Drug & supplement interaction

Alpha-lipoic Acid + Abciximab

Abciximab brand name: ReoPro.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Alpha-lipoic Acid has a moderate interaction with Abciximab. Theoretically, alpha-lipoic acid may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Alpha-lipoic Acid and Abciximab

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Abciximab

Abciximab falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Alpha-lipoic Acid interacts with.

Theoretically, alpha-lipoic acid may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro, alpha-lipoic acid inhibits platelet aggregation.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Abciximab (ReoPro) is a strong IV antiplatelet drug given in the hospital during procedures like heart stenting. Its whole job is to stop platelets from clumping, which lowers your risk of dangerous clots but naturally raises your bleeding risk. Here's the concern with alpha-lipoic acid: in lab studies, ALA also seemed to slow down platelet clumping. So in theory, stacking it on top of abciximab could nudge your bleeding risk a little higher (think easier bruising, bleeding gums, or oozing at IV or puncture sites).

I want to be honest, though: this is only test-tube evidence, not real patient data, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. Still, since abciximab is used in serious situations, mention any ALA supplement to your care team so they can keep an eye on you.

References
  1. Karkabounas S, Papadopoulos N, Anastasiadou C, et al. Effects of a-lipoic Acid, carnosine, and thiamine supplementation in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized, double-blind study. J Med Food. 2018;21(12):1197-1203.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Alpha-lipoic Acid Also Interacts With Other Medications

Alpha-lipoic Acid has 176 moderate, 86 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Abciximab one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Alpha-lipoic Acid

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Alpha-lipoic Acid. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Abciximab

This page covers Alpha-lipoic Acid only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Abciximab page lists 218 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), Aconite (moderate) and Allspice (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 190 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Abciximab page

“Because abciximab (ReoPro) exists to stop platelets from clotting during heart procedures like angioplasty, nearly all of the 218 supplements on this list pull in one direction. Some 202 have antiplatelet or blood-thinning activity of their own, and adding that on top of abciximab can raise bleeding risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Abciximab interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Alpha-lipoic Acid as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 4,223 real supplement products containing Alpha-lipoic Acid, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Alpha-lipoic Acid. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Abciximab too, on top of Alpha-lipoic Acid — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Alpha-lipoic Acid and Abciximab Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Alpha-lipoic Acid
Top 5%

#34 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Abciximab
Steady interest

#1,547 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Alpha-lipoic Acid

What is Alpha-lipoic Acid?

Alpha-lipoic Acid
  • Diabetic nerve pain (neuropathy)
  • Blood sugar support in diabetes
  • Antioxidant support
  • Liver health
  • Skin aging (topical and oral)

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant made naturally by the body and found in small amounts in foods. It is most studied for diabetic nerve pain, where some evidence suggests it may help, but evidence for most other uses is limited. It is generally well tolerated, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have diabetes or thyroid problems.

Read the full Alpha-lipoic Acid monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Alpha-lipoic Acid

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Alpha-lipoic Acid — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
176Moderate
86Minor
2,567No known interaction
Moderate

176 interactions

Showing 60 of 176 moderate interactions — see all 176 on the Alpha-lipoic Acid page.

Minor

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 minor interactions — see all 86 on the Alpha-lipoic Acid page.

No interaction 2,567 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Alpha-lipoic Acid and Abciximab Together: Common Questions

Can you take Alpha-lipoic Acid with Abciximab?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Alpha-lipoic Acid and Abciximab interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Abciximab and Alpha-lipoic Acid?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.