Drug & supplement interaction

Cocoa + Ticlopidine

Ticlopidine brand names: Ticlid, Ticlopidine.

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

Ticlopidine falls into 3 drug categories that Cocoa can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Cocoa and Ticlopidine

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Cocoa interacts with whole categories of medication. Ticlopidine falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Cocoa in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) INHIBITORS

1 of 3

Why this applies to Ticlopidine

Ticlopidine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) INHIBITORS — the group Cocoa interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.
Cocoa contains caffeine. Caffeine is metabolized by cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2),. Theoretically, drugs that inhibit CYP1A2 may decrease the clearance rate of caffeine from cocoa and increase caffeine levels.
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 a twist worth knowing: this interaction isn't really about your Ticlopidine (Ticlid) changing. It's the other way around. Ticlopidine can slow down a liver enzyme called CYP1A2, and that same enzyme is what your body uses to break down caffeine. Cocoa naturally contains a little caffeine, so in theory the caffeine could hang around longer and build up a bit while you're on this medicine.

If that happens, you might feel more caffeine-like effects: jitteriness, a faster heartbeat, trouble sleeping, or feeling wired. Keep in mind this is a theoretical concern based on how the drug works, not strong proof. A normal cup of cocoa or a chocolate treat is unlikely to be a problem. Concentrated cocoa supplements are where I'd be more cautious. If you notice the jitters, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Weisburger JH. Tea and health: the underlying mechanisms. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1999;220:271-5. PubMed
  2. Hagg S, Spigset O, Mjorndal T, Dahlqvist R. Effect of caffeine on clozapine pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2000;49:59-63. PubMed
  3. Carrillo JA, Benitez J. Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications. Clin Pharmacokinet 2000;39:127-53. PubMed
  4. Kot, M. and Daniel, W. A. Effect of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and ticlopidine on CYP1A2 activity and caffeine metabolism: an in vitro comparative study with human cDNA-expressed CYP1A2 and liver microsomes. Pharmacol Rep. 2009;61(6):1216-1220. PubMed
  5. Wojcikowski, J. and Daniel, W. A. Perazine at therapeutic drug concentrations inhibits human cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 1A2 (CYP1A2) and caffeine metabolism--an in vitro study. Pharmacol Rep. 2009;61(5):851-858. PubMed
  6. Wang, X. and Yeung, J. H. Effects of the aqueous extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge on caffeine pharmacokinetics and liver microsomal CYP1A2 activity in humans and rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2010;62(8):1077-1083.
  7. Kot M, Daniel WA. Caffeine as a marker substrate for testing cytochrome P450 activity in human and rat. Pharmacol Rep 2008;60:789-97.
  8. Kjaerstad MB, Nielsen F, Nohr-Jensen L, et al. Systemic uptake of miconazole during vaginal suppository use and effect on CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 associated enzyme activities in women. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2010;66:1189-97. PubMed
  9. Goh BC, Reddy NJ, Dandamudi UB, et al. An evaluation of the drug interaction potential of pazopanib, an oral vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, using a modified Cooperstown 5+1 cocktail in patients with advanced solid t
  10. Chen Y, Kang Z, Yan J, et al. Liu wei di huang wan, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine induces CYP1A2 while suppressing CYP2A6 and N-acetyltransferase 2 acivities in man. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;132:213-8.
  11. Suzuki S, Murayama Y, Sugiyama E, et al. Estimating pediatric doses of drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes, based on physiological liver development and serum protein levels. Yakugaku Zasshi 2010;130:613-20. PubMed
  12. Chien CF, Wu YT, Lee WC, et al. Herb-drug interaction of Andrographis paniculata extract and andrographolide on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in rats. Chem Biol Interact 2010;184:458-65. PubMed
  13. Mills BM, Zaya MJ, Walters RR, et al. Current cytochrome P450 phenotyping methods applied to metabolic drug -drug interaction prediction in dogs. Drug Metab Dispos 2010;38:396-404. PubMed
  14. Turpault S, Brian W, Van Horn R, et al. Pharmacokinetic assessment of a five-probe cocktail for CYPs 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2009;68:928-35. PubMed
  15. Filimonova AA, Ziganshina LE, Ziganshin AU, Chichirov AA. On the possibility of patient phenotyping on the basis of cytochrome p-450 1A2 isoenzyme activity using caffeine as the test substrate. Eksp Klin Farmakol 2009;72:61-5.
  16. Jenkins J, Williams D, Deng Y, et al. Eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, has no impact on the pharmacokinetic profile of probe drugs for cytochrome P450 isoenzymes CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in healthy men: a cocktail analysis.
  17. Perera, V., Gross, A. S., and McLachlan, A. J. Caffeine and paraxanthine HPLC assay for CYP1A2 phenotype assessment using saliva and plasma. Biomed.Chromatogr. 2010;24(10):1136-1144. PubMed
  18. Izzo, A. A. and Ernst, E. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. Drugs 2009;69(13):1777-1798. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 3

Ticlopidine also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Theoretically, cocoa may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Clinical research shows that intake of cocoa can inhibit platelet adhesion, aggregation, and activity and increase aspirin-induced bleeding time. For patients on dual antiplatelet therapy, cocoa may enhance the inhibitory effect of clopidogrel, but not aspirin, on 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

Here's the thing to know if you're taking ticlopidine (Ticlid): it's already a strong platelet blocker, meaning it keeps your blood cells from clumping into clots. Cocoa contains flavanols that, on their own, can gently nudge platelets in the same direction. So when you stack the two, you're theoretically pushing harder against clotting, which could mean a little more bruising, nosebleeds, or longer bleeding from small cuts.

I want to be honest about the strength of this: it's theoretical, based on how cocoa behaves rather than solid studies in people on ticlopidine. A cup of hot chocolate or a square of dark chocolate is very unlikely to cause trouble. Concentrated cocoa supplements are where I'd pause. Before adding one, run it by your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Dietrich R, Paglieroni TG, Wun T, et al. Cocoa inhibits platelet activation and function. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:30-5. PubMed
  2. Flammer AJ, Hermann F, Sudano I, et al. Dark chocolate improves coronary vasomotion and reduces platelet reactivity. Circulation 2007;116:2376-82. PubMed
  3. Zubair, M. H., Zubair, M. H., Zubair, M. N., Zubair, M. M., Aftab, T., and Asad, F. Augmentation of anti-platelet effects of aspirin. J Pak Med.Assoc. 2011;61(3):304-307.
  4. Rein, D., Paglieroni, T. G., Wun, T., Pearson, D. A., Schmitz, H. H., Gosselin, R., and Keen, C. L. Cocoa inhibits platelet activation and function. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72(1):30-35. PubMed
  5. Pearson, D. A., Paglieroni, T. G., Rein, D., Wun, T., Schramm, D. D., Wang, J. F., Holt, R. R., Gosselin, R., Schmitz, H. H., and Keen, C. L. The effects of flavanol-rich cocoa and aspirin on ex vivo platelet function. Thromb.Res 5-15-2002;106(4-5):191-1 PubMed
  6. Murphy, K. J., Chronopoulos, A. K., Singh, I., Francis, M. A., Moriarty, H., Pike, M. J., Turner, A. H., Mann, N. J., and Sinclair, A. J. Dietary flavanols and procyanidin oligomers from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) inhibit platelet function. Am J Clin Nutr 2 PubMed
  7. Innes, A. J., Kennedy, G., McLaren, M., Bancroft, A. J., and Belch, J. J. Dark chocolate inhibits platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers. Platelets. 2003;14(5):325-327. PubMed
  8. Hermann, F., Spieker, L. E., Ruschitzka, F., Sudano, I., Hermann, M., Binggeli, C., Luscher, T. F., Riesen, W., Noll, G., and Corti, R. Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function. Heart 2006;92(1):119-120.
  9. Heptinstall, S., May, J., Fox, S., Kwik-Uribe, C., and Zhao, L. Cocoa flavanols and platelet and leukocyte function: recent in vitro and ex vivo studies in healthy adults. J Cardiovasc.Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S197-S205. PubMed
  10. Hamed, M. S., Gambert, S., Bliden, K. P., Bailon, O., Singla, A., Antonino, M. J., Hamed, F., Tantry, U. S., and Gurbel, P. A. Dark chocolate effect on platelet activity, C-reactive protein and lipid profile: a pilot study. South.Med J 2008;101(12):1203- PubMed
  11. Flammer, A. J., Sudano, I., Wolfrum, M., Thomas, R., Enseleit, F., Periat, D., Kaiser, P., Hirt, A., Hermann, M., Serafini, M., Leveques, A., Luscher, T. F., Ruschitzka, F., Noll, G., and Corti, R. Cardiovascular effects of flavanol-rich chocolate in pat
  12. Seecheran NA, Sukha D, Grimaldos K, et al. Effect of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) on platelet function testing profiles in patients with coronary artery disease: ECLAIR pilot study. Open Heart 2022;9(2):e002066.
Minor

TICLOPIDINE (Ticlid)

3 of 3
Theoretically, ticlopidine might increase the levels and adverse effects of caffeine.
Cocoa contains caffeine. In vitro evidence suggests that ticlopidine can inhibit caffeine metabolism. However, this effect has not been reported in humans.
Severity Minor 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 a quick way to think about this one. Cocoa naturally contains a little caffeine, and lab studies suggest ticlopidine may slow down how your body clears caffeine. In theory, that means caffeine could build up a bit, so you might feel more jittery, have trouble sleeping, notice a faster heartbeat, or feel restless. Notice the direction: it's the caffeine that may hang around longer, not your ticlopidine.

The good news is this is only seen in test-tube research and hasn't been shown in real people, so it's mostly theoretical. The cocoa in a normal treat carries very little caffeine. If you use concentrated cocoa supplements or lots of caffeine and feel off, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Kot, M. and Daniel, W. A. Effect of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and ticlopidine on CYP1A2 activity and caffeine metabolism: an in vitro comparative study with human cDNA-expressed CYP1A2 and liver microsomes. Pharmacol Rep. 2009;61(6):1216-1220. 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

Cocoa Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cocoa has 634 moderate, 26 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ticlopidine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 634 Minor 26 No known interaction 2,170 (incl. Ticlopidine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cocoa

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ticlopidine

This page covers Cocoa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ticlopidine page lists 221 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 · 193 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ticlopidine page

“Ticlopidine (Ticlid) keeps platelets from clumping to prevent clots, so it already raises bleeding risk on its own, and over 200 of the 221 supplements flagged for it push in that same direction. That stacking effect deserves genuine respect from anyone taking this drug.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ticlopidine interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 844 real supplement products containing Cocoa, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cocoa. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ticlopidine too, on top of Cocoa — 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 Cocoa and Ticlopidine 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 Cocoa
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ticlopidine
Top half

#937 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 Cocoa

What is Cocoa?

Cocoa
  • Heart and blood vessel health
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Mental focus and mood
  • Skin moisturizing (cocoa butter)

Cocoa is rich in plant compounds called flavanols that may modestly support blood vessel function and blood pressure, but most chocolate products are high in sugar, fat, and calories, which can offset any benefit. Enjoy cocoa as part of a balanced diet, and talk to your pharmacist before using concentrated cocoa supplements, especially if you have heart or blood pressure conditions.

Read the full Cocoa monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ticlopidine

What Is Ticlopidine Used For?

Brand names: Ticlid, Ticlopidine

  • Ticlopidine is used to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a stroke or have had warning signs of a stroke and who cannot be treated with aspirin. Ticlopidine is also used along with aspirin to prevent blood clots from forming in coronary stents (metal tubes surgically placed in clogged blood vessels to improve blood flow). It works by preventing platelets (a type of blood cell) from collecting and forming clots.

See full Ticlopidine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cocoa

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

0Major
634Moderate
26Minor
2,169No known interaction
634 Moderate 26 Minor 2,169 No interaction
Moderate

634 interactions

Showing 60 of 634 moderate interactions — see all 634 on the Cocoa page.

Minor

26 interactions

No interaction 2,169 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,169 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Cocoa list.

See the full Cocoa interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ticlopidine, 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
Cocoa monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ticlopidine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ticlopidine, ranked by severity Ticlopidine 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 Cocoa and Ticlopidine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Cocoa with Ticlopidine?
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.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Cocoa and Ticlopidine?
Ticlopidine belongs to more than one drug category, and Cocoa interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Cocoa and Ticlopidine 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 Ticlopidine and Cocoa?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.