{"id":633001,"date":"2025-08-04T09:30:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=633001"},"modified":"2025-10-16T15:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T19:18:06","slug":"what-vitamins-should-not-be-taken-with-rosuvastatin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-vitamins-should-not-be-taken-with-rosuvastatin\/","title":{"rendered":"What vitamins should not be taken with rosuvastatin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rosuvastatin<\/span><\/a>, also sold under the brand name <\/span>Crestor<\/span><\/a>, is a prescription medication used to treat <\/span>high cholesterol<\/span><\/a>. As part of a group of drugs called statins, rosuvastatin lowers LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels while raising HDL cholesterol, helping to reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke. There are several <\/span>drug interactions with rosuvastatin<\/span><\/a>, like blood thinners, antacids, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, and the gout medication colchicine. A few over-the-counter (OTC) vitamins and supplements interact as well. The most notable is vitamin B3, or <\/span>niacin<\/span><\/a>, which can cause unwanted side effects when combined with rosuvastatin. Here\u2019s what to know.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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What vitamins should not be taken with rosuvastatin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unlike prescription and OTC medications, vitamins and supplements aren\u2019t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other organization. Although many supplement manufacturers have their products tested for quality and safety by third parties, this isn\u2019t a required step before selling them to consumers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That means the supplements you take could contain unlisted ingredients or different amounts of active ingredients than what\u2019s indicated on the label. It also means they haven\u2019t been studied as carefully as prescription drugs, so we don\u2019t know exactly how much people should take for their health. In general, most supplements appear to be safe to combine with <\/span>rosuvastatin<\/span><\/a>, but there are some exceptions. To note, these interactions can occur with other statin medications such as Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin), so seek medical advice from a healthcare professional before taking any supplements if you\u2019re on this class of medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Niacin (B3)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Niacin is a B vitamin that has been shown to lower triglyceride levels and raise HDL cholesterol. Many people try taking niacin instead of or in addition to prescription cholesterol-lowering medications, but it\u2019s considered unsafe to combine with rosuvastatin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy general take on niacin is that there are more harms than benefits with this supplement,\u201d says <\/span>Yu-Ming Ni<\/span><\/a>, MD, cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although niacin does affect cholesterol levels in a positive way, Dr. Ni says it\u2019s never been shown in large studies to improve a person\u2019s risk for heart disease or lower their risk of dying from cardiovascular causes. On top of that, he adds, it has some significant side effects, including flushing, dizziness, and increased risk for <\/span>diabetes<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It may also increase your risk for muscle pain and a rare type of muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis, says <\/span>Jack Cappitelli<\/span><\/a>, MD, internist and chief medical officer, New Jersey Region, of Summit Health. People taking statins already have a higher risk of <\/span>muscular symptoms<\/span><\/a>; adding niacin to the mix can increase the chances of this side effect even more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Red yeast rice\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Red yeast rice<\/span><\/a> is a natural supplement made from a fungus called<\/span> Monascus purpureus.<\/span><\/i> It contains a compound, monacolin K, that is chemically identical to another statin (lovastatin). This gives red yeast rice its reputation as a \u201cnatural statin,\u201d says Dr. Cappitelli, but while it has positive effects on cholesterol, you should never combine red yeast rice with any statins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking it along with your dose of rosuvastatin<\/a> can increase your risk for <\/span>statin-related side effects<\/span><\/a> like muscle pain, liver problems, kidney problems, and gastrointestinal distress, including stomach pain, heartburn, and gas.<\/span><\/p>\n

St. John\u2019s wort\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Statin drugs are metabolized by the liver, says Dr. Ni, so it\u2019s important not to mix them with medications or supplements that affect the enzymes responsible for this metabolization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

St. John\u2019s wort<\/span><\/a>, for example\u2014an herbal supplement often taken as a way to naturally relieve insomnia, anxiety, and menopause symptoms\u2014is well-known to inhibit enzymes in the CYP family, which helps metabolize statins. St. John\u2019s wort interacts with many different prescription and OTC medications, and at least one study suggests that it could cause your body to <\/span>clear rosuvastatin too quickly<\/span><\/a> from your system, limiting the medication\u2019s ability to lower your cholesterol levels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Magnesium\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In general, people taking rosuvastatin can also take magnesium, but you should always talk about it with your healthcare provider first. Rosuvastatin shouldn\u2019t be taken at the same time as <\/span>certain antacids<\/span><\/a>, for example, like those containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. This could affect how well rosuvastatin is absorbed and make it less effective. Instead, take your statin at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking these types of antacids.<\/span><\/p>\n

Otherwise, magnesium is likely safe to combine with rosuvastatin. In fact, Dr. Ni says she sometimes recommends magnesium to her rosuvastatin patients if they are having trouble sleeping, since <\/span>the supplement can work as a natural sleep aid<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vitamin D<\/span><\/h3>\n

Similar to magnesium, most people can safely take normal amounts of vitamin D with rosuvastatin. In fact, some studies show <\/span>that vitamin D<\/span><\/a> raises HDL cholesterol levels and decreases LDL cholesterol levels, potentially making the supplement beneficial to people with high cholesterol. However, these results are strongly debated, and the evidence for\u2014and against\u2014<\/span>vitamin D\u2019s role<\/span><\/a> in lowering cholesterol is mixed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That wouldn\u2019t matter if rosuvastatin and vitamin D didn\u2019t interact at all, but there\u2019s some evidence that statin-related side effects like muscle pain are higher when the medication is <\/span>combined with vitamin D<\/span><\/a>. Again, we recommend asking your provider before taking the two together.<\/span><\/p>\n

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