Drug & supplement interaction

Dandelion + Lepirudin

Lepirudin brand name: Refludan.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Dandelion has a moderate interaction with Lepirudin. Theoretically, taking dandelion root along with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

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

Dandelion 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 Dandelion interacts with.

Theoretically, taking dandelion root along with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
In vitro research suggests that dandelion root inhibits 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 simple version. Lepirudin (Refludan) is a powerful injectable blood thinner given in the hospital, usually for people who can't use heparin. It directly blocks a clotting protein called thrombin, so it already lowers your ability to form clots. Dandelion, mostly the root, has been shown in lab dish studies to make platelets (the cells that help plug a bleed) a little less sticky.

Stacking these two could, in theory, add up to more bruising or bleeding. But I want to be honest with you: this concern comes only from test-tube research, not from people, so it's far from proven. Food amounts of dandelion are unlikely to matter much. Since Lepirudin is used in a closely monitored hospital setting, your care team should know about any supplements. Always check with them before adding concentrated dandelion.

References
  1. Neef H, Cilli F, Declerck PJ, et al. Platelet anti-aggregating activity of Taraxacum officinale Weber. Phytotherapy Research 1996;10:s138-s140.

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

Dandelion Also Interacts With Other Medications

Dandelion has 456 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.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dandelion

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Dandelion or Lepirudin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Dandelion or Lepirudin, 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 Lepirudin

This page covers Dandelion 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

One more smart check

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

We hold 4,328 real supplement products containing Dandelion, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Dandelion. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Lepirudin too, on top of Dandelion — 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 Dandelion 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 Dandelion
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lepirudin
Steady interest

#2,395 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 Dandelion

What is Dandelion?

Dandelion
  • Water retention (diuretic)
  • Digestive upset
  • Liver and gallbladder support
  • Mild appetite stimulant
  • Skin conditions

Dandelion is a common plant used in food and traditional medicine, often promoted as a natural 'water pill' and digestive aid. Human evidence for these uses is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. It is generally considered safe as a food, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements, especially if you have allergies or take other medicines.

Read the full Dandelion monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dandelion

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

0Major
456Moderate
0Minor
2,373No known interaction
Moderate

456 interactions

Showing 60 of 456 moderate interactions — see all 456 on the Dandelion page.

No interaction 2,373 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dandelion and Lepirudin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dandelion with 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 Dandelion 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 Dandelion?

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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.