Drug & supplement interaction

Swallowroot + Argatroban

Argatroban brand name: Argatroban.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Swallowroot has a moderate interaction with Argatroban. Theoretically, swallowroot 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?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Swallowroot and Argatroban

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Argatroban

Argatroban falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Swallowroot interacts with.

Theoretically, swallowroot might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research shows that swallowroot inhibits 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

Argatroban is a powerful blood thinner given through an IV, usually in the hospital to prevent or treat dangerous clots. It works by directly blocking thrombin, a key player in clotting. Here's the concern: lab studies suggest Swallowroot may keep platelets from clumping together, which is its own way of slowing clotting. Stack that on top of Argatroban and you could, in theory, raise the risk of bleeding.

I want to keep this honest, though. This warning rests only on test-tube research, not on people, so it's theoretical. Since Argatroban is carefully managed in a hospital with blood tests, mention any supplement you take to your care team so they can watch your bleeding risk closely.

References
  1. Suneetha WJ, Krishnakantha TP. Effect of swallowroot extract on functions of platelets in vitro. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2005;19:133-4. 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

Swallowroot Also Interacts With Other Medications

Swallowroot has 121 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Argatroban 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 Swallowroot

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Argatroban

This page covers Swallowroot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Argatroban 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 Argatroban page

“Argatroban is an intravenous blood thinner, usually given in the hospital when heparin cannot be used, so anyone receiving it already carries real bleeding risk. That is exactly where this list bears down.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Argatroban interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Swallowroot and Argatroban 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 Swallowroot
Steady interest

#1,129 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Argatroban
Top half

#978 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 Swallowroot

What is Swallowroot?

  • Digestive complaints
  • General tonic and appetite stimulant
  • Blood purifier in folk medicine
  • Antimicrobial and food preservative
  • Cooling drink in hot weather

Swallowroot (Decalepis hamiltonii) is a root used in South Indian folk medicine and as a food flavoring, often pickled or made into a cooling drink. Modern scientific evidence for its health benefits in people is very limited, resting mostly on laboratory and animal studies, so its effectiveness is not proven. If you are considering it, talk with your pharmacist or doctor first, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Read the full Swallowroot monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Swallowroot

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Swallowroot — 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
Moderate

121 interactions

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

No interaction 2,708 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Swallowroot and Argatroban Together: Common Questions

Can you take Swallowroot with Argatroban?
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 Swallowroot and Argatroban 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 Argatroban and Swallowroot?

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.