Pharmacist-built clinical tool

Does My Medication Cause Nutrient Depletion?

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can lower your levels of important vitamins and minerals over time. Search your medication below to see what it may deplete — with evidence ratings and what to discuss with your pharmacist.

Medical content reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Last reviewed July 2026
971Medications
32Nutrients
8,447Depletion records
Your results

Potential nutrient considerations for your selected medication

1 medication checked · 1 nutrient with reported associations. These are talking points for your care team — not a diagnosis.

Probenecid

1 nutrient association

RIBOFLAVIN

Insufficient Evidence

PROBENECID (Benemid)

Probenecid might reduce active riboflavin levels; however, the clinical significance of this is unclear.
In humans, probenecid reduces renal tubular secretion and total urinary excretion of both supplemental and dietary riboflavin. It may also reduce the active intestinal absorption mechanism for riboflavin. After single doses of probenecid, the effect on renal excretion predominates, and plasma riboflavin levels are increased. The effect of prolonged probenecid therapy on riboflavin balance, and therefore the clinical significance, is not known.
Taking Probenecid? Insufficient evidence to rate; clinical significance is not known. ⓘ
What Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) does & food sources

Riboflavin helps the body produce energy and process other B vitamins.

Common food sources:

  • Dairy products and eggs
  • Lean meats
  • Fortified grains
  • Green vegetables

HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.

What to discuss with your clinician

Deficiency is uncommon with a varied diet; ask your provider if you have persistent mouth-corner cracking, sore tongue, or unexplained fatigue on a long-term associated medication.

HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.

Supplement considerations

Riboflavin is water-soluble and excess is excreted (it turns urine bright yellow — harmless).

Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance — supplements can interact with prescription medications.

HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.

References (3)
  1. Yanagawa N, Shih RN, Jo OD, Said HM. Riboflavin transport by isolated perfused rabbit renal proximal tubules. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2000;279:C1782-6.. PubMed
  2. Jusko WJ, Levy G. Effect of probenecid on riboflavin absorption and excretion in man. J Pharm Sci 1967;56:1145-9. PubMed
  3. Jusko WJ, Levy G, Yaffe SJ, Gorodischer R. Effect of probenecid on renal clearance of riboflavin in man.J Pharm Sci 1970;59:473-7. DOI
Important

This tool is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. An association is not a diagnosis and does not mean a deficiency will occur. Always talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or supplement.

Disclaimer: This checker finds which nutrients might be depleted by prescription or over-the-counter medications. Each nutrient depletion issue is rated based on clinical significance. Use your own professional judgment prior to making clinical decisions.

© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center Licensed records refresh weekly · last updated July 3, 2026.
Understand the basics

What drug-induced nutrient depletion means

Some medications can, over time, lower the levels of certain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients — through reduced absorption, increased loss, or changes in how the body uses them.

Association is not deficiency

An entry here means a depletion has been reported or studied — not that it happens to everyone, or that you are deficient. Dose, duration, diet, and your own health all matter.

Evidence varies by pair

Some drug–nutrient links (like metformin and vitamin B12) are well studied; others rest on limited or preliminary research. Each entry shows the evidence rating from our licensed clinical database.

When to ask about labs

If you take an associated medication long-term, ask your healthcare provider whether monitoring is appropriate for you. Not everyone needs testing — your provider can weigh your dose, duration, and symptoms.

Don't self-supplement blindly

Supplements are not risk-free: some can interact with medications, and some (like potassium or magnesium) can be risky with kidney disease. Talk to your pharmacist before adding anything.

Never stop a medication over this

These medications are prescribed for good reasons, and the benefit usually far outweighs a manageable nutrient consideration. Any change belongs in a conversation with your prescriber.

Food first, usually

For many nutrients, a varied diet covers the gap. Each entry lists common food sources; a supplement is a decision to make with your pharmacist or provider, not a default.

Common questions

Nutrient depletion FAQs

Can medications really deplete nutrients?
Yes — some medications can lower levels of certain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients over time, by reducing absorption, increasing loss through the kidneys or gut, or changing how the body uses them. Well-known examples include metformin (vitamin B12) and proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole (magnesium and B12). How much it matters varies a lot between medications and between people.
Does an entry in this checker mean I am deficient?
No. An entry means a depletion has been reported or studied with that medication — it does not mean it happens to everyone, or that it has happened to you. Dose, how long you have taken the medication, your diet, and your overall health all influence the actual risk. Think of the results as conversation starters for your pharmacist or doctor, not a diagnosis.
Should I take a supplement if my medication appears here?
Not automatically. Supplements are not risk-free — some interact with medications (for example, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc can reduce absorption of certain antibiotics and thyroid medication), and some can be risky in kidney disease. The better first step is usually to ask your healthcare provider whether testing or dietary changes make sense for you.
What labs should I ask about?
It depends on the nutrient. Some, like vitamin B12, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, and sodium, have routine blood tests; others, like CoQ10, are not usually tested in everyday practice. Each nutrient entry in this tool notes what is commonly discussed. Your provider can decide whether testing is appropriate — routine testing is not necessary for everyone.
Can supplements interact with my medications?
Yes — that is one of the main reasons not to start supplements blindly. Interactions can change how much of a medication your body absorbs or how it works. You can check specific products and ingredients against your medications with our drug–supplement interaction checker, and confirm anything important with your pharmacist.
Where does this information come from, and how is it reviewed?
The depletion records come from the Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) database — an evidence-graded clinical reference used by pharmacists and clinicians — and are displayed as published, with their evidence ratings and citations. The surrounding plain-English education is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists.

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Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Nutrient depletion records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database, and are displayed as published with their citations. The plain-English education is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist 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.