Is Ginkgo Safe with Apixaban?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Do NOT take ginkgo biloba supplements while on apixaban. This combination is strongly discouraged. If you are currently taking both, consult your physician immediately without stopping either medication on your own.
Why this interaction occurs
Ginkgo biloba contains ginkgolides, which are potent platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists that significantly inhibit platelet aggregation. This antiplatelet activity combined with apixaban's Factor Xa inhibition creates a high-risk synergistic effect that substantially increases the risk of serious bleeding events, including intracranial hemorrhage.
Evidence
Evidence level: strong.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 67,478 reports mentioning Apixaban. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Apixaban + 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 Ginkgo interactions → · All Apixaban interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.