If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you
should not use vitamin B2 supplements without first talking to your healthcare
provider.
Antibiotics, Tetracycline
Riboflavin should not be taken at
the same time as the antibiotic tetracycline because it interferes with the
absorption and effectiveness of this medication. Riboflavin either alone or in
combination with other B vitamins should be taken at different times from
tetracycline. (All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should
therefore be taken at different times from tetracycline.)
In addition, long-term use of antibiotics can deplete vitamin B levels in the
body, particularly B2, B9, B12, and vitamin H (biotin), which is considered part
of the B complex.
Antidepressant Medications
Tricyclic antidepressants (such as
imipramine, desimpramine, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline) also reduce levels
of riboflavin in the body. Taking riboflavin may improve levels of the vitamin
and improve the effectiveness of these antidepressants, especially in elderly
patients.
Anti-malarial Medications
Riboflavin may reduce the
effectiveness of anti-malarial medications such as chloroquine and
mefloquine.
Antipsychotic Medications
Antipsychotic medications called
phenothiazines (such as chlorpromazine) may lower riboflavin levels.
Birth Control Medications
Poor dietary habits in combination
with birth control medications can interfere with the body's ability to use
riboflavin.
Doxorubicin
In the presence of daylight, riboflavin may
deactivate doxorubicin, a medication used for the treatment of certain cancers.
In addition, doxorubicin may deplete levels of riboflavin and, therefore,
increased amounts of this nutrient may be recommended during chemotherapy using
this drug. Your doctor will guide you on whether this is necessary or not.
Methotrexate
Methotrexate, a medication used to treat cancer,
can prevent the body from making riboflavin (as well as other essential
vitamins).
Phenytoin
Phenytoin, a medication used to control epileptic
seizures, may affect riboflavin levels in children.
Probenecid
This medication used for gout may decrease the
absorption of riboflavin from the digestive tract and increase the excretion in
the urine.
Selegiline
Similar to its effects on doxorubicin, riboflavin
may deactivate selegiline, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease, in
the presence of daylight.
Sulfa-containing Medications
Riboflavin may reduce the
effectiveness of sulfa-containing medications, such as certain antibiotics (for
example, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) used to treat bacterial infections.
In addition, as stated earlier, long-term use of antibiotics can deplete
vitamin B levels in the body, particularly B2, B9, B12, and vitamin H (biotin),
which is considered part of the B complex.
Thiazide Diuretics
Diuretics that belong to a class known as
thiazides, such as hydrochlorothiazide, may increase the loss of riboflavin in
the urine.