Drug & supplement interaction

Forsythia + Acetylsalicylic acid

Acetylsalicylic acid brand name: Entrophen.

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

Forsythia has a moderate interaction with Acetylsalicylic acid. Theoretically, taking forsythia with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bleeding due to decreased platelet aggregation.

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

Forsythia and Acetylsalicylic acid

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Acetylsalicylic acid

Acetylsalicylic acid falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Forsythia interacts with.

Theoretically, taking forsythia with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bleeding due to decreased platelet aggregation. Forsythia might reduce platelet aggregation by inhibiting platelet activating factor. Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D

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 simple version: aspirin already works by making your platelets less sticky, which is how it helps prevent clots. Forsythia may do something similar in lab studies, possibly by blocking a chemical called platelet activating factor. Put the two together and, in theory, you could nudge your bleeding risk a little higher. That might show up as easier bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or a cut that takes longer to stop.

I want to be honest, though: this concern comes only from test tube and animal research, not from real people, and it's rated as unlikely. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but I also wouldn't combine them without a quick word with your pharmacist or doctor first, especially if you take aspirin daily.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Iwakami S, Wu JB, Ebizuka Y, Sankawa U. Platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists contained in medicinal plants: lignans and sesquiterpenes. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1992;40:1196-8. 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

Forsythia Also Interacts With Other Medications

Forsythia has 121 moderate, 1 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Acetylsalicylic acid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 Minor 1 No known interaction 2,708 (incl. Acetylsalicylic acid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Forsythia

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetylsalicylic acid

This page covers Forsythia only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetylsalicylic acid page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 7 major · 206 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetylsalicylic acid page

“Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, sold as Entrophen) thins the blood by design, which is exactly why this page earns real vigilance rather than a quick skim. Of the 242 supplement and herbal ingredients on file, more than 200 can add to that blood-thinning effect and raise the chance of bruising or bleeding, especially in the stomach.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetylsalicylic acid interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 355 real supplement products containing Forsythia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Forsythia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetylsalicylic acid too, on top of Forsythia — 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 Forsythia and Acetylsalicylic acid 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 Forsythia
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Acetylsalicylic acid
Top 5%

#101 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 Forsythia

What is Forsythia?

  • Colds and flu symptoms
  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Inflammation
  • Antimicrobial support

Forsythia is a traditional Chinese herb, used mainly for cold and flu symptoms and as part of multi-herb formulas. Most evidence comes from laboratory, animal, and traditional use rather than strong human studies, so its real-world benefits remain unproven. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines.

Read the full Forsythia monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Aspirin Rectal

What Is Aspirin Rectal Used For?

Brand name: Entrophen

Aspirin rectal suppositories are used to relieve pain and reduce fever in adults. They offer an alternative route for people who may have difficulty taking aspirin by mouth.

Children under 12 should not use this product without first consulting a physician.

See full Aspirin Rectal drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Forsythia

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

0Major
121Moderate
1Minor
2,707No known interaction
121 Moderate 1 Minor 2,707 No interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

Showing 60 of 121 moderate interactions — see all 121 on the Forsythia page.

Minor

1 interaction

No interaction 2,707 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,707 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Forsythia list.

See the full Forsythia interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acetylsalicylic acid, 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
Forsythia monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acetylsalicylic acid supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acetylsalicylic acid, ranked by severity Aspirin Rectal 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 Forsythia and Acetylsalicylic acid Together: Common Questions

Can you take Forsythia with Acetylsalicylic acid?
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 Forsythia and Acetylsalicylic acid 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 Acetylsalicylic acid and Forsythia?

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.