Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) + Edoxaban

Edoxaban brand name: Savaysa.

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

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has a moderate interaction with Edoxaban. Theoretically, GLA might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet rugs.

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

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Edoxaban

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Edoxaban

Edoxaban falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) interacts with.

Theoretically, GLA might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet rugs.
Animal and human research suggests that GLA reduces 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

Edoxaban (Savaysa) is already a blood thinner that blocks one of the proteins your body uses to form clots. GLA, the omega-6 fatty acid in oils like evening primrose and borage, may make your platelets a little less sticky on their own. Stacking those two effects could, in theory, nudge your bleeding risk up a bit.

Now, here's some reassurance: this concern is theoretical, based mainly on how GLA behaves in lab and animal studies, not strong human proof. Still, with a blood thinner on board, it's worth watching for things like easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or unusually heavy or long-lasting bleeding. Please don't stop or change anything on your own. Just give your pharmacist or doctor a quick heads-up before adding GLA so they can keep an eye on you.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A 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

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) has 121 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Edoxaban one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 No known interaction 2,709 (incl. Edoxaban)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla). Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) or Edoxaban

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) or Edoxaban, 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 Edoxaban

This page covers Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Edoxaban 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 Edoxaban page

“The interaction I would flag first for edoxaban (Savaysa) is activated charcoal, which can soak up the drug in the gut and lower its levels, and an underdosed blood thinner leaves you exposed to the clots and strokes it exists to prevent. It is one of three major-rated entries here, alongside danshen and piracetam, which push the oppos…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Edoxaban interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Edoxaban 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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)
Steady interest

#1,369 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Edoxaban
Top half

#794 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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

What is Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)?

  • Eczema and dry skin
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Diabetic nerve pain
  • PMS and breast pain
  • Menopausal symptoms

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid found in oils like evening primrose and borage. It is most studied for skin conditions, joint pain, and nerve pain, but the evidence is mixed and far from conclusive. It is generally well tolerated, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or take other medicines.

Read the full Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Edoxaban

What Is Edoxaban Used For?

Brand name: Savaysa

Savaysa (edoxaban) is used to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism (when a clot travels to other parts of the body) in adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation — a type of irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. Important: Savaysa is not appropriate for everyone with this condition; people with very high kidney function (creatinine clearance above 95 mL/min) should use a different anticoagulant instead.

Savaysa is also used to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT — a blood clot in a deep vein, usually the leg) and pulmonary embolism (PE — a blood clot in the lungs). For DVT and PE, Savaysa is started after 5 to 10 days of initial treatment with an injectable blood thinner.

See full Edoxaban drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
121Moderate
0Minor
2,708No known interaction
121 Moderate 2,708 No interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

Showing 60 of 121 moderate interactions — see all 121 on the Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) page.

No interaction 2,708 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,708 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) list.

See the full Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Edoxaban, 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
Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Edoxaban supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Edoxaban, ranked by severity Edoxaban 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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Edoxaban Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) with Edoxaban?
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 Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla) and Edoxaban 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 Edoxaban and Gamma-linolenic Acid (gla)?

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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.