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

D-Ribose Powder Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Protocol For Life Balance

D-Ribose Powder 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 Powder 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 Powder is a dietary supplement by Protocol For Life Balance 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 Bioenergy 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 Powder by Protocol For Life Balance

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance

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.

This product contains one active ingredient: Bioenergy Ribose, a simple sugar that your cells use for energy. Ribose is found naturally in your body and is part of the structure of RNA (the genetic material that helps your cells function).

The powder form makes it easy to mix into drinks or food. 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 support and muscle function.
  • 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 4 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Ribose is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Athletic performance (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Ribose is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Coronary heart disease (CHD), Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Congestive heart failure (CHF), Fibromyalgia, and more.

The evidence for ribose is mixed and limited. For athletic performance and McArdle disease (a rare muscle disorder), it appears possibly ineffective based on available data.

For restless legs syndrome, heart failure, muscle soreness, and recovery after heart bypass surgery, there isn't enough reliable evidence yet to say whether it works or doesn't. If you're considering ribose for any of these uses, talk it over with your doctor about what the current science actually supports.

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.

Ribose is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth for up to a month. The most common side effects are diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headache, nausea, and low blood sugar.

Some people also report lightheadedness, increased appetite, or mild anxiety; lowering the dose has resolved these symptoms in some cases. Long-term safety hasn't been well studied, so caution is warranted if you're thinking about using it for weeks or months.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, there isn't enough safety data, so it's best avoided until you've talked with your doctor or pharmacist.

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.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on insulin or any diabetes medication (such as metformin, sulfonylureas, or GLP-1 agonists). Ribose can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and could require your medications to be adjusted.

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 Powder may be worth considering if you're looking to experiment with athletic recovery or energy, but the evidence that it actually works is thin. The bigger concern is if you take insulin or diabetes medications — ribose can lower your blood sugar, and you'd need your doctor watching your levels closely.

Talk with your own doctor or pharmacist before starting, especially if you're on any blood sugar medications.

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 Oct 22, 2015.

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 Powder, straight from the product label.

Brand Protocol For Life Balance
Barcode (UPC) 707359121478
Net contents 8 oz.; 227 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 22, 2015
DSLD ID 50039
Product type Fiber And Other Nutrients
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy 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 D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance, 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:
1.5 tsp
Maximum serving Sizes:
1.5 tsp
Servings per container
45
UPC/BARCODE
707359121478
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories20 {Calories}--
Total Carbohydrates5 Gram(s)2%
Sugar5 Gram(s)--
Bioenergy Ribose5 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: None

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

SUGGESTED USAGE: Take 1 1/2 level teaspoons 3 times daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

General Statements

HOW IT WORKS: Ribose is a pentose sugar found in all living cells and is a structural component of nucleotides such as DNA, RNA, and ATP.* ATP is the ultimate source of energy for all cells, and is necessary for all muscle movement.* D-Ribose has been clinically researched for its role in the support of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production within skeletal muscle and for the maintenance of healthy cardiac energy metabolism.* These studies indicate that D-Ribose can help to sustain ATP production in these vital tissues.*

Please Recycle. This product is sold by weight not volume.

~ Energy Production and Storage ~ Supports Healthy Heart Function

www.protocolforlife.com/P2147

Precautions

CAUTIONS/INTERACTIONS: D-Ribose may interact with drugs that affect blood sugar levels. Consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product if you are taking insulin, anti-diabetes medications, or other drugs that affect serum glucose levels, if you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, or if you are planning to undergo a surgical procedure.

Caution: Do Not Eat Freshness Packet Enclosed.

Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

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.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place after opening.

General

CODE P2147 V4

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Formulation

Vegetarian/Vegan

Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients.

Seals/Symbols

GMP

Brand IP Statement(s)

Bioenergy RIBOSE(R) is a registered trademark of Bioenergy Life Science, Inc. Use of ribose is licensed by Bioenergy Life Science, Inc. under U.S. Patents 6,159,942; 6,534,480; 6,218,366; 6,339,716, and other U.S. and foreign patents issued and pending.

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

See for yourself

D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance label

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

D-Ribose Powder 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 Powder by Protocol For Life Balance

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

Serving size1.5 tsp Dosage formPowder Servings per container45 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

Bioenergy Ribose

Interacts with
86 drugs
5 Gram(s) per serving Form: D-Ribose, Powder

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...

Bioenergy Ribose monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: None. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against D-Ribose Powder?

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

Bioenergy Ribose 86

Individual Drug Interactions

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

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

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in D-Ribose Powder 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.

Bioenergy 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
Bioenergy Ribose full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

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

Protocol For Life Balance

See all Protocol For Life Balance products
Name
Protocol For Life Balance
Street Address
395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd.
City
Bloomingdale
State
IL
ZipCode
60108
Web Address
www.protocolforlife.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance: Common Questions

Does D-Ribose Powder by Protocol For Life Balance interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, D-Ribose Powder 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 Powder 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?
Not without checking with your doctor first. Ribose lowers blood sugar, so if you're already on insulin or diabetes medication, combining them could drop your blood sugar too low. Your doctor may need to monitor your levels or adjust your medications.
Will this help my muscle soreness or athletic performance?
The data isn't there yet. Athletic performance appears possibly ineffective, and for muscle soreness, there's just not enough reliable evidence to say whether it works. If you're an athlete, talk to your doctor about whether it's worth trying.
Is it safe to take long-term?
Ribose is generally well tolerated for up to a month, but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. If you're thinking about using it for months, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
What side effects might I notice?
The most common are diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headache, nausea, and low blood sugar. Some people also report lightheadedness, increased appetite, or mild anxiety; these have sometimes improved by lowering the dose.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — there isn't enough safety information. It's best avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're thinking about it.

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

Not sure if D-Ribose Powder 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 Powder label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind D-Ribose Powder’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 Powder'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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