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KenDBerryMD - Medicines that DEPLETE CoEnzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone lowering Medications)

Thumbnail of the video “KenDBerryMD - Medicines that DEPLETE CoEnzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone lowering Medications)”
Community upload. AI output has not been independently verified.
Author: KenDBerryMD
Categories: Nutrition Health
Tags: nutrition, health
Views: 3 · Last viewed: 2026-10-17 00:47 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: If you take medications that lower coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, also called ubiquinone), you should not stop them on your own but should consume enough CoQ10 through food or a supplement, at least 100 milligrams per such medication. CoQ10 is a coenzyme that the mitochondria, the cells' energy producers, need for energy production, and low levels most commonly cause fatigue. The speaker, Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician, says many common prescription and over-the-counter drugs deplete it.

Key Points

  • CoQ10 is needed for hundreds of biochemical reactions and is found in nearly every animal and most bacteria, which the speaker treats as a sign of its importance.
  • Most body CoQ10 is used by mitochondria to make ATP and NADH energy molecules, so low levels most commonly show up as fatigue.
  • Organs with the highest CoQ10 concentrations are the heart, liver, and kidneys, which have high energy demands.
  • Statins and most other cholesterol-lowering drugs deplete CoQ10; the speaker says it is unclear whether Repatha and Praluent do.
  • Acid blockers (proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and even OTC antacids such as Rolaids, Tums, and Mylanta) reduce absorption of CoQ10 building blocks, and many antibiotics (such as Keflex, Cipro, Levaquin, Bactrim), certain antidepressants (Elavil, Pamelor), Phenergan, Coumadin/warfarin, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and ARBs, clonidine, HCTZ-containing drugs, several diabetes drugs, and some antipsychotics also lower levels.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions:
    • Do not stop a medication because it lowers CoQ10; instead, follow the CoQ10 advice in the video.
    • Check your current medication list against the complete list of CoQ10-depleting drugs the speaker placed in the show notes.
    • If you take one such medication, you can probably get enough CoQ10 from eating animal meat, fish, and occasionally heart.
    • Best food sources: beef heart, sheep heart, goat heart, and chicken hearts; any land-animal meat or swimming fish is a decent source.
    • If you take two or more such medications, you likely won't eat enough meat and organ meat, so take a supplement.
    • Choose an olive oil-filled gel cap rather than dry chalky tablets, containing at least 100 milligrams of CoQ10.
    • Take at least 100 milligrams for each depleting medication you take.
    • For warfarin/Coumadin users, take a steady daily dose of CoQ10, since it can affect Coumadin levels; the doctor can then adjust the dose to keep INR in range.
    • Share the list with family and friends who take these medications.
  • The speaker says taking about 1,000 mg daily is unlikely to be harmful, with stomach upset as the worst likely side effect; following the 100 mg per medication guideline avoids overdosing.
  • The speaker says he has no financial interest in the recommended supplement product, which is linked as an Amazon affiliate link.
  • The speaker presents this as his own medical perspective based on his review of these medications.

Bottom Line

Many common medications can reduce CoQ10 levels, and the speaker's practical approach is to keep medications in place while deliberately replacing CoQ10 through diet or a dosed supplement, especially if you take multiple depleting drugs.