Drug & supplement interaction

Ginkgo + Azithromycin

Azithromycin brand names: Zithromax, Zmax, Azasite.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Ginkgo and Azithromycin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Ginkgo and Azithromycin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Azithromycin and Ginkgo in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Ginkgo safety at a glance

Ginkgo overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in healthy adults but may increase bleeding risk, so use with caution.

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. There is concern that ginkgo might have labor-inducing and hormonal effects. There is also concern that the antiplatelet effects of ginkgo cou... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Avoid Safety has not been established while breastfeeding, so avoid use.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Azithromycin and Ginkgo? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Azithromycin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Azithromycin is filed under 7 classifications — including macrolide antibiotics, qt interval-prolonging drugs, antibiotic drugs. Ginkgo has documented interactions with 23 drug classes — the most serious being talinolol (major), alprazolam (xanax) (moderate) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) — and none of Azithromycin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Ginkgo Does Interact With Other Medications

Ginkgo has 1 major, 1,265 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Azithromycin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 Moderate 1,265 No known interaction 1,564 (incl. Azithromycin)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ginkgo

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Ginkgo and Azithromycin May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 5 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Fainting Worth acting on Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Cardiac arrhythmias suspected to be related to ginkgo have been reported. Internationally, there are at least 162 reports from 18 countries, with 34% of cases considered serious, involving five deaths and four life-threatening events. Additionally, a report from Canada found that 10 out of 15 cases of arrhythmia were considered serious.”

Ginkgo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.
5 sources cited

105253. World Health Organization. WHO pharmaceuticals newsletter: 2020, No. 3. Available at: https://www.who.int/medicines/publications/WHO_Pharmaceuticals_Newslet3_20.pdf?ua=1. Accessed June 23, 2021.

105254. Health Canada. Ginkgo biloba-containing products and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Health Product InfoWatch. February 2021. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/health-product-infowatch/fe

87884. Russo, V., Rago, A., Russo, G. M., Calabro, R., and Nigro, G. Ginkgo biloba: an ancient tree with new arrhythmic side effects. J Postgrad.Med 2011;57(3):221.

115628. Yao Y, Zhao J, Li C, et al. Ginkgo biloba extract safety: Insights from a real-world pharmacovigilance study of FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) events. J Ethnopharmacol 2025;337(Pt 3):119010. PubMed

16635. Dodge HH, Zitzelberger T, Oken BS, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of ginkgo biloba for the prevention of cognitive decline. Neurology 2008;70(19 Pt 2):1809-17. PubMed
Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
An irregular heartbeat Worth acting on Additional detail

Ginkgo

“Orally, ginkgo leaf extract is generally well tolerated when used for up to 6 years. However, the seed and crude plant contain toxic constituents and should be avoided.

Intravenously, ginkgo leaf extract seems to be well tolerated when used for up to 30 days.

Topically, no adverse effects have been reported with ginkgo as a single ingredient.”

Ginkgo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.

Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A severe skin reaction Worth acting on Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Orally, ginkgo leaf extract can cause allergic skin reactions in some patients. In one case, a patient developed acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis 48 hours after taking a single-ingredient ginkgo product. The rash resolved within 10 days after discontinuing ginkgo. In another case, progressive erythema of the face, neck, trunk, and extremities occurred after two 60 mg oral doses of ginkgo extract.”

Ginkgo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in erythema.
5 sources cited

14449. Pennisi RS. Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis induced by the herbal remedy Ginkgo biloba. Med J Aust 2006;184:583-4. PubMed

15578. Woelk H, Arnoldt KH, Kieser M, Hoerr R. Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res 2007;41:472-80. PubMed

112946. Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, et al. Safety Assessment of Ginkgo biloba-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2023 Nov 6:10915818231210792.

208. Davydov L, Stirling AL. Stevens-Johnson syndrome with Ginkgo biloba. J Herb Pharmacother 2001;1:65-9. DOI

95672. Han EJ, Park HL, Kim SH. Allergic Reaction to Ginkgo Nut on FDG PET/CT. Clin Nucl Med. 2016 Sep;41(9):716-7. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001276. PubMed
Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Orally, ginkgo extract may cause headache, dizziness, increased desire to sleep, and sedation in some patients. In addition, although ginkgo leaf and ginkgo leaf extract contain only small amounts of ginkgotoxin, there are anecdotal reports of seizure occurring after use of ginkgo leaf preparations both in patients without a history of seizure disorder and in those with previously well-controlled epilepsy.”

Ginkgo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.
6 sources cited

6220. Cesarani A, Meloni F, Alpini D, et al. Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in the treatment of equilibrium disorders. Adv Ther 1998;15:291-304.

8543. Burschka MA, Hassan HA, Reineke T, et al. Effect of treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (oral) on unilateral idiopathic sudden hearing loss in a prospective randomized double-blind study of 106 outpatients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2001;258:213- PubMed

87818. Choi, W. S., Choi, C. J., Kim, K. S., Lee, J. H., Song, C. H., Chung, J. H., Ock, S. M., Lee, J. B., and Kim, C. M. To compare the efficacy and safety of nifedipine sustained release with Ginkgo biloba extract to treat patients with primary Raynaud's phe

5719. Kudolo GB. The effect of 3-month ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract on pancreatic beta-cell function in response to glucose loading in normal glucose tolerant individuals. J Clin Pharmacol 2000;40:647-54.

87839. Ozgoli, G., Selselei, E. A., Mojab, F., and Majd, H. A. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba L. in treatment of premenstrual syndrome. J Altern.Complement Med 2009;15(8):845-851.

115628. Yao Y, Zhao J, Li C, et al. Ginkgo biloba extract safety: Insights from a real-world pharmacovigilance study of FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) events. J Ethnopharmacol 2025;337(Pt 3):119010. PubMed
Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
An allergic reaction Worth acting on reported in 5.0% of FDA reports for Azithromycin Additional detail

Ginkgo

Recorded for Ginkgo in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A severe skin reaction above.

Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Ringing in the ears Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Orally, ginkgo may cause tinnitus is some patients.

Topically, eye drops containing ginkgo extract and hyaluronic acid may cause stinging sensations in some people.”

Ginkgo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in tinnitus.
3 sources cited

8543. Burschka MA, Hassan HA, Reineke T, et al. Effect of treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (oral) on unilateral idiopathic sudden hearing loss in a prospective randomized double-blind study of 106 outpatients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2001;258:213- PubMed

115628. Yao Y, Zhao J, Li C, et al. Ginkgo biloba extract safety: Insights from a real-world pharmacovigilance study of FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) events. J Ethnopharmacol 2025;337(Pt 3):119010. PubMed

87829. Russo, V., Stella, A., Appezzati, L., Barone, A., Stagni, E., Roszkowska, A., and Delle, Noci N. Clinical efficacy of a Ginkgo biloba extract in the topical treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2009;19(3):331-336. PubMed
Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

Ginkgo

Recorded for Ginkgo in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Fainting above.

Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Drowsiness Additional detail

Ginkgo

Recorded for Ginkgo in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Seizures above.

Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Anxiety or restlessness Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Orally, ginkgo has been associated with a single case of mood dysregulation. A 50-year-old female with schizophrenia developed irritability, difficulty controlling anger, and agitation after one week of taking ginkgo 80 mg twice daily. The mood changes resolved within 2-3 days of discontinuation.”

Ginkgo · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in myasthenia gravis.
1 source cited

96763. Rho SS, Woo YS, Bahk WM. Ginkgo biloba induced mood dysregulation: a case report. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Jan 15;18(1):14. PubMed
Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Joint pain Additional detail

Ginkgo

Recorded for Ginkgo in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A severe skin reaction above.

Azithromycin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Azithromycin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 20 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Ginkgo but not commonly for Azithromycin: a stroke or mini-stroke, mood changes or irritability, a slow heartbeat and bleeding or bruising.

Effects for Azithromycin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Ginkgo come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 59,712 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Azithromycin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Ginkgo in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. There is concern that ginkgo might have labor-inducing and hormonal effects. There is also concern that the antiplatelet effects of ginkgo could prolong bleeding time if taken around the time of labor and delivery. Theoretically, ginkgo might adversely affect pregnancy outcome; avoid using during pregnancy.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Azithromycin Is Prescribed For, and What Ginkgo Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Azithromycin is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Ginkgo is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Ginkgo has been studied for:

Bronchitis studied, not established Ginkgo has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

Ginkgo for bronchitis

Although there has been interest in using oral ginkgo for bronchitis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of ginkgo for this condition.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Azithromycin on your own; if you are taking Ginkgo for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Ginkgo or Azithromycin

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

This page covers Ginkgo only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Azithromycin page lists 92 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 8 major · 71 moderate · 13 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Azithromycin page

“A five-day Z-Pak for a sinus or chest infection seems too brief to fuss over, but azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax) deserves genuine caution around supplements, and the eight major-rated entries on this list are the ones to understand first. Most of those involve the heart.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Azithromycin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 4,399 real supplement products containing Ginkgo, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Ginkgo. Even though Ginkgo itself has no known interaction with Azithromycin, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Ginkgo and Azithromycin 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 Ginkgo

Top 5%

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

29 days ago today

Medication Azithromycin

Top 5%

#60 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.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Ginkgo reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Ginkgo and Azithromycin records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Ginkgo

What is Ginkgo?

Memory and cognitive support
Age-related mental decline
Circulation problems
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Dizziness or vertigo

Ginkgo is one of the world's most popular herbal supplements, mostly taken to support memory and circulation. The evidence for these uses is mixed and generally weak, and it is not proven to prevent memory loss or dementia. It is usually well tolerated in healthy adults, but it can thin the blood, so talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Ginkgo biloba · Ginkgoaceae · Leaves (standardized leaf extract); seeds are used in some traditional preparations · Capsules, tablets, standardized liquid extracts, tea

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Ginkgo is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Ginkgo record says about it on its own.

Ginkgo: dosing

There is no single official dose for ginkgo, and the right amount depends on the product and reason for use. Studies have used standardized leaf extracts, but strengths vary a lot between brands.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not take more than recommended.

From our Ginkgo monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Ginkgo monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Azithromycin

What Is Azithromycin Used For?

Brand names: Zithromax, Zmax, Azasite

Azithromycin is used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as bronchitis; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases (STD); and infections of the ears, lungs, sinuses, skin, throat, and reproductive organs. Azithromycin also is used to treat or prevent disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection [a type of lung infection that often affects people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]. Azithromycin is in a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Antibiotics such as azithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Azithromycin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (59,712 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Dyspnea 4,651 reports

Nausea 3,461 reports

Pneumonia 3,225 reports

Cough 3,120 reports

Drug hypersensitivity 2,991 reports

See full Azithromycin drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ginkgo

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

1Major

1,265Moderate

0Minor

1,563No known interaction

1 Major 1,265 Moderate 1,563 No interaction

Major

1 interaction

Talinolol ›

Moderate

1,265 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,265 moderate interactions — see all 1,265 on the Ginkgo page.

No interaction 1,563 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,563 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ginkgo list.

See the full Ginkgo interactions page

See every supplement checked against Azithromycin, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Ginkgo References

The 97 references that drive our Ginkgo monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Davydov L, Stirling AL. Stevens-Johnson syndrome with Ginkgo biloba. J Herb Pharmacother 2001;1:65-9. DOI
Benjamin J, Muir T, Briggs K, Pentland B. A case of cerebral haemorrhage-can Ginkgo biloba be implicated? Postgrad Med J 2001;77:112-3.
Matthews, MK. Association of Ginkgo biloba with intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurology 1998;50:1934.
Rowin J, Lewis SL. Spontaneous bilateral subdural hemotomas with chronic Ginkgo biloba ingestion. Neurology 1996;46:1775-6.
Rosenblatt M, Mindel T. Spontaneous hyphema associated with ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract. N Engl J Med 1997;336:1108.
Fessenden JM, Wittenborn W, Clarke L. Gingko biloba: a case report of herbal medicine and bleeding postoperatively from a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Am Surg 2001;67:33-5. DOI
Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA. Clinical assessment of potential cytochrome P450-mediated herb-drug interactions. AAPS Ann Mtg & Expo Indianapolis, IN: 2000; Oct 29 - Nov 2:presentation #3460.
Cohen AJ, Bartlik B. Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. J Sex Marital Ther 1998;24:139-43. PubMed
Kudolo GB. The effect of 3-month ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract on pancreatic beta-cell function in response to glucose loading in normal glucose tolerant individuals. J Clin Pharmacol 2000;40:647-54.
Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:1221-7. DOI
Cesarani A, Meloni F, Alpini D, et al. Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in the treatment of equilibrium disorders. Adv Ther 1998;15:291-304.
Galluzzi S, Zanetti O, Binetti G, et al. Coma in a patient with Alzheimer's disease taking low dose trazodone and Ginkgo biloba. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;68:679-80. DOI
Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
Gregory PJ. Seizure associated with Ginkgo biloba? Ann Intern Med 2001;134:344.
Granger AS. Ginkgo biloba precipitating epileptic seizures. Age Ageing 2001;30:523-5. PubMed
Kajiyama Y, Fujii K, Takeuchi H, Manabe Y. Ginkgo seed poisoning. Pediatrics 2002;109:325-7. PubMed
Miwa H, Iijima M, Tanaka S, Mizuno Y. Generalized convulsions after consuming a large amount of gingko nuts. Epilepsia 2001;42:280-1. DOI
Burschka MA, Hassan HA, Reineke T, et al. Effect of treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (oral) on unilateral idiopathic sudden hearing loss in a prospective randomized double-blind study of 106 outpatients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2001;258:213- PubMed
Miller LG, Freeman B. Possible subdural hematoma associated with Ginkgo biloba. J Herb Pharmacother 2002;2:57-63.
Kudolo GB, Dorsey S, Blodgett J. Effect of the ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract on platelet aggregation and urinary prostanoid excretion in healthy and Type 2 diabetic subjects. Thromb Res 2002;108:151-60.. PubMed
Fong KC, Kinnear PE. Retrobulbar haemorrhage associated with chronic Ginkgo biloba ingestion. Postgrad Med J 2003;79:531-2..
Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA, et al. Cytochrome P450 phenotypic ratios for predicting herb-drug interactions in humans. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002;72:276-87.. PubMed
Kang BJ, Lee SJ, Kim MD, Cho MJ. A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Hum Psychopharmacol 2002;17:279-84.
Yale SH, Glurich I. Analysis of the inhibitory potential of Ginkgo biloba, Echinacea purpurea, and Serenoa repens on the metabolic activity of cytochrome P450 3A4, 2D6, and 2C9. J Altern Complement Med 2005;11:433-9.
Yasui-Furukori N, Furukori H, Kaneda A, et al. The effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of donepezil. J Clin Pharmacol 2004;44:538-42.
Markowitz JS, Donovan JL, Lindsay DeVane C, et al. Multiple-dose administration of Ginkgo biloba did not affect cytochrome P-450 2D6 or 3A4 activity in normal volunteers. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2003;23:576-81. PubMed
Arenz A, Kelin M, Flehe K, et al. Occurrence of neurotoxic 4'-O-methylpyridoxine in ginkgo biloba leaves, ginkgo medications and Japanese ginkgo food. Planta Med 1996;62:548-51.
Engelsen J, Nielsen JD, Winther K. Effect of coenzyme Q10 and Ginkgo biloba on warfarin dosage in stable, long-term warfarin treated outpatients. A randomised, double blind, placebo-crossover trial. Thromb Haemost 2002;87:1075-6. DOI
Gaudineau C, Beckerman R, Welbourn S, Auclair K. Inhibition of human P450 enzymes by multiple constituents of the Ginkgo biloba extract. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 2004;318:1072–8. PubMed
Kohler S, Funk P, Kieser M. Influence of a 7-day treatment with Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 on bleeding time and coagulation: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in healthy volunteers. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2004;15:303–9. PubMed
Jiang X, Williams KM, Liauw WS, et al. Effect of ginkgo and ginger on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2005;59:425-32. PubMed
Destro MW, Speranzini MB, Cavalheiro Filho C, et al. Bilateral haematoma after rhytidoplasty and blepharoplasty following chronic use of Ginkgo biloba. Br J Plast Surg 2005;58:100-1. PubMed
Yin OQ, Tomlinson B, Waye MM, et al. Pharmacogenetics and herb-drug interactions: experience with Ginkgo biloba and omeprazole. Pharmacogenetics 2004;14:841-50. PubMed
Bent S, Goldberg H, Padula A, Avins AL. Spontaneous bleeding associated with Ginkgo biloba: a case report and systematic review of the literature. J Gen Intern Med 2005;20;657-61. DOI
Meisel C, Johne A, Roots I. Fatal intracerebral mass bleeding associated with Ginkgo biloba and ibuprofen. Atherosclerosis 2003;167:367. PubMed
Bebbington A, Kulkarni R, Roberts P. Ginkgo biloba: Persistent bleeding after total hip arthroplasty caused by herbal self-medication. J Arthroplasty 2005;20:125-6. .
Kupiec T, Raj V. Fatal seizures due to potential herb-drug interactions with Ginkgo biloba. J Anal Toxicol 2005:755-8. PubMed
Hauser D, Gayowski T, Singh N. Bleeding complications precipitated by unrecognized Gingko biloba use after liver transplantation. Transpl Int 2002;15:377-9. DOI
Mohutsky MA, Anderson GD, Miller JW, Elmer GW. Ginkgo biloba: evaluation of CYP2C9 drug interactions in vitro and in vivo. Am J Ther 2006;13:24-31. PubMed
Kudolo GB. The effect of 3-month ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on pancreatic beta-cell function in response to glucose loading in individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Pharmacol 2001;41:600-11.
Pennisi RS. Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis induced by the herbal remedy Ginkgo biloba. Med J Aust 2006;184:583-4. PubMed
Yagmur E, Piatkowski A, Groger A, et al. Bleeding complication under Gingko biloba medication. Am J Hematol 2005;79:343-4. PubMed
Vale S. Subarachnoid haemorrhage associated with Ginkgo biloba. Lancet 1998;352:36. PubMed
Aruna D, Naidu MU. Pharmacodynamic interaction studies of Ginkgo biloba with cilostazol and clopidogrel in healthy human subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007;63:333-8.
Dugoua JJ, Mills E, Perri D, Koren G. Safety and efficacy of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) during pregnancy and lactation. Can J Clin Pharmacol 2006;13:e277-84.
Jiang X, Blair EY, McLachlan AJ. Investigation of the effects of herbal medicines on warfarin response in healthy subjects: a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling approach. J Clin Pharmacol 2006;46:1370-8. PubMed
Woelk H, Arnoldt KH, Kieser M, Hoerr R. Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res 2007;41:472-80. PubMed
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Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Related: nutrient depletion

Azithromycin Is Linked to Lower Levels of 7 Nutrients

Natural Medicines records Azithromycin as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Ginkgo — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:

Read the full Azithromycin nutrient depletion report ›

Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ginkgo and Azithromycin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Ginkgo with Azithromycin?

We do not list a known interaction between Ginkgo and Azithromycin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Ginkgo and Azithromycin have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Are Ginkgo and Azithromycin used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Ginkgo in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Azithromycin is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Ginkgo and Azithromycin combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Azithromycin is filed under 7 classifications, and Ginkgo has documented interactions with 23 drug classes — none of Azithromycin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Ginkgo interact with any other medications?

Yes. Ginkgo has 1,266 documented drug interactions in our database — Azithromycin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Azithromycin interact with any supplements?

Yes. Azithromycin has documented interactions with 92 supplements in our database — Ginkgo is not one of them. The Azithromycin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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.