported in Brazil. An Bras Dermatol. 2013 May-Jun;88(3):417-9. PubMed
Ampere A, Delhaes L, Soots J, Bart F, Wallaert B. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Shiitake mushroom spores. Med Mycol. 2012 Aug;50(6):654-7. PubMed
Baran W, Batycka-Baran A, Maj J, Szepietowski JC. Shiitake dermatitis - now also in Poland. Acta Derm Venereol. 2015 Jan;95(1):102-3. PubMed
Boels D, Landreau A, Bruneau C, et al. Shiitake dermatitis recorded by French Poison Control Centers - new case series with clinical observations. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014 Jul;52(6):625-8. PubMed
Chu EY, Anand D, Dawn A, Elenitsas R, Adler DJ. Shiitake dermatitis: a report of 3 cases and review of the literature. Cutis. 2013 Jun;91(6):287-90.
Corazza M, Zauli S, Ricci M, et al. Shiitake dermatitis: toxic or allergic reaction? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015 Jul;29(7):1449-51. PubMed
Czarnecka AB, Kreft B, Marsch WCh. Flagellate dermatitis after consumption of Shiitake mushrooms. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014 Jun;31(3):187-90. PubMed
Dai X, Stanilka JM, Rowe CA, et al. Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 2015;34(6):478-87.
Hamer SE, Kulkarni K, Cohen SN. Shiitake dermatitis with oral ulceration and pustules. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2015 Apr;40(3):332-3. PubMed
Hiernickel C, Metz S, Elsner P. Shiitake dermatitis: an impressive case report. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2015 May;13(5):455-6. PubMed
Karanovic S, George S, Topham E. Don't miss shiitake dermatitis: a case report. Br J Gen Pract. 2014 Aug;64(625):426-7. PubMed
Kopp T, Mastan P, Mothes N, Tzaneva S, Stingl G, Tanew A. Systemic allergic contact dermatitis due to consumption of raw shiitake mushroom. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 Dec;34(8):e910-3. PubMed
Lingström P, Zaura E, Hassan H, et al. The anticaries effect of a food extract (shiitake) in a short-term clinical study. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012;2012:217164. PubMed
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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 Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Shiitake Mushroom with Tafenoquine?

We do not list a known interaction between Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine. 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 Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 5 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 Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Tafenoquine says to take it with food. If you take Shiitake Mushroom on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Tafenoquine with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Tafenoquine products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

How was the Shiitake Mushroom and Tafenoquine combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Tafenoquine is filed under 1 classification, and Shiitake Mushroom has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Tafenoquine'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 Shiitake Mushroom interact with any other medications?

Yes. Shiitake Mushroom has 312 documented drug interactions in our database — Tafenoquine 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 Tafenoquine interact with any supplements?

Yes. Tafenoquine has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Shiitake Mushroom is not one of them. The Tafenoquine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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.