Blog · Safety
Who Should Not Take SonoVive? Pregnancy, Medicines and Other Red Flags
Do not take SonoVive if you are pregnant, could become pregnant, are breastfeeding or are under 18. Ask your doctor first if you take antidepressants, birth control, blood thinners, daily aspirin, cyclosporine, statins, HIV medicine, or dementia, thyroid or blood-pressure medicine, or have surgery planned. St. John's wort and vinpocetine are the main reasons.
Written by the SonoVive editorial teamMedically reviewed by Dr. Tracey Lynch, Au.D, Audiologist · Review date Published and updated · 7 min read
Do not take it
Who should not take SonoVive at all?
Four groups should leave it alone, and one more should ask a doctor about a specific drug.
- Anyone who is pregnant or could become pregnant. FDA warns against vinpocetine.
- Anyone who is breastfeeding. No safety data for nursing appear in our sources.
- Anyone under 18. The pack lists adults 18 and over, and your label governs.
- Anyone on donepezil, rivastigmine or a similar dementia drug, because huperzine A works on the same brain chemical.(ADDF huperzine A)
The vendor's own disclaimer goes wider. It tells anyone who is pregnant, nursing, taking medication or living with a medical condition to consult a physician before use.
Key facts
What are the key facts about who should skip SonoVive?
- No safety study of SonoVive has been published.
- FDA advises anyone pregnant, or able to become pregnant, to steer clear of vinpocetine, a named ingredient.
- St. John's wort, also named, can weaken birth control, warfarin, cyclosporine, some statins and some antidepressants.
- Ginkgo and vinpocetine can each push bleeding risk up.
- Amounts are not published, so a pharmacist cannot check the dose until you bring the bottle.
- Sudden hearing loss is an emergency and not a reason to try a supplement.
- A refund returns money. It cannot reverse a drug interaction.
Fit check
Which groups should skip it, and which should ask first?
| Group | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant, could become pregnant, or breastfeeding | Do not take it | FDA warning on vinpocetine(FDA vinpocetine) |
| Under 18 | Do not take it | Sold for adults |
| Taking donepezil or rivastigmine | Do not take it without your doctor's say | Huperzine A acts on the same enzyme |
| Antidepressants, the pill, cyclosporine, statins or HIV drugs | Ask a doctor first | St. John's wort can weaken them(NCCIH St. John's wort) |
| Blood thinners, daily aspirin, NSAIDs, surgery planned | Ask a doctor first | Both can nudge bleeding risk up(MSKCC ginkgo) |
| Thyroid or blood-pressure medicine | Ask a doctor first | Bacopa and vinpocetine can interact(ADDF bacopa 2024) |
| Seizure disorder, slow heart rate, asthma, ulcers | Ask a doctor first | Cautions listed for ginkgo and bacopa |
This table is a prompt for a conversation, not a diagnosis. Your doctor and pharmacist know the rest of your history.
If none of these groups includes you, and a pharmacist agrees, the order page shows the price and the refund terms.We earn money when you buy through our order links. The price you pay stays the same.
See today's price and guaranteePregnancy
Why is vinpocetine a problem in pregnancy?
On June 3, 2019, FDA wrote that vinpocetine is associated with adverse reproductive effects, meaning miscarriage and harm to an unborn baby.(FDA vinpocetine) It told pregnant women and women who could become pregnant not to take it, and it names no safe amount.
That is why a low reported amount does not change the advice. Two sponsored articles report 2 mg per capsule, which the vendor has not confirmed. The warning is about the ingredient, not only the dose.
There is a second reason to take care. St. John's wort can make birth control pills less effective, so a user who relies on the pill could face an unplanned pregnancy while also exposed to vinpocetine. Talk to your prescriber before you start.
Medicines
Which medicines does St. John's wort weaken?
NIH's list covers birth control pills, warfarin, cyclosporine, certain statins, and antidepressants such as amitriptyline and bupropion.(NCCIH St. John's wort) Mixed with serotonin-acting drugs, it may cause serious reactions.
The trouble is that nothing feels wrong at first. A blood thinner may lose its grip or a pill may stop protecting, and the problem shows up later. Picture a 58-year-old woman who takes sertraline and hears a hiss at night. Her best path runs through her prescriber before any decision. She should never stop an antidepressant to make room for a supplement.
Bleeding and surgery
What if you take a blood thinner or have surgery planned?
Ask first. NCCIH says ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding in people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin.(NCCIH ginkgo) Vinpocetine may add to that effect, and St. John's wort may weaken warfarin. That combination is hard on anyone trying to keep a blood thinner steady.
Low-dose aspirin and NSAIDs also affect clotting, so name them to the pharmacist. Before surgery or dental work, tell your team about every supplement you take, since supplements can change bleeding and anesthesia response.(ODS: What you need to know)
Older adults
Can older adults take SonoVive?
Many can once a pharmacist has reviewed their medicines. People who shop for hearing help are often over 60, and they often take daily pills that the named ingredients touch. Adult children who buy for a parent should photograph every bottle in the cabinet, including the over-the-counter ones, and show the photos to a pharmacist.
Book a hearing test as well. Hearing aids are the proven help for age-related loss, and no review of medicines can replace one.
At the pharmacy
What should you bring to a pharmacist before starting?
- The bottle itself. Not a photo of the front. The side panel carries the facts.
- Your full medicine list. Include vitamins, pain relievers and herbs.
- The five names. Name them aloud, starting with St. John's wort, then ginkgo, bacopa, vinpocetine and huperzine A.
- One direct question. Could any of this weaken, or add to, what I already take?
If something feels wrong later, stop the capsules, call your doctor and report it to FDA MedWatch at 800-FDA-1088.(FDA MedWatch)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who should not take SonoVive?
Anyone pregnant, who could become pregnant, or who is breastfeeding, and anyone under 18. Anyone taking antidepressants, the pill, blood thinners or dementia drugs needs a doctor's view first.
Is SonoVive safe during pregnancy?
No. FDA advises women who are pregnant, or could become pregnant, to avoid vinpocetine, a named ingredient, and it names no safe amount. Skip it while breastfeeding too.
Can I take SonoVive with antidepressants?
Only with your prescriber's okay. St. John's wort can weaken some antidepressants, and with serotonin drugs it may cause serious side effects. Do not drop an antidepressant to make room for a supplement.
Can I take SonoVive with blood thinners or aspirin?
Ask your doctor first. Ginkgo and vinpocetine can push bleeding risk up, while St. John's wort may dull warfarin. Do not change a blood thinner dose on your own.
Is SonoVive safe for people with high blood pressure?
It is not known. Vinpocetine may add to the effect of blood-pressure medicine, and no amounts are published. Check with your doctor, and watch for dizziness when you stand.
Can seniors take SonoVive?
Many can once a pharmacist has reviewed their medicines. Older adults often take blood thinners, statins or blood-pressure drugs that the named ingredients may affect. Show the pharmacist the bottle itself plus every medicine you take.
Our verdict
Our view
The short list of who should skip SonoVive is firm, and the ask-first list is long. That shape comes from the ingredients, not from any single study of the capsule, because none exists.
If you are in a skip group, the answer is no, whatever the price or the refund. If you are in an ask-first group, put the pharmacist before the order. We earn money when you order through our links, and we would still sooner lose a sale than see you take a drug clash.
If you are in none of these groups, the order page shows the price and the 60-day refund terms before you pay.We earn money when you buy through our order links. The price you pay stays the same.
See today's price and guaranteeLast updated .
This page is general information, not medical advice. SonoVive is a dietary supplement. It is not FDA approved, and no supplement is. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own health and medicines.