Drug & supplement interaction

Thyme + Bromfenac Sodium

Bromfenac Sodium brand names: Prolensa, Bromsite.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Thyme has a moderate interaction with Bromfenac Sodium. Theoretically, thyme leaf extract might have additive effects 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

Thyme and Bromfenac Sodium

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

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Bromfenac Sodium

Bromfenac Sodium falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Thyme interacts with.

Theoretically, thyme leaf extract might have additive effects with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro and animal research suggests that thyme leaf extract has antiplatelet effects. However, this effect has not been observed in humans.
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 good news right up front: this is a very theoretical concern. The idea is that thyme leaf extract might thin the blood a little, much like NSAIDs can. Bromfenac in this case is Prolensa or Bromsite, an eye drop you use after cataract surgery, so very little of it actually reaches your bloodstream. That makes any added bleeding effect from thyme quite unlikely to matter.

The antiplatelet effect of thyme has only shown up in lab and animal studies, never in people. And the small amount of thyme you'd get from cooking is no concern at all. If you're using concentrated thyme supplements or have a bleeding condition, just mention it to your pharmacist or surgeon to be safe.

References
  1. Okazaki K, Kawazoe K, Takaishi Y. Human platelet aggregation inhibitors from thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). Phytother Res 2002;16:398-9. .
  2. Yamamoto J, Yamada K, Naemura A, et al. Testing various herbs for antithrombotic effect. Nutrition 2005;21(5):580-7. PubMed
  3. 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

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

Thyme Also Interacts With Other Medications

Thyme has 378 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Bromfenac 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 Thyme

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Bromfenac Sodium

This page covers Thyme only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Bromfenac Sodium page lists 209 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), Wine (major) and Aconite (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 186 moderate · 19 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Bromfenac Sodium page

“The typical person using bromfenac sodium drops (Prolensa, Bromsite) has just had cataract surgery, often older and often a daily supplement taker, a combination that deserves genuine care. Bromfenac is an NSAID, and 202 of the 209 ingredients here have blood-thinning or antiplatelet activity that can stack with it and make bleeding ea…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Bromfenac Sodium interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 708 real supplement products containing Thyme, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Thyme. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Bromfenac Sodium too, on top of Thyme — 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 Thyme and Bromfenac 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 Thyme
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Bromfenac Sodium
Steady interest

#1,568 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 Thyme

What is Thyme?

Thyme
  • Cough and respiratory congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Digestive upset
  • Antimicrobial and antiseptic uses
  • Flavoring in cooking

Thyme is a common kitchen herb that has long been used for coughs, sore throats, and digestive complaints. It is generally safe in the amounts found in food, and some cough products that combine thyme with other herbs have modest supporting evidence, but high-quality research on thyme alone is limited. The concentrated essential oil should never be swallowed undiluted.

Read the full Thyme monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Bromfenac Ophthalmic

What Is Bromfenac Ophthalmic Used For?

Brand names: Prolensa, Bromsite

Bromfenac ophthalmic solution is used to treat postoperative inflammation (swelling and irritation) and to reduce eye pain in patients who have had cataract surgery. It is applied directly to the eye as drops.

See full Bromfenac Ophthalmic drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Thyme

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

0Major
378Moderate
0Minor
2,451No known interaction
Moderate

378 interactions

Showing 60 of 378 moderate interactions — see all 378 on the Thyme page.

No interaction 2,451 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 Thyme and Bromfenac Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Thyme with Bromfenac 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 Thyme and Bromfenac 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 Bromfenac Sodium and Thyme?

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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.