Drug & supplement interaction

Danshen + Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate

Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate brand name: Aspirin w/ Codeine.

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

Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate falls into 2 drug categories that Danshen can interact with; the most serious is rated major. Theoretically, danshen may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Danshen and Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Danshen interacts with whole categories of medication. Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Danshen in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Major).

Major

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate

Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Danshen interacts with.

Theoretically, danshen may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Danshen has been reported to have antithrombotic effects. Animal research also suggests that taking a danshen combination formula with clopidogrel exhibits a synergistic increase in antiplatelet aggregation and prolongation of coagulation time when compared with either taken alone.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing with this combo: the aspirin part of your medicine is already a blood thinner. It keeps your platelets from clumping together so they can form clots. Danshen seems to do something similar, so stacking the two could push your blood toward thinning more than you want.

In real life, that means a higher chance of easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or stomach bleeding (aspirin is already rough on the stomach lining). To be fair, this warning leans on lab, animal, and anecdotal reports, not solid human trials, so it's more of a caution than a certainty. The codeine piece isn't really part of this. Still, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before pairing them, especially before any surgery or dental work.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:1221-7. DOI
  2. Yin QS, Chen L, Mi RH, Ai H, Yin JJ, Liu XJ, Wei XD. Efficacy and safety of danshen compound tablets in preventing thalidomide-associated thromboembolism in patients with multiple myeloma: a multicenter retrospective study. Med Sci Monit. 2016 Oct 20;22:3 PubMed
  3. Zheng D, Zhang W, Hou M, et al. Evaluation of herb-drug interactions between compound Danshen dripping pills and clopidogrel based on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in rats. Biomed Chromatogr. 2023;37(9):e5684. PubMed
Moderate

ASPIRIN

2 of 2
Theoretically, danshen may increase the levels of aspirin and the risk of bleeding.
Research in healthy adult males shows that taking a combination of danshen and kudzu with aspirin increases plasma aspirin area under the curve by approximately 3.4-fold. Animal research also shows that taking a combination of danshen and kudzu (danshen-gegen formula) with aspirin increases maximal blood levels of aspirin and salicylic acid by approximately 4-fold and 3.7-fold, respectively, without impacting blood loss. Taking danshen increases the antiplatelet activity of aspirin and might increase the side effects of aspirin.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

The medicine you're asking about pairs aspirin with codeine, and it's the aspirin side that matters here. Danshen seems to do two things with aspirin: a study in healthy men found it raised aspirin blood levels several-fold, and danshen on its own can also thin the blood a little. Stacked together, that means more of aspirin's blood-thinning punch, which can show up as easy bruising, nosebleeds, stomach upset, or even bleeding in the gut.

Keep in mind much of this comes from small human and animal studies, often using a danshen-kudzu combo, so the real-world size of the effect in any one person isn't certain. Still, because we're talking about bleeding risk, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them. Please don't start or stop anything on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Zhou L, Wang S, Zhang Z, Lau BS, Fung KP, Leung PC, Zuo Z. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction of Danshen-Gegen extract with warfarin and aspirin. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Sep 28;143(2):648-55. PubMed
  2. Zhang Y, Yang M, Ho NJ, et al. Is it safe to take Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza - Radix Pueraria Lobate product with warfarin and aspirin? A pilot study in healthy human subjects. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Nov 15;262:113151. 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

Danshen Also Interacts With Other Medications

Danshen has 122 major, 936 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 122 Moderate 936 No known interaction 1,772 (incl. Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Danshen

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate

This page covers Danshen only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate page lists 327 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major) and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major).

By severity: 11 major · 281 moderate · 35 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate page

“Aspirin with codeine pairs a blood-thinning pain reliever with an opioid, and the 327 ingredients on this page reflect both halves, so this combination deserves genuine care before any supplement joins it. Most of the list, over 200 ingredients, can add to aspirin's effect on platelets and raise bleeding risk.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 18 real supplement products containing Danshen, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Danshen. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate too, on top of Danshen — 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 Danshen and Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate 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 Danshen
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate
Top half

#874 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 Danshen

What is Danshen?

Danshen
  • Heart and circulation support
  • Angina (chest pain)
  • High blood pressure
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Liver health

Danshen is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly for heart and circulation problems. Some early research is promising, but the evidence is not strong enough to confirm it works for any condition, and it may affect blood clotting. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you take other medicines or have a health condition.

Read the full Danshen monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Danshen

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

122Major
936Moderate
0Minor
1,771No known interaction
122 Major 936 Moderate 1,771 No interaction
Major

122 interactions

Showing 60 of 122 major interactions — see all 122 on the Danshen page.

Moderate

936 interactions

Showing 60 of 936 moderate interactions — see all 936 on the Danshen page.

No interaction 1,771 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,771 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Danshen list.

See the full Danshen interactions page
See every supplement checked against Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate, 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
Danshen monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate, 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

Taking Danshen and Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Danshen with Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Danshen and Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate?
Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate belongs to more than one drug category, and Danshen 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 Danshen and Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Aspirin, Codeine Phosphate and Danshen?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.