Who should not take CoQ10?

Some people should ask a clinician before taking CoQ10 at all: anyone pregnant or nursing, anyone under 18, anyone taking prescription medication (especially blood thinners), and anyone with a medical condition. That is our label's warning. We found no study that tests CoQ10 in any of those groups at our dose.

Who should ask first

Electric Tiger CoQ10 200 mg carries this caution: do not exceed the recommended dose; ask a physician before use if pregnant or nursing, under 18, taking medication (especially blood thinners) or with a medical condition. We give no use or dosing guidance for pregnancy, nursing, or children, and this page doesn't either.

• Pregnant or nursing: ask a physician first. We found no study that settles the question.
• Under 18: ask a physician first.
• Taking prescription medicine, especially a blood thinner: ask your prescriber or pharmacist first. The one blood-thinner trial we found was small and tested half our dose; see CoQ10 and medications.
• Any medical condition, including liver or kidney disease: ask your doctor first. We found no study in our sources that tested CoQ10 in those conditions, so we can't say it is safe or unsafe.
• Before surgery, or if you are being treated for a serious illness: tell the clinical team every supplement you take.

What the safety evidence covers, and doesn't

A 2006 risk assessment of the ubiquinone literature found no dose-related side effects in studies from 60 to 1,200 mg a day, and set an observed safe level of 1,200 mg a day. It was written by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry trade body, and it summarises group results; it doesn't rule out an individual reaction or speak to every medical condition (Hathcock 2006).

Questions people ask

Who should not take CoQ10, and who should avoid it?

The groups above should ask a clinician first. We don't tell anyone to avoid it outright; we tell them to ask. There is no one group our sources show is harmed at 200 mg, and no one group they show is safe.

Who should take CoQ10, who needs it, and who takes it?

We don't recommend it for any group. We found no group shown to need a CoQ10 supplement, and there is no Daily Value for it. The food review we cite put average dietary intake at 3-6 mg a day (Pravst 2010), and what people supplement for is covered with its limits in the research review.

Is CoQ10 bad for your kidneys, hard on kidneys, or safe for kidneys?

We found no trial in our sources that tested it. We can't say it is bad or good for them. With kidney disease, ask your doctor before taking any supplement.

Can CoQ10 cause liver damage?

We found no study in our sources that tested liver outcomes, so we can't say. The 2006 safety review found no dose-related side effects overall. If you have liver disease or abnormal liver tests, ask your doctor first.

What can't you take with CoQ10? What supplements or medicines should not be mixed with it?

We found no study showing a supplement combination that must be avoided, and we also haven't tested combinations. For prescriptions, see CoQ10 and medications. If you take several supplements, tell your pharmacist the full list.

Is it safe to take 200 mg every day?

The ubiquinone safety review found no dose-related side effects from 60 to 1,200 mg a day. Whether it is right for you is a question for your doctor if any caution above applies. Dose details are in how much CoQ10 to take a day; side effects are in CoQ10 side effects.

Who sells, makes or discovered CoQ10?

Electric Tiger sells a 200 mg ubiquinone capsule. Who makes any other brand is printed on its label. We have not researched the compound's discovery, so we leave that to a reference book.