Drug & supplement interaction

Codonopsis + Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug)

Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) brand name: Vascepa.

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

Codonopsis has a moderate interaction with Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug). Theoretically, codonopsis liquor might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

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

Codonopsis and Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug)

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug)

Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Codonopsis interacts with.

Theoretically, codonopsis liquor might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.
A small clinical study in adults with coronary heart disease shows that consuming Codonopsis pilosula liquor for 4 weeks inhibits platelet aggregation but does not affect tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI).
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 Vascepa (icosapent ethyl). It's a purified fish oil (EPA), and on its own it can gently nudge your blood toward being a little less likely to clot. Codonopsis (dang shen) may do something similar. A small study found that a codonopsis liquor lowered platelet stickiness in people with heart disease. Stack the two together and the effects could add up.

This isn't about codonopsis breaking down the drug or building it up. It's simply two things that each thin the blood a touch. Watch for easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or cuts that are slow to stop. The evidence here is fairly thin and the risk is modest, but if you're on a blood thinner too, please run this by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Xu, X., Wang, S. R., and Lin, Q. [Clinical and experimental study on codonopsis pilosula oral liquor in treating coronary heart disease with blood stasis]. Zhongguo Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi. 1995;15(7):398-400.

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

Codonopsis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Codonopsis has 210 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 210 No known interaction 2,620 (incl. Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Codonopsis

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug)

This page covers Codonopsis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) 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 Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) page

“Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) is a purified fish oil medication prescribed to lower triglycerides and cut heart attack risk, and it can thin the blood a little on its own. That is exactly why this list deserves real attention before you add a supplement.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 493 real supplement products containing Codonopsis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Codonopsis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) too, on top of Codonopsis — 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 Codonopsis and Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) 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 Codonopsis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug)
Steady interest

#1,936 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 Codonopsis

What is Codonopsis?

  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Digestive support and poor appetite
  • Immune support
  • General tonic ('qi' tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine)
  • Cough and weakness during recovery from illness

Codonopsis (often called 'dang shen') is a root long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a gentle energy and digestive tonic, frequently as a milder substitute for ginseng. Human research is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. It appears reasonably well tolerated in food-like amounts, but you should talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a health condition.

Read the full Codonopsis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Icosapent Ethyl

What Is Icosapent Ethyl Used For?

Brand name: Vascepa

Icosapent ethyl capsules are approved to lower triglyceride levels in adults with severely elevated triglycerides (500 mg/dL or higher), used alongside a healthy diet. This applies to icosapent ethyl capsules across multiple products.

Vascepa has an additional approved use: when added to maximally tolerated statin therapy, it can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, coronary artery procedures, and unstable angina requiring hospitalization in adults with elevated triglycerides who also have established cardiovascular disease, or type 2 diabetes plus at least two other cardiovascular risk factors. Note: whether icosapent ethyl reduces the risk of pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas) in people with very high triglycerides has not been established.

See full Icosapent Ethyl drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Codonopsis

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

0Major
210Moderate
0Minor
2,619No known interaction
210 Moderate 2,619 No interaction
Moderate

210 interactions

Showing 60 of 210 moderate interactions — see all 210 on the Codonopsis page.

No interaction 2,619 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,619 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Codonopsis list.

See the full Codonopsis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug), 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
Codonopsis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug), ranked by severity Icosapent Ethyl 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 Codonopsis and Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Codonopsis with Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug)?
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 Codonopsis and Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) 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 Icosapent Ethyl (prescription drug) and Codonopsis?

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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.