Is PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) Safe with Imatinib (Gleevec)?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Avoid concurrent use of PQQ during imatinib therapy. Discuss all mitochondrial supplements with your hematologist or oncologist.
Why this interaction occurs
Imatinib (BCR-ABL inhibitor) impairs mitochondrial function in CML cancer cells as part of its cytotoxic mechanism, reducing oxidative phosphorylation and promoting apoptosis. PQQ stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1α activation and may counteract this effect by restoring mitochondrial capacity in leukemic cells. Preclinical data suggest mitochondrial rescue can confer resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Evidence
Evidence level: limited.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 45,497 reports mentioning Imatinib (Gleevec). This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Imatinib (Gleevec) + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) interactions → · All Imatinib (Gleevec) interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.