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

Ribose Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

Powder Category: Fiber And Other Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Ribose is a dietary supplement by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. 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.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

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

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: D-Ribose, a five-carbon sugar your body uses in energy production and cell function. The powder form has 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: supports energy and cardiovascular health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Athletic performance, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Coronary heart disease (CHD), Heart failure, Fibromyalgia, Muscle soreness — and 2 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's rated possibly ineffective.

For restless legs syndrome, heart failure, muscle soreness, and recovery from bypass surgery, we don't have enough reliable evidence to know whether it works. You may see it marketed for energy or athletic recovery, but the science doesn't support those claims yet.

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 for short-term use — up to about a month — but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, and low blood sugar.

Some people report lightheadedness, increased appetite, mild anxiety, or a hyperanxious feeling; in studies, lowering the dose resolved these. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, there isn't enough safety information, so it's best avoided — talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're considering it while pregnant or nursing.

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 any antidiabetes drugs or insulin you take. Ribose can lower your blood sugar, and combined with these medications, you may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

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.

Ribose is one to check with your own doctor or pharmacist before taking, especially if you manage blood sugar with medication or insulin. The evidence doesn't support it for athletic performance or muscle recovery yet.

If you have no blood sugar concerns and want to try it short-term, side effects are usually mild, but confirm it's right for you first.

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 27, 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 Ribose, straight from the product label.

Brand OL Olympian Labs, Inc.
Barcode (UPC) 710013030405
Net contents 100 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 27, 2014
DSLD ID 38970
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 Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc., 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 Gram(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Gram(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
710013030405
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories10 {Calories}--
Total Carbohydrates2 Gram(s)1%
Sugar2 Gram(s)--
D-Ribose2000 mg--

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 USE: As a dietary supplement, take two (2) scoops (2g) before exercise. A second dose may be taken after exercise or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Precautions

Total daily intake should not exceed twenty (20) grams.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

CAUTION: Consult your healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or lactating, have or have had a medical condition, or are taking prescription medications.

General Statements

Supports Energy Supports Cardiovascular Health

50 SERVINGS

Made in USA

Confused on what to take? Check for yourself at: OlympianLabs.com

Olympian Labs, Inc. products are made with the highest quality ingredients and manufactured according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). When you buy an Olympian Labs, Inc. product, you can be sure you are buying the best.

Brand IP Statement(s)

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.

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.

General

REV 10/25/2012

Seals/Symbols

OL OLYMPIAN LABS, INC.(TM)

FDA Statement of Identity

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

See for yourself

Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

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

Serving size2 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

2 Gram(s) per serving

D-Ribose

Interacts with
86 drugs
2000 mg 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

Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against 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

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in 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
The maker

Brand information

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

OL Olympian Labs, Inc.

Name
Olympian Labs, Inc.
City
Phoenix
State
AZ
ZipCode
85027
Phone Number
1.800.473.5883
Web Address
www.olympianlabs.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc.: Common Questions

Does Ribose by OL Olympian Labs, Inc. interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, 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?
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 ribose if I'm on metformin or another diabetes medication?
Not without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Ribose lowers blood sugar on its own, and combined with antidiabetes drugs, it could raise your risk of low blood sugar. You may need dose adjustments or blood sugar monitoring.
Will ribose help my athletic performance or muscle soreness?
The evidence doesn't support it. Ribose is rated possibly ineffective for athletic performance, and we don't have reliable evidence that it helps muscle soreness. You may see it marketed for recovery, but the science isn't there yet.
What are the most common side effects?
Diarrhea, nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and headache are the most reported. Some people also experience lightheadedness, increased appetite, or mild anxiety. These are usually mild, and lowering your dose can help.
Is ribose safe to take long-term?
It's generally well tolerated for up to about a month, but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. If you're thinking about taking it for more than a few weeks, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I take ribose while pregnant or breastfeeding?
There isn't enough safety information, so it's best avoided in both cases. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Why is there no interaction with blood thinners or other drugs?
We only have documented interaction data for antidiabetes drugs and insulin with ribose. That doesn't mean interactions with other medications don't exist — it means we haven't found them in our data. If you take any prescription medication, check it with the tool on this page.

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

Not sure if 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.

Ribose label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

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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