Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally-occurring substance found in your body's cells, specifically in the mitochondria. The supplement supports proper energy production in your body and might help to correct certain deficiencies caused by taking common medications for bipolar disorder. Consult your doctor before taking coenzyme Q10 for any purpose to discuss the correct dosage and potential health risks.
Description
Also called ubiquinone, coenzyme Q10 assists in making adenosine triphosphate or "ATP," which provides energy to your body's cells and supports protein production, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Coenzyme Q10 also has antioxidant actions and aids in the contraction of your muscles. You can get coenzyme Q10 in your diet by consuming meats, peanuts, mackerel, sardines and certain other foods, notes the University of Michigan Health System. In addition to food sources, your body manufactures coenzyme Q10 from other various nutrients, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Q10 and other coenzymes help to protect your muscles and heart, as well as food digestion and metabolism.
Benefits
If you take certain medications to treat bipolar disorder, you may have reduced levels of coenzyme Q10 in your body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Therefore, you might benefit from taking a coenzyme Q10 supplement while you're taking these bipolar medications. These medicines include methyldopa, hydrochlorothiazide, hydralazine, tricyclic antidepressants, clonidine and antipsychotic drugs, particularly those in the phenothiazine family, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Additionally, coenzyme Q10 is sometimes recommended for helping to treat or prevent heart failure and heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, breast cancer, periodontal disease or gingivitis, infertility in men, fatigue syndromes, muscular dystrophy, tinnitus, chronic infections and immune deficiencies. Other uses for coenzyme Q10 include supporting recovery from heart attacks or strokes and improving physical performance, as well as treating or preventing Lou Gehrig's disease, asthma, migraines, kidney failure, Parkinson's disease and cardiomyopathy. Talk with your physician before taking coenzyme Q10 supplements while you're on bipolar medications.
Medical Research
Very little medical research has been performed on coenzyme Q10's potential for supporting bipolar therapies, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. One 1980 study reported in the Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q found that coenzyme Q10 prevented myocardial respiration in people taking psychotherapeutic medications. Few other medical studies have looked at coenzyme Q10 depletion or supplementation benefits related specifically to medications used to treat bipolar, however.
Considerations
In addition to bipolar medications, taking other drugs could deplete your coenzyme Q10 levels. You might need to take a coenzyme Q10 supplement if you're taking statins to lower your cholesterol, beta-blockers to treat hypertension and oral diabetes medications such as phenformin or glyburide, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. But you shouldn't take coenzyme Q10 supplements if you're taking Coumadin, Plavix or other "blood-thinning" medications, because the supplement could reduce their efficacy, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
While taking coenzyme Q10 supplements to help support bipolar medications, you might experience certain side effects, such as insomnia, nausea, stomach pain, heartburn, rash, fatigue and dizziness, says the University of Michigan Health System. You could also experience some irritability and photosensitivity, or an increased sensitivity to light. Don't take coenzyme Q10 without first discussing it with your healthcare provider, especially if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
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