Drug & supplement interaction

Oregano + Warfarin Sodium

Warfarin Sodium brand names: Coumadin, Panwarfin, Sofarin.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Oregano has a moderate interaction with Warfarin Sodium. Theoretically, oregano might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

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

Oregano and Warfarin Sodium

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Warfarin Sodium

Warfarin Sodium falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Oregano interacts with.

Theoretically, oregano might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research shows that aristolochic acid isolated from oregano leaves has antithrombin activity. It has also been reported that oregano oil inhibits arachidonic acid-induced, and ADP-induced, 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

Here's the gist: warfarin already lowers your blood's ability to clot, and some lab studies hint that compounds in oregano may have a mild blood-thinning effect of their own. Stacked together, the theory is that they could add up and nudge you toward too much thinning, which can show up as easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or blood in your urine or stool.

I want to be straight with you though: this concern comes from test-tube research, not real patient cases, so it's theoretical. Sprinkling oregano on your dinner is very unlikely to do anything. Concentrated oregano oil capsules are the bigger question mark. Since warfarin is a drug where even small shifts matter, please loop in your pharmacist or doctor before adding any oregano supplement, and keep up with your regular INR checks.

References
  1. Tognolini, M., Barocelli, E., Ballabeni, V., Bruni, R., Bianchi, A., Chiavarini, M., and Impicciatore, M. Comparative screening of plant essential oils: phenylpropanoid moiety as basic core for antiplatelet activity. Life Sci. 2-23-2006;78(13):1419-1432. PubMed
  2. Goun, E., Cunningham, G., Solodnikov, S., Krasnykch, O., and Miles, H. Antithrombin activity of some constituents from Origanum vulgare. Fitoterapia 2002;73(7-8):692-694. 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

Oregano Also Interacts With Other Medications

Oregano has 207 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Warfarin Sodium one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Oregano

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Oregano or Warfarin Sodium

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

This page covers Oregano only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Warfarin Sodium page lists 361 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Alfalfa (major), American Ginseng (major), Beer (major) and Cannabis (major).

Open the Warfarin Sodium interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,632 real supplement products containing Oregano, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Oregano. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Warfarin Sodium too, on top of Oregano — 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 Oregano and Warfarin Sodium 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 Oregano
Top 10%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Warfarin Sodium
Top 1%

#18 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 Oregano

What is Oregano?

Oregano
  • Digestive upset
  • Respiratory and cold symptoms
  • Antimicrobial support
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Skin and fungal concerns

Oregano is a common Mediterranean cooking herb that is also sold as a concentrated oil or supplement, often standardized for a compound called carvacrol. While lab studies suggest it may have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, strong human evidence for treating any specific health condition is limited. Used as a food, oregano is very safe; concentrated oregano oil supplements should be used cautiously and discussed with your pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Oregano monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Warfarin

What Is Warfarin Used For?

Brand names: Coumadin, Panwarfin, Sofarin

Warfarin sodium tablets and Jantoven tablets are both used to prevent and treat venous thrombosis (blood clots in the veins) and pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lungs). They are also used to prevent clot-related complications in people with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm) or who have had a heart valve replaced.

In people who have had a heart attack, warfarin is used to reduce the risk of death, another heart attack, stroke, or other clotting events. It does not dissolve an existing clot, but it helps prevent the clot from growing and stops new dangerous clots from forming.

See full Warfarin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Oregano

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

0Major
207Moderate
0Minor
2,622No known interaction
Moderate

207 interactions

Showing 60 of 207 moderate interactions — see all 207 on the Oregano page.

No interaction 2,622 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 Oregano and Warfarin Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Oregano with Warfarin Sodium?
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 Oregano and Warfarin Sodium 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 Warfarin Sodium and Oregano?

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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.