Drug & supplement interaction

Andrographis + Diclofenac epolamine

Diclofenac epolamine brand names: Flector, Licart.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Andrographis has a moderate interaction with Diclofenac epolamine. Theoretically, andrographis might increase the risk of bleeding when 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

Andrographis and Diclofenac epolamine

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Diclofenac epolamine

Diclofenac epolamine falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Andrographis interacts with.

Theoretically, andrographis might increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Animal and laboratory studies suggest that andrographis has antiplatelet effects.
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

Diclofenac epolamine is the active ingredient in patches like Flector and Licart, and even though it's applied to the skin, some of it gets into your bloodstream. As an NSAID, diclofenac can already make it a little harder for your platelets to clump together and form clots, which is one reason NSAIDs can irritate the stomach and raise bleeding risk.

Here's the concern with andrographis: lab and animal studies hint that it may also have a mild blood-thinning (antiplatelet) effect. Put the two together and you could, in theory, see a slightly higher chance of bruising, nosebleeds, or stomach upset and bleeding. I want to be honest though, this is theoretical and based only on early studies, not human evidence. Still, before pairing them, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor, especially if you take other blood thinners.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Zhao HY, Fang WY. Antithrombotic effects of Andrographis paniculata nees in preventing myocardial infarction. Chin Med J (Engl) 1991;104:770-5.
  2. Amroyan E, Gabrielian E, Panossian A, et al. Inhibitory effect of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata on PAF-induced platelet aggregation. Phytomedicine 1999;6:27-31. PubMed

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

Andrographis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Andrographis has 407 moderate, 5 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Diclofenac epolamine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 407 Minor 5 No known interaction 2,418 (incl. Diclofenac epolamine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Andrographis

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Andrographis. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Diclofenac epolamine

This page covers Andrographis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Diclofenac epolamine page lists 292 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 6 major · 259 moderate · 27 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Diclofenac epolamine page

“Even as a patch, diclofenac epolamine (Flector, Licart) is still an NSAID that reaches the bloodstream, and its 292 supplement interactions call for genuine care, six of them rated major. The bulk of the list, 202 ingredients, thins the blood or slows clotting, which stacks onto an NSAID's built-in bleeding risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Diclofenac epolamine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Andrographis as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 656 real supplement products containing Andrographis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Andrographis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Diclofenac epolamine too, on top of Andrographis — 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 Andrographis and Diclofenac epolamine 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 Andrographis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Diclofenac epolamine
Top half

#845 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 Andrographis

What is Andrographis?

Andrographis
  • Common cold and flu symptoms
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Immune support
  • Digestive complaints

Andrographis is a bitter Asian herb traditionally used for colds, flu, and infections, and some studies suggest it may ease cold symptoms and shorten how long they last. The evidence is limited and the quality of studies varies, so it should not replace standard care. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy.

Read the full Andrographis monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Andrographis

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

0Major
407Moderate
5Minor
2,417No known interaction
407 Moderate 5 Minor 2,417 No interaction
Moderate

407 interactions

Showing 60 of 407 moderate interactions — see all 407 on the Andrographis page.

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,417 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Andrographis against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,417 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Andrographis list.

See the full Andrographis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Diclofenac epolamine, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Andrographis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Diclofenac epolamine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Diclofenac epolamine, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Andrographis and Diclofenac epolamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Andrographis with Diclofenac epolamine?
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 Andrographis and Diclofenac epolamine 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 Diclofenac epolamine and Andrographis?

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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.