Drug Interactions With L-Glutamine

Medications that could cause drug interactions with L-glutamine include seizure medications, lactulose, and chemotherapy medicines. The amino acid can interfere with the effectiveness of these medications and potentially increase the risk of side effects. If you are currently taking any drugs, you should talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the L-glutamine interactions that may apply to you.

 

An Introduction to L-Glutamine Drug Interactions

Even though L-glutamine (glutamine) is a natural product, it can potentially interact with some medicines. Some of these medicines that may lead to L-glutamine drug interactions include:
 
  • Chemotherapy
  • Lactulose (Constulose®, Enulose®, Generlac®, Kristalose®)
  • Seizure medications.
     

L-Glutamine Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when L-glutamine supplements are combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Chemotherapy
There is some concern that L-glutamine may stimulate tumor growth or could affect the way the body handles chemotherapy medications, although these problems have not been confirmed by studies. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, check with your healthcare provider before taking an L-glutamine supplement.
 
Lactulose (Constulose, Enulose, Generlac, Kristalose)
Although lactulose is most often used as a laxative, it is sometimes used to treat or prevent high ammonia levels due to liver disease. Since the body can break L-glutamine down into ammonia, it is possible that L-glutamine supplementation may interfere with the effectiveness of lactulose for treating or preventing high ammonia.
(Drug Interactions With L-Glutamine Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;