Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

• Heart failure
• Coenzyme Q-10 deficiency
• Mitochondrial disorders
• Muscular dystrophy
• Immune stimulant in HIV infection
• Parkinson's disease

Contraindicated in:

• OB: Pregnancy and lactation
• Allergy/hypersensitivity.

Use Cautiously in:

• Hypotension
• Surgery (discontinue 2 wk prior to procedure).

CV: hypotension.

Derm: rash.

GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, decreased appetite.

Neuro: dizziness.

Natural-Drug Products:

• HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) can ↓ coenzyme Q-10 levels.
• May ↑ risk of clotting with anticoagulants.
• May have additive hypotensive effects with antihypertensives.
• May protect against anthracycline-associated cardiotoxicity.

Natural-Natural Products:

• Red yeast can ↓ coenzyme Q-10 levels.
• May have additive hypotensive effects with herbs that can lower BP including fish oil and L-arginine.

• Soft-gel capsules: ;
• Tablets: ;

• PO (Adults): Coenzyme Q-10 deficiency: 150 mg daily; Mitochondrial disorders: 150–160 mg daily or 2 mg/kg/day; Heart failure: 60–100 mg daily; HIV/AIDS: 200 mg daily; Parkinson's disease: 300–2400 mg daily; Muscular dystrophy: 100 mg daily.

coQ10, ubiquinol, ubiquinone

• A cofactor in oxidative respiration for the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain important for mitochondrial ATP generation. It also has antioxidant activity and membrane stabilizing ability.

• Antioxidant effects.

Therapeutic Classification:

Absorption: Poor absorption in the GI tract, absorbed primarily in the small intestine.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism/Excretion: Metabolized in all tissues, elimination via biliary and fecal excretion.

Half-life: 34 hr.

• Instruct patient to take with a meal containing fat, as directed.
• May cause dizziness. Caution patient to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known.

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