Lion's Mane and Medicines: What Is and Is Not Known

Safety first. None of the sources we read describes a tested, confirmed interaction between lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) and a specific medicine. That is not proof that none exists: it mostly reflects how little has been studied. Herbal supplements "can also interact with some medications," according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). [1] Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about every supplement, and never stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. See how interactions work for how to raise the question. For trouble breathing, a swollen face or throat, or hives, get emergency help (911 in the US).

What the sources say, by medicine group

We searched PubMed for Hericium together with the words drug interaction, herb-drug, anticoagulant, platelet and glucose, and read the abstracts of the relevant hits. The searches found laboratory and animal work but no human interaction trial.

Reported cases worth knowing

• A serious lung reaction (case report, 2003). A 63-year-old man in Japan developed acute respiratory distress syndrome after taking an extract formulation of lion's mane. His lymphocytes reacted strongly to the extract in a laboratory test, and he recovered with steroid treatment under mechanical ventilation. [7] This is a single case and does not show how often it happens, but it is the reason the allergy warning above matters. See side effects and allergy.
• Liver tests in a cancer patient (case report, 2025). A woman with metastatic colorectal cancer had abnormal liver tests before chemotherapy and was found to be taking capsules of powder from two mushrooms, Agaricus blazei and lion's mane. Her liver tests improved after the supplement was stopped. The authors linked the change to the Agaricus component, not to lion's mane. [8] Separately, the NIH LiverTox review says lion's mane has not been linked to liver enzyme rises or clinically apparent liver injury. [9] Mixed products make it hard to tell which ingredient is responsible. See kidneys, oxalates and the liver.
• Safety review in blood-disease clinics (2025). In an Israeli service where pharmacists checked supplements for people with blood diseases, most potential interactions found across all herbs were theoretical rather than confirmed. One patient developed leg swelling and worse nerve pain after lion's mane was recommended, with the authors rating the link as probable. [10]

Before surgery

What to bring to an appointment

• The product itself or a photo of the label, including the part of the mushroom named (fruiting body, mycelium) and any other ingredients.
• A list of every prescription, over-the-counter medicine and supplement.
• Any new symptom since starting, such as a rash, cough, swelling or stomach upset.

Quality also matters: the National Cancer Institute notes that supplement ingredients "may vary considerably from lot to lot." [12] See quality testing and certifications and the wider guide to mushroom supplements and medicines. For questions about blood thinners or diabetes medicines in general, see supplements and blood thinners and supplements and diabetes medicines.