Drug & supplement interaction

Fenugreek + Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel brand name: Plavix.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Clopidogrel falls into 2 drug categories that Fenugreek can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fenugreek might have additive effects when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodUnlikely
Interactions2
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Fenugreek and Clopidogrel

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

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

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Why this applies to Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Fenugreek interacts with.

Theoretically, fenugreek might have additive effects when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Some of the constituents in fenugreek have antiplatelet effects in animal and in vitro research. However, common fenugreek products might not contain sufficient concentrations of these constituents for clinical effects. A clinical study in patients with coronary artery disease or diabetes shows that taking fenugreek seed powder 2.5 grams twice daily for 3 months does not affect platelet aggregation, fibrinolytic activity, or fibrinogen levels .
Severity Moderate Likelihood Unlikely Evidence B

Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans..

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

Here's the gist: Clopidogrel (Plavix) is a blood thinner that keeps your platelets from clumping together, which lowers your risk of clots after a stent, heart attack, or stroke. Fenugreek has some lab and animal data suggesting it might also have a mild blood-thinning, anti-platelet effect. On paper, stacking the two could add up and slightly raise your bleeding risk, things like easier bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding that takes longer to stop.

In real life, though, this one looks pretty unlikely to cause trouble. An actual study in heart and diabetes patients found that fenugreek seed powder (2.5 grams twice daily for 3 months) did not measurably change how platelets clump. The kitchen-spice amount in cooking is even less of a concern. Still, since you're on a clot-prevention medicine, please run any concentrated fenugreek supplement past your pharmacist or doctor first, and let them know if you notice unusual bleeding.

References
  1. Lambert J, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:509-12. PubMed
  2. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) on blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty PubMed
  3. Parvizpur, A., Ahmadiani, A., and Kamalinejad, M. Probable role of spinal purinoceptors in the analgesic effect of Trigonella foenum (TFG) leaves extract. J Ethnopharmacol 3-8-2006;104(1-2):108-112. PubMed
Moderate

CLOPIDOGREL (Plavix)

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Theoretically, fenugreek seed might alter the clinical effects of clopidogrel by inhibiting its conversion to the active form.
Animal research shows that fenugreek seed 200 mg/kg daily for 14 days increases the maximum serum concentration of clopidogrel by 21%. It is unclear how this affects the pharmacokinetics of the active metabolite of clopidogrel; however, this study found that concomitant use of fenugreek seed and clopidogrel prolonged bleeding time by an additional 11%.
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 about Plavix (clopidogrel): it's a prodrug, meaning your body has to convert it into its active form before it can do its job of keeping platelets from clumping. So the worry with fenugreek cuts two ways. In theory, fenugreek might slow that activation step, which could leave you with less clot protection. But the animal study we have actually found that combining the two slightly raised clopidogrel levels and extended bleeding time by about 11 percent, hinting at a bit more blood-thinning effect.

The honest answer is we don't really know which way it tips, because this is early animal data, not human research. A pinch of fenugreek in cooking is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated supplements are the real question, so check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding one. And watch for unusual bruising or bleeding that's slow to stop.

References
  1. Alkharfy K, Jan B, Alotaibi K, et al. Clopidogrel-herb Interactions: A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Assessment in a Rat Model. Curr Drug Metab 2021;22(12):969-977. 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

Fenugreek Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fenugreek has 223 moderate, 165 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Clopidogrel one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fenugreek

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Fenugreek or Clopidogrel

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

This page covers Fenugreek only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Clopidogrel page lists 309 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Grapefruit (major), Piracetam (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 5 major · 258 moderate · 46 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Clopidogrel page

“Clopidogrel (Plavix) keeps platelets from sticking together after a stent, heart attack, or stroke, which makes this a list to take carefully. Of the 309 supplements and herbs on file, 202 carry blood-thinning or antiplatelet activity of their own and can stack bleeding risk on top of the drug's, while most of the rest change how the l…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Clopidogrel interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 2,385 real supplement products containing Fenugreek, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fenugreek. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Clopidogrel too, on top of Fenugreek — 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 Fenugreek and Clopidogrel 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 Fenugreek
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Clopidogrel
Top 1%

#14 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 Fenugreek

What is Fenugreek?

Fenugreek
  • Blood sugar control
  • Boosting breast milk supply
  • High cholesterol
  • Digestive upset
  • Low testosterone or libido

Fenugreek is a common kitchen spice that is also taken as a supplement, mainly for blood sugar, cholesterol, and to support breast milk production. Some early research is encouraging for blood sugar, but overall the evidence is mixed and far from settled. It is generally well tolerated as food, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it as a supplement, especially if you are pregnant.

Read the full Fenugreek monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Clopidogrel

What Is Clopidogrel Used For?

Brand name: Plavix

Clopidogrel tablets are used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) — including unstable angina and non-ST-elevation or ST-elevation heart attacks — and in people with a history of recent heart attack, recent stroke, or established peripheral arterial disease. For ACS, it is typically given alongside aspirin.

It works by preventing platelets (blood cells that trigger clotting) from clumping together, which helps keep arteries open and lowers the chance of a dangerous clot forming.

See full Clopidogrel drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fenugreek

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

0Major
223Moderate
165Minor
2,441No known interaction
Moderate

223 interactions

Showing 60 of 223 moderate interactions — see all 223 on the Fenugreek page.

Minor

165 interactions

Showing 60 of 165 minor interactions — see all 165 on the Fenugreek page.

No interaction 2,441 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 Fenugreek and Clopidogrel Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fenugreek with Clopidogrel?
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 2 interactions listed for Fenugreek and Clopidogrel?
Clopidogrel belongs to more than one drug category, and Fenugreek 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 Fenugreek and Clopidogrel 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

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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.