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Dietary supplement

Astaxanthin Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Doctor's Best

Astaxanthin label
See full label image
Softgel Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Astaxanthin against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Astaxanthin is a dietary supplement by Doctor's Best with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for antioxidant support, skin health and aging, eye health.Based on those ingredients, 671 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Astaxanthin. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 12, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: astaxanthin, a carotenoid antioxidant derived from algae. The capsule also holds extra virgin olive oil and is packaged in a vegetarian softgel shell.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Astaxanthin's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: vision, immunity and muscle endurance support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Athletic performance, Exercise-induced muscle damage, Exercise-induced muscle soreness, Physical performance, Dry eye — and 3 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Astaxanthin is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Astaxanthin is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Athletic performance, Dry eye, Exercise-induced muscle soreness, Physical performance, and more.

The evidence we hold on astaxanthin covers age-related cognitive decline, macular degeneration, aging skin, Alzheimer disease, athletic performance, and carpal tunnel syndrome — but for each of these, the reliable evidence is insufficient to rate whether it works. That doesn't mean it's ineffective; it means we don't yet have strong clinical data to say either way.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Astaxanthin

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Astaxanthin is generally well tolerated in studies, though long-term safety data are limited. The most commonly reported side effects are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and red-colored stool.

At typical doses (6 mg daily), a small number of trial participants experienced increased bowel movements and red stool color. At higher doses (40 mg daily), two patients reported severe stomach pain.

There isn't enough safety data to recommend astaxanthin during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you're pregnant or nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Astaxanthin

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Astaxanthin.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 672 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check any drugs your liver metabolizes — specifically those broken down by CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 enzymes. Astaxanthin may theoretically reduce their blood levels.

The interaction is not yet confirmed in humans, but your pharmacist can help you assess whether your medications are affected.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Astaxanthin is an antioxidant supplement that might appeal to people interested in aging and eye health, but the evidence for those uses isn't yet established. If you take medications metabolized by your liver (most prescription drugs), check your specific medications with the tool on this page before starting — astaxanthin may theoretically speed up how your body processes them.

It's generally well tolerated, though some people report digestive upset or red stool.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 22, 2016.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Astaxanthin, straight from the product label.

Brand Doctor's Best
Barcode (UPC) 753950004146
Net contents 180 Veggie Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 22, 2016
DSLD ID 59912
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Veggie Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Veggie Softgel(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
753950004146
IngredientAmount% DV
Astaxanthin6 mg--

Other ingredients: extra virgin Olive Oil, Vegetarian Softgel

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Doctor’s Best Astaxanthin is derived from a solvent-free concentrate from green microalgae which have the ability to biosynthesize astaxanthin very effectively. This action is linked to vision, immunity and muscle endurance.* Helps support healthy blood flow and vessel integrity* Helps promote healthy, integrated immune response* May help maintain healthy vision*

Our bodies cannot synthesize astaxanthin.

ULTRA-POTENT NATURAL ANTIOXIDANT*

3 mg

FDA Disclaimer Statement

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Formula

Doctor’s Best Astaxanthin with AstaPure supplies natural astaxanthin, a natural carotenoid pigment, ultra-potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger with unique effects on cell membranes.

Astaxanthin with AstaPure

General

YDRB414

Brand IP Statement(s)

Science-Based Nutrition

AstaPure is a registered trademark of ALGAtechnologies LTD.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Vegan

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Adult Use: Take 2 softgels daily after meals. Higher intakes my be beneficial, as recommended by a nutritionally-informed physician.

Formulation

Non-GMO / Gluten Free / Soy Free

Vegan

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Astaxanthin label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Veggie Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container90 Amounts shown are per serving.

Astaxanthin

Interacts with
671 drugs
6 mg per serving Form: AstaPure

Astaxanthin is a reddish carotenoid pigment with strong antioxidant activity in the lab, and it is widely promoted for skin, eye, heart, and exercise...

Astaxanthin monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Extra virgin Olive Oil, Vegetarian Softgel. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Astaxanthin?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
671Drugs
671 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Astaxanthin 671

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Astaxanthin interact with 671 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Astaxanthin interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Astaxanthin

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Astaxanthin with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Astaxanthin2 drug types · 671 drugs

Cytochrome P450 2B6 (Cyp2B6) Substrates

Theoretically, astaxanthin may decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
In vitro research shows that astaxanthin induces cytochrome CYP2B6 enzyme activity in human hepatocytes. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, astaxanthin may decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
In vitro research shows that astaxanthin induces CYP3A4 enzyme activity in human hepatocytes. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Astaxanthin full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Astaxanthin, from the product label.

Doctor's Best

See all Doctor's Best products
Name
Doctor's Best, Inc.
State
California
Phone Number
(800) 777-2474
Web Address
www.drbvitamins.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best: Common Questions

Does Astaxanthin by Doctor's Best interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Astaxanthin has a known interaction with 671 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Astaxanthin contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Does astaxanthin really work for aging skin or eye health?
The evidence we have isn't strong enough to say. We hold data on astaxanthin for age-related macular degeneration, aging skin, and other aging-related conditions, but for each one, the reliable evidence is insufficient to rate. That means more research is needed before we can confirm it works for those uses.
What are the most common side effects?
Astaxanthin is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects reported in studies are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and red-colored stool — which is actually just the astaxanthin pigment passing through. These were seen only in small numbers of study participants, especially at higher doses.
Is it safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough safety data to know either way. The safety data advises against it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for you if you're pregnant or nursing.
Could this interfere with my prescription medications?
Possibly. Astaxanthin may theoretically speed up how your liver processes drugs that are metabolized by CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 enzymes — that's a lot of medications. This effect hasn't been confirmed in humans yet, but it's important enough to check your specific drugs with the tool on this page before you start.
Why is there red color in my stool when I take this?
That's the astaxanthin pigment itself passing through unabsorbed. It's not dangerous — just a cosmetic side effect of taking this supplement. Some people also experience mild digestive changes like increased bowel movements or abdominal discomfort.
What is astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid antioxidant, a natural pigment found in algae and some seafood. In this product, it's dissolved in olive oil inside a vegetarian capsule to help your body absorb it.

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

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Astaxanthin label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Astaxanthin’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Astaxanthin

Interacts with 671 drugs

Astaxanthin is a reddish carotenoid pigment with strong antioxidant activity in the lab, and it is widely promoted for skin, eye, heart, and exercise benefits. Early human studies are promis...

Read the full Astaxanthin monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Astaxanthin's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 3 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Astaxanthin 3 references
  1. Kupcinskas L, Lafolie P, Lignell A, et al. Efficacy of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin in the treatment of functional dyspepsia in patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection: A prospective, randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled
  2. Kistler, A., Liechti, H., Pichard, L., Wolz, E., Oesterhelt, G., Hayes, A., and Maurel, P. Metabolism and CYP-inducer properties of astaxanthin in man and primary human hepatocytes. Arch.Toxicol. 2002;75(11-12):665-675. PubMed
  3. Choi HD, Youn YK, Shin WG. Positive effects of astaxanthin on lipid profiles and oxidative stress in overweight subjects. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2011;66:363-369. PubMed

See these in context on the Astaxanthin monograph →

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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