Herb & supplement monograph

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

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Raspberry Ketone 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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Raspberry Ketone Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Raspberry Ketone drug interaction appears low for most people, though the evidence behind it is limited. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and all rest on theoretical concerns or isolated case reports rather than well-controlled human studies.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The combination that deserves the most care involves warfarin, a blood thinner with a narrow safety margin. In one reported case, raspberry ketone appeared to weaken warfarin's effect, and the person needed a higher dose to keep their blood thinning on target. We would also use caution with stimulant drugs, since raspberry ketone chemically resembles a known stimulant, and heart palpitations, raised blood pressure, and serious heart rhythm problems have been reported in people taking it. Anyone on either of these should have closer monitoring.

What the rest of the list means

Although a long list of medications appears here, they largely trace back to these two concerns applied across many individual drugs. Most of the risk is theoretical, based on chemical similarity or a single case report, and none of it has been confirmed in controlled human studies. A listed interaction does not mean the combination has been shown to cause harm.

Check your medications against Raspberry Ketone

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Raspberry Ketone interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Raspberry Ketone

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

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Raspberry Ketone using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Raspberry Ketone interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

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 Raspberry Ketone combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Raspberry Ketone affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Raspberry Ketone is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 2 drug categories Raspberry Ketone interacts with

Stimulant DrugsWarfarin (coumadin)

Stimulant Drugs

Theoretically, raspberry ketone might increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular effects with stimulant drugs.
Structurally, raspberry ketone resembles synephrine, a known stimulant agent. Heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure, coronary vasospasm, pulseless electrical activity arrest, and resistant polymorphic ventricular tachycardia have been reported in patients taking raspberry ketone.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, raspberry ketone might increase warfarin dose requirements.
In one case report, a patient taking warfarin 55 mg per week had a decrease in INR over a period of one month while taking raspberry ketone 250 mg daily. A warfarin dose increase to 70 mg per week was necessary to maintain a therapeutic INR while taking raspberry ketone. The mechanism for this potential interaction is not known.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Raspberry Ketone: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

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

The bottom line

Raspberry ketone is a natural aroma compound found in red raspberries that is heavily marketed for weight loss, but there is no good human evidence that it helps people lose weight. Most claims come from lab and animal studies using doses far higher than what you could get from food or typical supplements. If you choose to try it, talk to your pharmacist or doctor first.

Part used: Fruit-derived aromatic compound (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one)
Common forms: Capsules, tablets, softgels, powders, often combined with other weight-loss ingredients

People commonly use it for

Weight loss
Fat burning
Boosting metabolism
Appetite support
General 'fat-burner' supplement

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

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Used in foods safely, but human safety data for high supplement doses is very limited.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of raspberry ketone; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of raspberry ketone; 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.

Jump to a section

Overview

Raspberry ketone is a natural chemical that gives red raspberries much of their pleasant smell. It is also found in smaller amounts in other fruits like blackberries and cranberries. For a long time it has been used in the food and fragrance industries as a flavoring and aroma agent.

Because of its link to raspberries, it became popular as a so-called "fat-burning" supplement, especially after it was promoted on television. Most raspberry ketone in supplements is made in a laboratory rather than extracted from real fruit, because getting useful amounts directly from raspberries would be extremely expensive.

Today it is most commonly sold in capsules or tablets, often mixed with other ingredients such as green tea extract, caffeine, or African mango, and marketed for weight loss.

How it works

The proposed ideas about how raspberry ketone might work are mostly based on cell and animal research. In these studies, researchers suggested it might increase the breakdown of fat and raise levels of a hormone called adiponectin, which is involved in how the body handles fat and sugar.

Its chemical structure is somewhat similar to compounds like capsaicin (from chili peppers) and synephrine, which is why some scientists thought it might affect metabolism. However, these are theories based on lab work, not proven effects in the human body.

Importantly, the amounts used in animal experiments were often much larger than what people take in typical supplements, so the laboratory mechanisms may simply not apply at real-world doses.

Effectiveness

Does Raspberry Ketone work?

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

Evidence overview · 2 uses evaluated

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

Also studied for 2 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Alopecia areata

Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

It is unclear if raspberry ketone is beneficial for alopecia areata.

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Obesity

Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Raspberry ketone has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.

Safety & precautions

Raspberry ketone has a long history of safe use as a food flavoring in small amounts. However, the safety of taking it as a concentrated, high-dose supplement over time has not been well studied in people.

Because of its structure, there has been some concern that it could affect heart rate or blood pressure, similar to other stimulant-like compounds, though this is not well proven. People with heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other chronic illnesses should be especially cautious and check with a healthcare provider first.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough reliable safety information for concentrated supplements during these times, so it is best to avoid raspberry ketone supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Children should not use it. As with any supplement, talk to a pharmacist or doctor before starting.

Side effects

Because raspberry ketone has not been carefully studied in people, its full side effect profile is unknown. Reported or possible effects include jitteriness, a faster heartbeat, or a feeling of being "wired," especially with products that also contain caffeine or other stimulants.

Some people may experience mild digestive upset. Allergic reactions are possible with any supplement. Many raspberry ketone products are combination formulas, so side effects may actually come from the other ingredients.

If you notice chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or any signs of an allergic reaction, stop taking it and seek medical care.

Raspberry Ketone: Reported Adverse Effects

Documented safety reports on Raspberry Ketone from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.

Reports by condition

Arrhythmia Cardiovascular

Structurally, raspberry ketone resembles synephrine, a known stimulant agent. Although not well studied in humans, stimulant-related side effects are possible. Orally, cases of heart palpitations, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, coronary vasospasm are reported after taking raspberry ketone. In one case report, pulseless electrical activity arrest followed by resistant polymorphic ventricular tachycardia occurred in a patient taking raspberry ketone. The arrhythmia resolved after numerous defibrillation shocks and placement of a temporary transvenous pacemaker with overdrive pacing. In another case report, 5 episodes of ST elevation occurred over 2 days following ingestion of raspberry ketone.

Adverse Event Report. Raspberry Ketone. Natural MedWatch, April 27, 2012.
Ansari SA, Patel F, Ashouri D, Dhaliwal JSS, Desai A. Resistant Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient Taking Raspberry Ketones Weight Loss Supplement. Cureus 2022;14(12):e33089.
Khattar A, Beeton I. Coronary vasospasm and raspberry ketones weight-loss supplement: Is there a connection? Anatol J Cardiol. 2020;24(3):205-208.

Diarrhea Neurologic/CNS

Structurally, raspberry ketone resembles synephrine, a known stimulant agent. Although not well studied in humans, stimulant-related side effects are possible. Two case reports describe symptoms of sweating, diarrhea, and feelings of shakiness after oral use of raspberry ketone.

Adverse Event Report. Raspberry Ketone. Natural MedWatch, April 27, 2012.
Khattar A, Beeton I. Coronary vasospasm and raspberry ketones weight-loss supplement: Is there a connection? Anatol J Cardiol. 2020;24(3):205-208.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.

Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

Dosing

There is no established or proven effective dose of raspberry ketone for weight loss or any other use. The amounts found in supplements vary widely from product to product.

If you decide to try it, follow the directions on the product label and do not take more than recommended. Because supplements are not tightly regulated, the actual amount in a product may differ from what is listed, and quality can vary between brands.

Before starting, it is a good idea to review the full ingredient list with your pharmacist, especially since many products contain caffeine or other added stimulants.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Raspberry Ketone & Pregnancy

Insufficient reliable information

There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of raspberry ketone; avoid using.

Raspberry Ketone & Breastfeeding

Insufficient reliable information

There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of raspberry ketone; avoid using.

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 4 references that drive our Raspberry Ketone 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.

Adverse Event Report. Raspberry Ketone. Natural MedWatch, April 27, 2012.
Adverse Event Report. Raspberry Ketone. Natural MedWatch, September 18, 2011.
Ansari SA, Patel F, Ashouri D, Dhaliwal JSS, Desai A. Resistant Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient Taking Raspberry Ketones Weight Loss Supplement. Cureus 2022;14(12):e33089. PubMed
Khattar A, Beeton I. Coronary vasospasm and raspberry ketones weight-loss supplement: Is there a connection? Anatol J Cardiol. 2020;24(3):205-208.

Keep reading

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.

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.

Brand directory

Brands that make products with Raspberry Ketone

337 brands in our database make a supplement containing Raspberry Ketone.

ZenCortex 1 product

Product directory

Supplement products with Raspberry Ketone

686 products in our database contain Raspberry Ketone. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Raspberry Ketone: Common Questions

What is Raspberry Ketone used for, and does it work?

People use Raspberry Ketone for a range of reasons, but according to the Natural Medicines database the current clinical evidence is insufficient to confirm it works for the specific conditions it has been studied for. See the graded list on this page, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before relying on it for any condition.

Does Raspberry Ketone interact with prescription medications?

Yes. We list 174 medications with a known interaction with Raspberry Ketone. Use the checker above to see how Raspberry Ketone interacts with a specific drug.

How are Raspberry Ketone interactions rated?

Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.

Is it safe to take Raspberry Ketone with my medications?

It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.

Where does this Raspberry Ketone interaction information come from?

Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.

Does Raspberry Ketone really help you lose weight?

There is no good human evidence that Raspberry Ketone causes meaningful weight loss. Most positive findings come from lab and animal studies using very high doses, which don't reliably apply to people.

Is Raspberry Ketone the same as eating raspberries?

Not really. Raspberries contain only tiny amounts of this compound, and most supplements use a lab-made version at much higher concentrations than you'd ever get from food.

Is Raspberry Ketone safe to take?

It has a long history of safe use as a food flavoring in small amounts, but the safety of high-dose supplements taken regularly has not been well studied. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Can I take Raspberry Ketone while pregnant or breastfeeding?

No. There isn't enough safety information, so it's best to avoid concentrated Raspberry Ketone supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Keep exploring

Products that contain Raspberry Ketone

A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Raspberry Ketone — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.

See all 686 products with Raspberry Ketone →

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Raspberry Ketone Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Your Choice:

Raspberry Ketone Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

Drugs that interact with Raspberry Ketone

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Where This Data Comes From

The kinds of drugs Raspberry Ketone affects

Raspberry Ketone: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Overview

How it works

Does Raspberry Ketone work?

Safety & precautions

Side effects

Raspberry Ketone: Reported Adverse Effects

Dosing

Raspberry Ketone & Pregnancy

Raspberry Ketone & Breastfeeding

References & further reading

Brands that make products with Raspberry Ketone

Supplement products with Raspberry Ketone

Raspberry Ketone: Common Questions

Related supplements & herbs

Products that contain Raspberry Ketone

Have a question about Raspberry Ketone?