Drug & supplement interaction

Black Currant + Pentoxifylline

Pentoxifylline brand name: Trental.

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

Black Currant has a moderate interaction with Pentoxifylline. Theoretically, black currant seed oil might increase the risk of bleeding if used in combination 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

Black Currant and Pentoxifylline

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Pentoxifylline

Pentoxifylline falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Black Currant interacts with.

Theoretically, black currant seed oil might increase the risk of bleeding if used in combination with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a constituent of black currant seed oil, appears to have 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

Here's the thing to keep in mind with this pairing. Pentoxifylline already works by making your blood less thick and easier to flow, and it has a mild effect on platelets (the cells that help you clot). Black currant seed oil contains GLA, which on paper may also nudge platelets toward clotting a little less easily. Stack those two together and, in theory, you could tip slightly toward easier bruising or bleeding.

I want to be honest about how strong this concern is. This is a theoretical interaction based on how the compounds behave, not on real reports in people, so it's nothing to panic over. Watch for signs like easy bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding gums. Eating black currant as a food is very unlikely to matter, but before starting a concentrated supplement, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
  2. Norred, C. L. and Brinker, F. Potential coagulation effects of preoperative complementary and alternative medicines. Alt Ther 2001;7(6):58-67.

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

Black Currant Also Interacts With Other Medications

Black Currant has 139 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Pentoxifylline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 139 No known interaction 2,691 (incl. Pentoxifylline)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Black Currant

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Black Currant or Pentoxifylline

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Black Currant or Pentoxifylline, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Pentoxifylline

This page covers Black Currant only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pentoxifylline 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 Pentoxifylline page

“Pentoxifylline (Trental) improves blood flow in people with poor leg circulation partly by making platelets less sticky, so treat this list as one to read carefully rather than skim. Of the 218 supplements on file, 202 can also slow clotting, which means adding them stacks bleeding risk on bleeding risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pentoxifylline interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,265 real supplement products containing Black Currant, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Black Currant. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Pentoxifylline too, on top of Black Currant — 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 Black Currant and Pentoxifylline 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 Black Currant
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Pentoxifylline
Top half

#842 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 Black Currant

What is Black Currant?

Black Currant
  • Dry eyes and eye strain
  • Joint pain and inflammation
  • Immune and general wellness support
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Skin conditions (such as dry skin or eczema)

Black currant is a nutritious berry that is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and its seed oil contains the omega-6 fatty acid GLA. While it is enjoyed safely as a food and is popular as a supplement, solid human evidence for most health claims is still limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.

Read the full Black Currant monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Pentoxifylline

What Is Pentoxifylline Used For?

Brand name: Trental

Pentoxifylline Extended-Release Tablets are used to treat intermittent claudication — leg pain, cramping, or fatigue that happens during walking because narrowed arteries aren't delivering enough blood to the muscles. The underlying cause is chronic occlusive arterial disease, a condition where the arteries in the limbs become blocked or narrowed over time.

Pentoxifylline can help improve walking distance and reduce symptoms, but it is not a substitute for procedures that physically open or bypass blocked arteries when those treatments are needed.

See full Pentoxifylline drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Black Currant

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

0Major
139Moderate
0Minor
2,690No known interaction
139 Moderate 2,690 No interaction
Moderate

139 interactions

Showing 60 of 139 moderate interactions — see all 139 on the Black Currant page.

No interaction 2,690 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,690 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Black Currant list.

See the full Black Currant interactions page
See every supplement checked against Pentoxifylline, 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
Black Currant monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Pentoxifylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Pentoxifylline, ranked by severity Pentoxifylline drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Black Currant and Pentoxifylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Black Currant with Pentoxifylline?
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 Black Currant and Pentoxifylline 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 Pentoxifylline and Black Currant?

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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.