Are Collagen Proteins Safe To Combine With Your Medication?

Answer

Yes, for the most part, collagen proteins (sometimes referred to as collagen peptides) are perfectly safe to take with your medications.

However, I will say for Synthroid (levothyroxine), you generally want to take that drug by itself, on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before food and other medications to avoid absorption issues.

Collagen Proteins: No Drug Interactions?

Collagen protein is popularly utilized as a dietary supplement, with many different brands producing a multitude of products. Vital Proteins, which you mentioned in your question, is one such brand.

Collagen is a protein that is a major component of skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones and plays a key role in your health. Supplementation with collagen is purported to have positive benefits, such as improving skin elasticity, reducing joint pain, and improving mobility.

Most collagen protein powders are in the form of 'collagen peptides', which are made by breaking down collagen into smaller pieces (peptides), which can be more easily absorbed by the body.

In regard to drug interactions, In your question, you mentioned a few things you were concerned about.

Specifically, you mentioned Synthroid,  blood thinners (which would include Xarelto, Eliquis, Coumadin, Pradaxa, Plavix, Savaysa, etc...,), and diabetes medications (e.g., metformin, glipizide, glimepiride, insulin, Januvia, Farxiga, Invokana, Jardiance, etc...).

The good news is that collagen protein is not known to have drug interactions. You can consider it a dietary protein, just as if you were consuming other types of protein as part of your daily diet.

While there is some concern that high-protein diets may affect a small number of medications, collagen protein itself doesn't have clinically significant interactions.

Like I mentioned above about Synthroid though, if you are on medication that should be taken on an empty stomach, you should continue to do so, and not take them at the same time as you are taking collagen.

If you have any other questions regarding interactions with herbals or natural medicines, be sure to use our interaction checker.

Final Words

Thanks for reaching out and I hope you found this helpful!