Drug & supplement interaction

Blood Irradiation Therapy + Lepirudin

Lepirudin brand name: Refludan.

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

Blood Irradiation Therapy has a moderate interaction with Lepirudin. Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation.

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

Blood Irradiation Therapy and Lepirudin

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Lepirudin

Lepirudin falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Blood Irradiation Therapy interacts with.

Preliminary clinical research suggests that blood irradiation therapy might reduce platelet aggregation. Case reports also suggest that blood irradiation therapy may be associated with an increased risk of nasal bleeding. Theoretically, blood irradiation therapy might increase the risk of bleeding when used concomitantly with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs.
Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
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 know if you're looking at blood irradiation therapy while on lepirudin (Refludan). Lepirudin is a powerful injectable blood thinner that directly blocks thrombin, so it already raises your bleeding risk on its own. It's typically given in a hospital setting for clotting problems like heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

The concern here is that blood irradiation therapy may, in theory, reduce how well platelets clump together, and there have been a few reports of nosebleeds linked to it. Stack that on top of lepirudin and you could, at least on paper, see more bleeding, things like easy bruising, prolonged bleeding, or nosebleeds. I'll be honest: this is theoretical, based on how things work rather than strong studies. Still, with a potent anticoagulant like this, play it safe and check with your doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Marochkov AV, Doronin VA, Kravtsov NN. [Complications in ultraviolet irradiation of the blood]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1990;(4):55-6.
  2. Subbotina LA, Radchenko SN, Golovkina OL, Bubeev IuA. [Hemoaggregation dynamics in human-operator during percutaneous laser blood irradiation]. Aviakosm Ekolog Med 2009;43(3):56-60.
  3. Ovcharova AP. [The quantum gravitational therapy of myocarditis]. Lik Sprava 1999;(3):95-7.

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

Blood Irradiation Therapy Also Interacts With Other Medications

Blood Irradiation Therapy has 326 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Lepirudin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 326 No known interaction 2,504 (incl. Lepirudin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Blood Irradiation Therapy

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lepirudin

This page covers Blood Irradiation Therapy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lepirudin 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 Lepirudin page

“Lepirudin (Refludan) is a potent injectable blood thinner, typically given when heparin has caused a dangerous platelet reaction, and that makes this a list to read with real care. Of the 218 supplements and herbs with interactions on file, 202 can slow clotting on their own, piling extra bleeding risk onto a drug whose chief hazard is…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lepirudin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Blood Irradiation Therapy and Lepirudin 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 Blood Irradiation Therapy
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lepirudin
Top half

#1,332 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.

Treatment approach

About Blood Irradiation Therapy

What is Blood Irradiation Therapy?

  • Chronic infections
  • Immune support
  • Fatigue and general wellness
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Circulatory complaints

Blood Irradiation Therapy is a medical procedure—not a dietary supplement or herb—in which blood is exposed to ultraviolet or laser light, either outside the body and re-infused or by an intravenous light device. It is not approved by the U.S. FDA for treating any disease, and high-quality evidence supporting modern claims is very limited. If you are considering it, talk with a qualified physician and treat any clinic marketing it for serious illness with strong caution.

Read the full Blood Irradiation Therapy monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Blood Irradiation Therapy

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

0Major
326Moderate
0Minor
2,503No known interaction
326 Moderate 2,503 No interaction
Moderate

326 interactions

Showing 60 of 326 moderate interactions — see all 326 on the Blood Irradiation Therapy page.

No interaction 2,503 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,503 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Blood Irradiation Therapy list.

See the full Blood Irradiation Therapy interactions page
See every supplement checked against Lepirudin, 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
Blood Irradiation Therapy monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Lepirudin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Lepirudin, 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

Having Blood Irradiation Therapy While Taking Lepirudin: Common Questions

Can you have Blood Irradiation Therapy while taking Lepirudin?
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 Blood Irradiation Therapy and Lepirudin 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 Lepirudin and Blood Irradiation Therapy?

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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.