Food and medication
Herbal supplements and medication
Some herbal and high-dose supplements thin the blood, change blood sugar or change how your body clears medicines.
8 medicines on our checker are affected, and for 1 the advice is to avoid it. Tap a medicine for every food and drink that matters with it.
Avoid herbal supplements with these medicines
- Olanzapine · Zyprexa
CBD (cannabidiol) might affect how olanzapine works, so do not take it.
Where this comes from
“Cannabidiol (also known as CBD) might affect how olanzapine works. Do not take cannabidiol while you're taking olanzapine.”
Information from the NHS website
Take care herbal supplements with these medicines
- Carbimazole
Some herbal remedies and supplements can affect how carbimazole works, including black cohosh.
Where this comes from
“Some herbal remedies and supplements can affect the way carbimazole works. This includes black cohosh, sometimes taken to help with menopausal symptoms.”
Information from the NHS website - Clopidogrel · Grepid, Plavix
Some herbal remedies and supplements can affect your blood. Ginkgo is a particular concern.
Where this comes from
“There might be a problem with taking some herbal remedies and supplements with clopidogrel, especially ones that can affect your blood (for example, ginkgo).”
Information from the NHS website - Dipyridamole · Attia
Some herbal remedies and supplements may affect your blood; ginkgo is specifically mentioned.
Where this comes from
“There might be a problem with taking some herbal remedies and supplements with dipyridamole, especially ones that can affect your blood, such as ginkgo.”
Information from the NHS website - DOACs · apixaban, eliquis, rivaroxaban
Some supplements add to bleeding risk. Tell your prescriber before starting one.
- Empagliflozin · Jardiance
Some herbal products such as karela, turmeric and ginseng can potentially cause low blood sugar.
Where this comes from
“However, some herbal products such as karela, turmeric and ginseng can potentially cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).”
Information from the NHS website - Risperidone
Ginkgo biloba can increase side effects. Check with your pharmacist before taking herbal remedies or supplements.
Where this comes from
“ginkgo biloba – this can increase the side effects of risperidone”
Information from the NHS website - Warfarin · coumarin, vitamin k antagonist
Several herbal and high-dose supplements change bleeding risk. Tell your anticoagulant clinic before starting one.
Foods and drinks that count as herbal supplements
- Ginkgo biloba
- Ginseng
- Garlic supplements
- Turmeric supplements
- High-dose fish oil
- Echinacea
- Valerian
- Milk thistle
- Evening primrose oil
- Ginger supplements
- Kava
- Green tea extract
- Vitamin E supplements
- Saw palmetto
- Black cohosh
- Ashwagandha
- CBD oil
- Dong quai
- Feverfew
- Coenzyme Q10
- Glucosamine
Common questions
- Which medicines does herbal supplements affect?
- 8 medicines on our checker: Olanzapine (avoid), Carbimazole (take care), Clopidogrel (take care), Dipyridamole (take care), DOACs (take care), Empagliflozin (take care), Risperidone (take care), Warfarin (take care).
- Which foods count as herbal supplements?
- Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Garlic supplements, Turmeric supplements, High-dose fish oil, Echinacea, Valerian, Milk thistle, Evening primrose oil, Ginger supplements, Kava, Green tea extract, Vitamin E supplements, Saw palmetto, Black cohosh, Ashwagandha, CBD oil, Dong quai, Feverfew, Coenzyme Q10, Glucosamine.
General information from NHS medicine pages and drug labels, not medical advice. Always follow your prescriber, pharmacist or the leaflet with your medicine. How we check.