Herb & supplement monograph

Canthaxanthin Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Canthaxanthin interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Canthaxanthin is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Canthaxanthin is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Canthaxanthin

0 medications have a known interaction with Canthaxanthin, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Canthaxanthin. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction 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.
Possible. 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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Canthaxanthin combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Monograph

Canthaxanthin: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Canthaxanthin is a reddish-orange carotenoid pigment used mainly as a coloring agent and in 'tanning pills.' There is little good evidence it provides health benefits, and high doses have been linked to a serious eye problem called canthaxanthin retinopathy, so the tanning-pill use is widely discouraged.

Part used: Carotenoid pigment (synthetic or from sources like the mushroom Cantharellus cinnabarinus, certain algae, and crustaceans)
Common forms: Oral tablets and capsules, often marketed as 'tanning pills'; also used as a food coloring additive

People commonly use it for

Skin coloring or 'tanning pills'
Food and feed coloring (e.g., to color farmed fish/poultry)
Antioxidant supplement
Erythropoietic protoporphyria (light sensitivity, historical/medical use)

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally fine in small food-coloring amounts, but high-dose supplements have been linked to eye and other problems.

PregnancyPossibly Unsafe

When consumed in doses to treat and reduce photosensitivities due to reported retinal changes with use; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingPossibly Unsafe

When consumed in doses to treat and reduce photosensitivities due to reported retinal changes with use; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid, which is a natural pigment in the same broad family as beta-carotene. It has a reddish-orange color and is found in some mushrooms, algae, crustaceans, and fish. Most canthaxanthin used commercially is made synthetically.

It is widely used as a coloring agent. For example, it may be added to fish or poultry feed to give farmed salmon and egg yolks a richer color, and it is used as a food additive in some products. As a supplement, it has been sold in 'tanning pills' that aim to darken the skin from the inside, and it has been used medically for certain light-sensitivity disorders.

How it works

Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment. When taken in large amounts, it is absorbed and deposited in fatty tissues and the skin, which causes the orange-tan color people notice. This is a physical pigment effect rather than a true protective tan.

In laboratory studies, carotenoids like canthaxanthin can neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals, which is why it is described as an antioxidant. Much of this evidence comes from test-tube and animal research, and it does not prove that supplements give the same effects in the human body.

Effectiveness

Does Canthaxanthin work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 6 uses evaluated

6 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Canthaxanthin, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 6 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Cancer