Drug & supplement interaction

Fennel + Alteplase, tPA

Alteplase, tPA brand names: Activase, Actilyse.

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

Fennel has a moderate interaction with Alteplase, tPA. Theoretically, fennel might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

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

Fennel and Alteplase, tPA

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Alteplase, tPA

Alteplase, tPA falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Fennel interacts with.

Theoretically, fennel might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

Animal research suggests that fennel oil has antithrombotic and antiplatelet effects.
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 situation with fennel and alteplase (tPA). Alteplase is a powerful clot-busting drug given in the hospital for things like strokes and heart attacks. Its whole job is to dissolve clots, so bleeding is already its main risk. The concern on file is that fennel, in lab and animal studies, seems to have mild blood-thinning and anti-clotting effects. Stacked on top of tPA, the worry is theoretically more bleeding.

That said, I want to keep this in perspective. This is theoretical, based only on animal and test-tube data, and tPA is given as a one-time emergency treatment under close monitoring. Fennel in cooking amounts is very unlikely to matter. If you take concentrated fennel supplements or the essential oil, mention it to your medical team.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Tognolini, M., Ballabeni, V., Bertoni, S., Bruni, R., Impicciatore, M., and Barocelli, E. Protective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil and anethole in an experimental model of thrombosis. Pharmacol.Res 2007;56(3):254-260. PubMed
  2. Tognolini, M., Barocelli, E., Ballabeni, V., Bruni, R., Bianchi, A., Chiavarini, M., and Impicciatore, M. Comparative screening of plant essential oils: phenylpropanoid moiety as basic core for antiplatelet activity. Life Sci. 2-23-2006;78(13):1419-1432. 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

Fennel Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fennel has 739 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Alteplase, tPA one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 739 No known interaction 2,091 (incl. Alteplase, tPA)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fennel

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Fennel or Alteplase, tPA

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

This page covers Fennel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Alteplase, tPA page lists 219 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 · 191 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Alteplase, tPA page

“Nobody plans to receive alteplase (Activase, tPA). It arrives by IV in an emergency to dissolve the clot behind a stroke or heart attack, so the supplements already in your system at that moment matter, and this list deserves real weight.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Alteplase, tPA interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2,219 real supplement products containing Fennel, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fennel. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Alteplase, tPA too, on top of Fennel — 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 Fennel and Alteplase, tPA 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 Fennel
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Alteplase, tPA
Steady interest

#1,775 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 Fennel

What is Fennel?

Fennel
  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Infant colic
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Cough and respiratory complaints
  • Breast milk support (traditional)

Fennel is a Mediterranean herb widely used as a food and spice, and traditionally taken for digestive complaints, colic, and menstrual cramps. Some small studies suggest possible benefit for certain stomach and menstrual symptoms, but the evidence is limited. It is generally well tolerated in food amounts, but concentrated supplements and the essential oil should be used with caution and after checking with your pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Fennel monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fennel

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

0Major
739Moderate
0Minor
2,090No known interaction
739 Moderate 2,090 No interaction
Moderate

739 interactions

Showing 60 of 739 moderate interactions — see all 739 on the Fennel page.

No interaction 2,090 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,090 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Fennel list.

See the full Fennel interactions page
See every supplement checked against Alteplase, tPA, 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
Fennel monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Alteplase, tPA supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Alteplase, tPA, 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 Fennel and Alteplase, tPA Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fennel with Alteplase, tPA?
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 Fennel and Alteplase, tPA 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 Alteplase, tPA and Fennel?

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.