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.

Rosuvastatin Calcium, Ezetimibe

1 nutrient association

COENZYME Q10

Insufficient Evidence

HMG-CoA REDUCTASE INHIBITORS ("Statins")

Statins can halt the synthesis of coenzyme Q10, reducing endogenous levels. However, it is not clear whether this contributes to statin adverse effects, or if coenzyme Q10 supplements reduce these adverse effects.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors can reduce serum coenzyme Q10 levels. They block the synthesis of mevalonic acid, which is a precursor of coenzyme Q10, in a dose-dependent manner. Taking atorvastatin 80 mg daily for 30 days reduces coenzyme Q10 serum levels by 52%, but atorvastatin 10 mg daily or pravastatin 20 mg daily do not have this effect in healthy people. In other research, taking simvastatin 20 mg daily for 4 weeks reduces serum coenzyme Q10 levels by about 32%, but muscle levels increase by 47%. Since coenzyme Q10 is transported with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, reduction in LDL cholesterol levels by a statin may increase the amount of free coenzyme Q10 in the blood that is available for uptake into muscles. There is no reliable evidence that statin adverse effects such as myopathy are linked to reduced coenzyme Q10 levels in the blood, or that taking coenzyme Q10 supplements reduces statin side effects.
Taking Rosuvastatin Calcium, Ezetimibe? Insufficient evidence to rate; clinical significance is not known. ⓘ
What Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) does & food sources

CoQ10 helps cells produce energy and acts as an antioxidant; heart and muscle tissue use it heavily.

Common food sources:

  • Organ meats and fatty fish
  • Whole grains
  • Nuts and seeds

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

What to discuss with your clinician

There is no routine blood test for CoQ10 in everyday practice. If you have new, unexplained muscle symptoms on a medication linked to CoQ10 (statins are the best-known example), talk to your prescriber before changing anything — symptoms have many possible causes and your prescriber has several options.

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

Supplement considerations

CoQ10 is generally well tolerated, but evidence for supplementing (for example, for statin muscle symptoms) is mixed. It may also modestly affect warfarin — check with your pharmacist before combining.

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.

Caution: Do not stop a prescribed medication because of this association — discuss any symptoms with your prescriber first.

References (12)
  1. Folkers K, Langsjoen P, Willis R, et al. Lovastatin decreases coenzyme Q levels in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1990;87:8931-4. PubMed
  2. Mortensen SA, Leth A, Agner E, et al. Dose-related decrease of serum coenzyme Q10 during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med 1997;18:S137-44. PubMed
  3. Ghirlanda G, Oradei A, Manto A, et al. Evidence of plasma CoQ10-lowering effect by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: A double blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Pharmacol 1993;33:226-9. PubMed
  4. De Pinieux G, Chariot P, Ammi-Said M, et al. Lipid-lowering drugs and mitochondrial function: Effects of HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitors on serum ubiquinone and blood lactate/pyruvate ratio. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1996;42:333-7. PubMed
  5. Bargossi AM, Grossi G, Fiorella PL, et al. Exogenous CoQ10 supplementation prevents plasma ubiquinone reduction induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med 1994;15:187-93. PubMed
  6. Watts GF, Castelluccio C, Rice-Evans C, et al. Plasma coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) concentrations in patients treated with simvastatin. J Clin Pathol 1993;46:1055-7.
  7. Hanaki Y, Sugiyama S, Ozawa T, et al. Coenzyme Q10 and coronary artery disease. Clin Investig 1993;71:112-5. PubMed
  8. Berthold HK, Naini A, Di Mauro S, et al. Effect of ezetimibe and/or simvastatin on coenzyme Q10 levels in plasma: a randomised trial. Drug Saf 2006;29:703-12. PubMed
  9. Fuke C, Krikorian SA, Couris RR. Coenzyme Q10: A review of essential functions and clinical trials. US Pharm 2000;25:28-41.
  10. Bleske BE, Willis RA, Anthony M, et al. The effect of pravastatin and atorvastatin on coenzyme Q10. Am Heart J 2001;142:E2. PubMed
  11. Rundek T, Naini A, Sacco R, et al. Atorvastatin decreases the coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Arch Neurol 2004;61:889-92.. PubMed
  12. Laaksonen R, Jokelainen K, Sahi T, et al. Decreases in serum ubiquinone concentrations do not result in reduced levels in muscle tissue during short-term simvastatin treatment in humans. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1995;57:62-6. PubMed
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.

Not sure what your results mean?

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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.