Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

D-Ribose Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Vitamin Research Products

D-Ribose label
See full label image
Powder Category: Fiber And Other Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking D-Ribose 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

D-Ribose is a dietary supplement by Vitamin Research Products with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for energy and fatigue, athletic performance and recovery, fibromyalgia symptoms.Based on those ingredients, 86 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are D-Ribose. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products

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 23, 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.

D-Ribose is a five-carbon sugar that your body naturally makes and uses for energy production in muscle cells. This powder contains one active ingredient: D-Ribose itself.

There are no other inactive ingredients listed.

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 Ribose's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: energy and cellular ATP synthesis support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Athletic performance, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, Congestive heart failure (CHF), Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, Coronary heart disease (CHD) — and 3 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Ribose is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Athletic performance (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Ribose is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for McArdle disease.
  • Also on file: Ribose is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Coronary heart disease (CHD), Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Heart failure, Fibromyalgia, and more.

The evidence for D-Ribose is mixed and limited. For athletic performance and McArdle disease (a rare muscle disorder), it's rated possibly ineffective — meaning studies haven't shown a real benefit.

For restless legs syndrome, muscle soreness, heart failure, and recovery from heart bypass surgery, we don't have enough reliable evidence either way to say whether it works.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Ribose

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.

D-Ribose is generally well tolerated in the short term — up to about a month — but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. The most common side effects when taken by mouth are diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headache, nausea, and low blood sugar.

A small number of people have reported anxiety, lightheadedness, or increased appetite; lowering the dose resolved these in some cases. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, there isn't enough safety information, so it's best avoided in both.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this is right for your situation.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Ribose

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 — Ribose.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 86 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.

Check your antidiabetes and insulin medications before taking D-Ribose. Both are rated Moderate severity for interaction risk because ribose lowers blood glucose — your doctor or pharmacist should review whether this combination is safe for you at your current doses.

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.

D-Ribose may be worth considering if you're interested in muscle energy support and have no blood sugar concerns. If you take diabetes or insulin medications, you'll need to check with your doctor or pharmacist first — low blood sugar is the main risk.

Start with a lower dose to see how your stomach handles it, and talk it over with your own healthcare provider before starting.

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 Jun 25, 2014.

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 D-Ribose, straight from the product label.

Brand Vitamin Research Products
Barcode (UPC) 810832012634
Net contents 8.8 oz.; 250 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 25, 2014
DSLD ID 33994
Product type Fiber And Other Nutrients
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products, 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:
5 Gram(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
5 Gram(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
810832012634
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories20 {Calories}--
Total Carbohydrates5 Gram(s)2%
Sugar5 Gram(s)--
D-Ribose5 Gram(s)--

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.
Precautions

Caution: Consult your healthcare professional prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication(s), have a medical condition, or are under the age of 12 years.

Caution: Consult your healthcare professional prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication(s), have a medical condition, or are under the age of 12 years.

Keep out of reach of children.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Note: Servings larger than 5 grams may cause a temporary, dose-dependent lowering blood sugar. For best results, limit intake to 5 grams per 4 hour period.

Directions: Stir 1 rounded teaspoon into at least 2 ounces of water, juice or other beverage and drink. May be taken 1 to 3 times per day.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General Statements

Code Number: 1800

Description: D-Ribose ("Ribose") is a 5-carbon sugar important for the synthesis of ATP, the cell's "energy molecule." D-Ribose helps protect tissues from energy deprivation, and stimulates recovery following low oxygen conditions. For healthy people this translates to more energy and less fatigue, greater exercise performance over time, and faster recovery from exercise or overexertion.

This product is manufactured in a NSF GMp registered facility.

Since 1979

TESTED FOR QUALITY & PURITY

Storage

Keep container tightly closed in a cool, dry and dark place.

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.

Seals/Symbols

LABORATORY TESTED QUALITY & PURITY

VRP

General

300-VRP1800-E

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

See for yourself

D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products label

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

D-Ribose 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 D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size5 Gram(s) Dosage formPowder Servings per container50 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Sugar

5 Gram(s) per serving

D-Ribose

Interacts with
86 drugs
5 Gram(s) per serving

Ribose (D-ribose) is a simple sugar your body makes naturally and uses to build energy molecules like ATP. Some people take it for fatigue, fibromyalg...

D-Ribose monograph & interactions
Interaction report

D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against D-Ribose?

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
86Drugs
86 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

D-Ribose 86

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in D-Ribose interact with 86 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 2 ingredients in D-Ribose interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. D-Ribose

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in D-Ribose 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.

D-Ribose2 drug types · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking ribose in combination with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
In clinical research, ribose decreases serum glucose levels in a dose-dependent manner.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Insulin

Theoretically, taking ribose with insulin could increase the hypoglycemic effect of insulin.
In clinical pharmacokinetic studies, oral administration of ribose modestly increased serum insulin levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
D-Ribose full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for D-Ribose, from the product label.

Vitamin Research Products

See all Vitamin Research Products products
Name
VRP Brand, LLC
Street Address
4610 Arrowhead Dr.
City
Carson City
State
NV
ZipCode
89706
Phone Number
1-800-877-2447
Web Address
www.vrp.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products: Common Questions

Does D-Ribose by Vitamin Research Products interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, D-Ribose has a known interaction with 86 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
D-Ribose contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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.
Can I take this if I have diabetes or take insulin?
Not without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. D-Ribose lowers blood sugar, so it could make your insulin or diabetes medications work too well and push your blood sugar dangerously low. This needs individualized review of your doses and blood sugar patterns.
Is it safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
No — there isn't enough safety information available. The data we hold advises against it in both pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're thinking about taking it.
What's the most common side effect?
Diarrhea and stomach discomfort are the most frequently reported, along with headache and nausea. These happened with people who took it for up to a month. Lowering your dose helped resolve nausea and anxiety in some cases.
Will D-Ribose help my athletic performance?
The evidence doesn't support that — it's rated possibly ineffective for athletic performance. If that's your goal, this supplement isn't backed by reliable research.
How long can I safely take this?
D-Ribose has been studied safely for up to about a month. Long-term safety beyond that hasn't been well studied, so it's something to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you're thinking of using it longer.

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

Not sure if D-Ribose is safe with your meds?

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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.

D-Ribose label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind D-Ribose’s Ingredients

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

Herb & supplement monograph

Ribose

Interacts with 86 drugs

Ribose (D-ribose) is a simple sugar your body makes naturally and uses to build energy molecules like ATP. Some people take it for fatigue, fibromyalgia, exercise recovery, or heart conditio...

Read the full Ribose monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

D-Ribose'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 8 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.

Ribose 8 references
  1. Segal S, Foley J. The metabolism of D-ribose in man. J Clin Invest 1958;37:719-35. PubMed
  2. Perlmutter NS, Wilson RA, Angello DA, et al. Ribose facilitates thallium-201 redistribution in patients with coronary artery disease. J Nucl Med 1991;32:193-200.
  3. Hegewald MG, Palac RT, Angello DA, et al. Ribose infusion accelerates thallium redistribution with early imaging compared with late 24-hour imaging without ribose. J Am Coll Cardiol 1991;18:1671-81. PubMed
  4. Pliml W, von Arnim T, Stalein A, et al. Effects of ribose on excercise-induced ischaemia in stable coronary artery disease. Lancet 1992;340:507-10.
  5. Burke ER. D-Ribose What You Need To Know. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group 1999;1-43.
  6. Gross M, Reiter S, Zollner N. Metabolism of D-ribose administered continuously to healthy persons and to patients with myoadenylate deaminase deficiency. Klin Wochenschr 1989;67:1205-13. PubMed
  7. Teitelbaum JE, Johnson C, St Cyr J. The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2006;12:857-62. PubMed
  8. Thompson J, Neutel J, Homer K, Tempero K, Shah A, Khankari R. Evaluation of D-ribose pharmacokinetics, dose proportionality, food effect, and pharmacodynamics after oral solution administration in healthy male and female subjects. J Clin Pharmacol 2014;54 PubMed

See these in context on the Ribose 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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