Coenzyme Q10

Generic Name: ubiquinone
Other Brand Names: Liquid Co-Q10, NutraDrops, ubiquinone

What is ubiquinone?

Ubiquinone, also known as Coenzyme Q-10, is a coenzyme that is made naturally in the body.

Ubiquinone has been used in congestive heart failure, gum disease, type II diabetes, and to replace lowered levels of ubiquinone that result from the use of certain cholesterol lowering agents.

Ubiquinone has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of ubiquinone may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Ubiquinone may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ubiquinone?

Before taking ubiquinone, tell your doctor if you have:

  • diabetes; or

  • a blood (platelet) disorder.

Before taking ubiquinone, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Ubiquinone may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take ubiquinone without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether ubiquinone will be harmful to an unborn baby.

Do not take ubiquinone without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether ubiquinone will be harmful to a nursing infant.

There is no information available regarding the use of ubiquinone by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child’s doctor.

How should I take ubiquinone?

The use of ubiquinone in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

If you choose to take ubiquinone, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Take the pill forms of ubiquinone with a full glass of water.

Take the pill forms of ubiquinone with food unless directed otherwise.

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. Too much medicine could be dangerous.

Store ubiquinone as directed on the package. In general, ubiquinone should be protected from light and moisture and stored in a sealed container.

What happens if I miss a dose of ubiquinone?

No information is available regarding a missed dose of ubiquinone. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you require further information.

Where can I get more information about ubiquinone?
Your pharmacist has information about ubiquinone written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ubiquinone?

Stop taking ubiquinone and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about ubiquinone?

Ubiquinone has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of ubiquinone may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What should I avoid while taking ubiquinone?

There is no information available regarding the use of ubiquinone by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child’s doctor.

What other drugs will affect ubiquinone?

Ubiquinone may interact with many other medicines, possibly increasing side effects or resulting in decreased therapeutic effects. Do not take ubiquinone without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

  • a beta blocker blood pressure medication such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor), atenolol (Tenormin) and others;

  • warfarin (Coumadin);

  • cholesterol lowering agents like (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors including lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor) and others.

  • doxorubicin (Adriamycin); or

  • any medications for diabetes.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ubiquinone or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

What happens if I have an overdose of ubiquinone?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a ubiquinone overdose are not known.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008