Can I take Carnitine with Cordyceps?

Understanding the interactions, benefits, and safety of combining these two powerful supplements.

Carnitine
+
Cordyceps

Short answer

We found no documented interaction between Carnitine and Cordyceps in the sources below. That isn't proof the combination is right for you: check each one's cautions, and ask your pharmacist if you take medication.

Carnitine

What it is: A nutrient the body makes and gets from meat; it helps turn food into energy.

What the research says: Healthy people make all they need. Results for dementia and other conditions are mixed.

Cautions

  • 3 g a day or more can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor.
  • High amounts may cause muscle weakness in kidney disease and raise seizure risk in people with seizure disorders.

Medicines to check

  • Some anti-seizure medicines (phenobarbital, valproic acid) and long-term use of some antibiotics can lower carnitine levels

In Holitro: Carnitine (500 mg per capsule)

Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Carnitine: Fact Sheet for Consumers (updated May 2023)

Cordyceps

What it is: A fungus that grows on moth caterpillars, used in traditional Chinese medicine for energy and immunity.

What the research says: Some studies looked at kidney function in transplant and diabetes patients, but reviews question the quality of the evidence. Most research is in the lab.

Cautions

  • No major side effects have been reported.

Medicines to check

  • Insulin and other blood-sugar-lowering medicines: cordyceps may lower blood sugar too
  • Blood thinners such as warfarin: it may raise bleeding risk

In Holitro: Cordyceps (500 mg per capsule)

Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, About Herbs: Cordyceps (updated February 2022)

Check with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medication.

Check your stack — free

Educational information only, not medical advice. This reflects general ingredient overlap, not a personalized safety review. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining supplements, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or manage a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

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