[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Herbal products and dietary supplements](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/herbal-products-and-dietary-supplements/) › Coenzyme Q10 (ubidecarenone)

# Coenzyme Q10 (ubidecarenone)

## Herbal products and dietary supplements?

Herbal products and dietary supplements

A mitochondrial electron carrier (ubiquinone) sold as a supplement. Statins lower its levels, yet it has not been shown to ease statin muscle pain.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

Also called: Ubidecarenone, Ubiquinone, CoQ10

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Herbal products and dietary supplements](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/herbal-products-and-dietary-supplements/)

**Target**
Mitochondrial electron transport chain (as its own carrier)

**Used for**
Heart failure · Statin-associated muscle pain

**Key effects**
Insomnia · Digestive upset

**Monitor**
INR in patients on warfarin

**ATC**
C01EB09

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) carries electrons from complexes I and II to complex III in the inner mitochondrial membrane and acts as an antioxidant; the reduced form, ubiquinol, predominates in the blood. The body makes it through the mevalonate pathway, so statins, which block HMG-CoA reductase, lower its levels. Supplements were proposed to support heart muscle and prevent statin myopathy, but the clinical evidence is inconclusive or negative.

- CoQ10 is made via the mevalonate pathway
- It shuttles electrons to complex III in mitochondria
- Statins block HMG-CoA reductase and lower CoQ10
- Supplements raise levels; clinical benefit unproven

## Indications

- Heart failure: research is inconclusive [Heart failure →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/heart-failure/)
- Statin-associated muscle pain: the overall evidence does not support it

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Insomnia
- Digestive upset

### Serious (rare, important)

- Reduced warfarin effect and risk of clotting

## Contraindications

- Use with warfarin without INR monitoring
- During some cancer treatments without the oncology team's advice

## Key interactions

**Warfarin**
Its vitamin K-like structure may reduce warfarin's effect

**Insulin**
Possible interaction; glucose is watched

**Statins**
Statins lower CoQ10 levels; supplementation has not been shown to prevent statin muscle pain

## What is monitored

- INR in patients on warfarin
- Blood glucose in patients on insulin

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Safety in pregnancy has not been established.

## Nursing care

- Ask every patient about herbal products and supplements and record them with the medicine list
- Check INR when a patient on warfarin starts or stops coenzyme Q10
- Teach that «natural» does not mean safe and that supplements are not approved as medicines before sale

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Taken by mouth

**Distribution**
Present in the mitochondria of heart, kidney, liver and muscle; circulates mainly as ubiquinol

## Memory aid

Q10 looks like vitamin K: «Q for K», so warfarin weakens.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Why do statins lower coenzyme Q10 levels?

CoQ10 is made through the mevalonate pathway, which starts at HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme statins block.

## What is the role of coenzyme Q10 in the mitochondria?

It carries electrons from complexes I and II to complex III and acts as an antioxidant.

## How can coenzyme Q10 affect warfarin therapy?

It resembles vitamin K and may reduce warfarin's effect.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/coenzyme-q10/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 2

- [Atorvastatin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/atorvastatin/)
- [Warfarin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/warfarin/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Heart failure](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/heart-failure/)

[← Back to the class: Herbal products and dietary supplements](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/herbal-products-and-dietary-supplements/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Coenzyme Q10](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/coenzyme-q10) (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=C01EB09) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/coenzyme-q10/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/coenzyme-q10/