Drug & supplement interaction

Ginkgo + Imiquimod

Imiquimod brand names: Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Ginkgo and Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod

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 Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod and Ginkgo? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Imiquimod

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Imiquimod is filed under a single classification — topical 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 Imiquimod’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 — Imiquimod 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. Imiquimod)

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 Imiquimod 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.

Itching Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Topically, ginkgo fruit pulp can cause contact dermatitis, with intense itching, edema, papules, and pustules which take 7-10 days to resolve after stopping contact.”

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

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.
Imiquimod

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

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Imiquimod. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Dizziness / Headache 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.
“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
Imiquimod

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Imiquimod. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Diarrhea Additional detail
Ginkgo
“Orally, ginkgo extract may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort or pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, and constipation. However, post-market surveillance suggests that the incidence of these events is relatively low, occurring in less than 2% of patients.

Fresh ginkgo seeds can cause stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.”

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

3965. Cohen AJ, Bartlik B. Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. J Sex Marital Ther 1998;24:139-43. PubMed

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

17112. Salehi B, Imani R, Mohammadi MR, et al. Ginkgo biloba for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a double blind, randomized controlled trial. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2010;34:76-80. 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

87858. Nicolai, S. P., Gerardu, V. C., Kruidenier, L. M., Prins, M. H., and Teijink, J. A. From the Cochrane library: Ginkgo biloba for intermittent claudication. Vasa 2010;39(2):153-158. PubMed

87728. Parsad, D., Pandhi, R., and Juneja, A. Effectiveness of oral Ginkgo biloba in treating limited, slowly spreading vitiligo. Clin Exp.Dermatol. 2003;28(3):285-287.
Imiquimod

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

Reported for Ginkgo but not commonly for Imiquimod: stomach upset, a severe skin reaction, fainting and an irregular heartbeat.

Effects for Imiquimod come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Ginkgo come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. 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

From our Q&A

Questions About Ginkgo or Imiquimod

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 Imiquimod, 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 Imiquimod

This page covers Ginkgo only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Imiquimod page lists 3 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) (moderate), Turpentine Oil (moderate) and Alchemilla (minor).

By severity: 2 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Imiquimod page

“Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma) is a cream for warts, precancerous spots, and certain skin cancers, and its supplement list is short and workable for most people. Only 3 ingredients are on file, none rated major, and all involve products applied to the skin rather than swallowed.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod, 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 Imiquimod 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%

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

29 days ago today

Medication Imiquimod

Steady interest

#1,982 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 20, 2026. The Ginkgo and Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod Topical

What Is Imiquimod Topical Used For?

Brand names: Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma

Imiquimod cream is used to treat three skin conditions in adults: actinic keratoses (rough, scaly patches on the skin caused by sun damage) on the face or scalp; superficial basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) on the trunk, neck, or limbs when surgery is not the best option; and external genital and perianal warts (condyloma acuminata) in patients 12 years and older.

It is not effective for molluscum contagiosum in children ages 2–12, and it has not been proven safe or effective in people with weakened immune systems. It should not be used for warts inside the urethra, vagina, cervix, rectum, or anal canal.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Imiquimod

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Erythema 183 reports

Fatigue 179 reports

Nausea 114 reports

Influenza like illness 102 reports

Application site erythema 100 reports

See full Imiquimod Topical 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 Imiquimod, 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
DeKosky ST, Williamson JD, Fitzpatrick AL, et al. Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia. JAMA 2008;300:2253-62.
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
Wiegman DJ, Brinkman K, Franssen EJ. Interaction of Ginkgo biloba with efavirenz. AIDS 2009;23:1184-5. PubMed
Kim BH, Kim KP, Lim KS, et al. Influence of Ginkgo biloba extract on the pharmacodynamic effects and pharmacokinetic properties of ticlopidine: An open-label, randomized, two-period, two-treatment, two-sequence, single-dose crossover study in healthy Kor
Salehi B, Imani R, Mohammadi MR, et al. Ginkgo biloba for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a double blind, randomized controlled trial. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2010;34:76-80. PubMed
Kellermann AJ, Kloft C. Is there a risk of bleeding associated with standardized ginkgo biloba extract therapy? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmacotherapy 2011;31:490-502.
Kuller LH, Ives DG, Fitzpatrick AL, et al. Does Ginkgo biloba reduce the risk of cardiovascular events? Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2010;3:41-7.
Naccarato M, Yoong D, Gough K. A potential drug-herbal interaction between Ginkgo biloba and efavirenz. J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic). 2012;11(2):98-100. doi: 10.1177/1545109711435364. Epub 2012 Feb 9.
Engelsen, J., Nielsen, J. D., and Hansen, K. F. [Effect of Coenzyme Q10 and Ginkgo biloba on warfarin dosage in patients on long-term warfarin treatment. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial]. Ugeskr.Laeger 4-28-2003;165(18):18
Parsad, D., Pandhi, R., and Juneja, A. Effectiveness of oral Ginkgo biloba in treating limited, slowly spreading vitiligo. Clin Exp.Dermatol. 2003;28(3):285-287.
Bal Dit, Sollier C., Caplain, H., and Drouet, L. No alteration in platelet function or coagulation induced by EGb761 in a controlled study. Clin Lab Haematol. 2003;25(4):251-253. PubMed
Yoshioka, M., Ohnishi, N., Koishi, T., Obata, Y., Nakagawa, M., Matsumoto, T., Tagagi, K., Takara, K., Ohkuni, T., Yokoyama, T., and Kuroda, K. Studies on interactions between functional foods or dietary supplements and medicines. IV. Effects of ginkgo b
Yoshioka, M., Ohnishi, N., Sone, N., Egami, S., Takara, K., Yokoyama, T., and Kuroda, K. Studies on interactions between functional foods or dietary supplements and medicines. III. Effects of ginkgo biloba leaf extract on the pharmacokinetics of nifedipi
Lovera, J., Bagert, B., Smoot, K., Morris, C. D., Frank, R., Bogardus, K., Wild, K., Oken, B., Whitham, R., and Bourdette, D. Ginkgo biloba for the improvement of cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Mult.S PubMed
Lin, Y. Y., Chu, S. J., and Tsai, S. H. Association between priapism and concurrent use of risperidone and Ginkgo biloba. Mayo Clin Proc 2007;82(10):1289-1290.
Robertson, S. M., Davey, R. T., Voell, J., Formentini, E., Alfaro, R. M., and Penzak, S. R. Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on lopinavir, midazolam and fexofenadine pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects. Curr Med Res Opin 2008;24(2):591-599. PubMed
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Lei, H. P., Wang, G., Wang, L. S., Ou-yang, D. S., Chen, H., Li, Q., Zhang, W., Tan, Z. R., Fan, L., He, Y. J., and Zhou, H. H. Lack of effect of Ginkgo biloba on voriconazole pharmacokinetics in Chinese volunteers identified as CYP2C19 poor and extensiv
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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.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ginkgo and Imiquimod Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Ginkgo with Imiquimod?

We do not list a known interaction between Ginkgo and Imiquimod. 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 Imiquimod have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 5 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.

How was the Ginkgo and Imiquimod combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Imiquimod is filed under 1 classification, and Ginkgo has documented interactions with 23 drug classes — none of Imiquimod'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 — Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod interact with any supplements?

Yes. Imiquimod has documented interactions with 3 supplements in our database — Ginkgo is not one of them. The Imiquimod 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.