Drug & supplement interaction

Turmeric + Apixaban

Apixaban brand name: Eliquis.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Apixaban falls into 3 drug categories that Turmeric can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Turmeric might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Turmeric and Apixaban

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Turmeric interacts with whole categories of medication. Apixaban falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Turmeric in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Apixaban

Apixaban falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Turmeric interacts with.

Turmeric might increase or decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
In vitro and animal research show that turmeric and its constituents curcumin and curcuminoids inhibit CYP3A4. Also, 8 case reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) adverse drug reaction database describe increased toxicity in patients taking turmeric and cancer medications that are CYP3A4 substrates, including everolimus, ruxolitinib, ibrutinib, and palbociclib, and bortezomib. In another case report, a transplant patient presented with acute nephrotoxicity and elevated tacrolimus levels after consuming turmeric powder at a dose of 15 or more spoonfuls daily for ten days prior. It was thought that turmeric increased levels of tacrolimus due to CYP3A4 inhibition.
Conversely, other in vitro research suggests that turmeric induces CYP3A4 activity, leading to reduced levels of CYP3A4 substrates. An animal model suggests that induction of CYP3A4 occurs after daily curcumin use for 1 week. However, the induction of CYP3A4 by turmeric has not been reported 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 practical side of mixing turmeric with Eliquis (apixaban). Your body partly clears apixaban using a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. Lab and animal studies suggest the curcumin in turmeric may slow that enzyme down. If that happens in people, apixaban could build up a bit, and since this is a blood thinner, the main worry is extra bleeding: easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or blood in the urine or stool.

To be fair, the evidence here is weak and mostly from test tubes and animals, not real patients on apixaban. Everyday turmeric in your cooking is very unlikely to cause trouble. Concentrated curcumin capsules are the bigger question mark, partly because turmeric itself can nudge bleeding risk. Before starting a supplement, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Appiah-Opong, R., Commandeur, J. N., Vugt-Lussenburg, B., and Vermeulen, N. P. Inhibition of human recombinant cytochrome P450s by curcumin and curcumin decomposition products. Toxicology 6-3-2007;235(1-2):83-91. PubMed
  2. Hou, X. L., Takahashi, K., Kinoshita, N., Qiu, F., Tanaka, K., Komatsu, K., Takahashi, K., and Azuma, J. Possible inhibitory mechanism of Curcuma drugs on CYP3A4 in 1alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 treated Caco-2 cells. Int.J Pharm 6-7-2007;337(1-2):169-177.
  3. Valentine, S. P., Le Nedelec, M. J., Menzies, A. R., Scandlyn, M. J., Goodin, M. G., and Rosengren, R. J. Curcumin modulates drug metabolizing enzymes in the female Swiss Webster mouse. Life Sci. 4-11-2006;78(20):2391-2398. PubMed
  4. Nayeri A, Wu S, Adams E, et al. Acute Calcineurin Inhibitor Nephrotoxicity Secondary to Turmeric Intake: A Case Report. Transplant Proc. 2017;49(1):198-200. PubMed
  5. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed
  6. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. PubMed
  7. Dibaei M, Hosseini A, Lavasani H, Kiani-Dehkordi B, Rouini M. Assessment of metabolic interaction between curcumin and tramadol using the isolated perfused rat liver. Heliyon 2024;10(15):e35070. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

2 of 3

Apixaban also falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS.

Turmeric may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. However, research is conflicting.
Curcumin, a constituent of turmeric, has demonstrated antiplatelet effects in vitro. Furthermore, two case reports have found that taking turmeric along with warfarin or fluindione was associated with an increased international normalized ratio (INR). However, one clinical study in healthy volunteers shows that taking curcumin 500 mg daily for 3 weeks, alone or with aspirin 100 mg, does not increase antiplatelet effects or bleeding risk. It is possible that the dose of turmeric used in this study was too low to produce a notable effect.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 simple version: Eliquis (apixaban) already thins your blood to prevent clots and strokes. Turmeric, thanks to its curcumin, may have a mild blood-thinning effect of its own. So the worry is that stacking the two could nudge your bleeding risk a little higher. That might show up as easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bleeding that's slow to stop.

Honestly, the evidence here is mixed. A couple of case reports raised a flag, but a small study didn't find a real bleeding increase, possibly because the turmeric dose was low. The turmeric in your curry almost certainly won't matter. Concentrated curcumin capsules are the bigger question. Before adding a supplement, please check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Shah BH, Nawaz Z, Pertani SA. Inhibitory effect of curcumin, a food spice from turmeric, on platelet-activating factor- and arachidonic acid-mediated platelet aggregation through inhibition of thromboxane formation and Ca2+ signaling. Biochem Pharmacol 1 PubMed
  2. Srivastava, R., Puri, V., Srimal, R. C., and Dhawan, B. N. Effect of curcumin on platelet aggregation and vascular prostacyclin synthesis. Arzneimittelforschung. 1986;36(4):715-717.
  3. Srivastava, K. C., Bordia, A., and Verma, S. K. Curcumin, a major component of food spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) inhibits aggregation and alters eicosanoid metabolism in human blood platelets. Prostaglandins Leukot.Essent.Fatty Acids 1995;52(4):223-227 PubMed
  4. Daveluy A, Géniaux H, Thibaud L, Mallaret M, Miremont-Salamé G, Haramburu F. Probable interaction between an oral vitamin K antagonist and turmeric (Curcuma longa). Therapie. 2014 Nov-Dec;69(6):519-20. PubMed
  5. Fung FY, Wong WH, Ang SK, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study on the anti-haemostatic effects of Curcuma longa, Angelica sinensis and Panax ginseng. Phytomedicine. 2017;32:88-96. PubMed
  6. Medsafe Safety Communication- Turmeric/Curcumin Interaction with Warfarin. April 30, 2018. Accessed at: https://medsafe.govt.nz/safety/EWS/2018/Turmeric.asp.
Minor

P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES

3 of 3

Apixaban also falls under P-GLYCOPROTEIN SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, turmeric might increase the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates.
In vitro and animal research shows that curcuminoids and other constituents found in turmeric can inhibit P-glycoprotein expression and activity.
Severity Minor 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 for Eliquis (apixaban). Your body uses a kind of cellular 'pump' called P-glycoprotein to move apixaban around and limit how much gets absorbed. In lab and animal studies, the curcumin in turmeric seems to slow that pump down. In theory, that could let a little more apixaban into your bloodstream, which might nudge up its blood-thinning effect and the chance of bruising or bleeding more easily.

That said, this is rated a minor, theoretical concern based only on lab data, not real patient studies. The turmeric you cook with is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated curcumin supplements are the bigger question, so since apixaban is a blood thinner, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding one.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Junyaprasert, V. B., Soonthornchareonnon, N., Thongpraditchote, S., Murakami, T., and Takano, M. Inhibitory effect of Thai plant extracts on P-glycoprotein mediated efflux. Phytother.Res 2006;20(1):79-81. PubMed
  2. Ampasavate, C., Sotanaphun, U., Phattanawasin, P., and Piyapolrungroj, N. Effects of Curcuma spp. on P-glycoprotein function. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(7):506-512. PubMed
  3. Hou, X. L., Takahashi, K., Tanaka, K., Tougou, K., Qiu, F., Komatsu, K., Takahashi, K., and Azuma, J. Curcuma drugs and curcumin regulate the expression and function of P-gp in Caco-2 cells in completely opposite ways. Int.J Pharm 6-24-2008;358(1-2):224-2 PubMed
  4. Choi, B. H., Kim, C. G., Lim, Y., Shin, S. Y., and Lee, Y. H. Curcumin down-regulates the multidrug-resistance mdr1b gene by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF kappa B pathway. Cancer Lett. 1-18-2008;259(1):111-118.
  5. Zhang, W., Tan, T. M., and Lim, L. Y. Impact of curcumin-induced changes in P-glycoprotein and CYP3A expression on the pharmacokinetics of peroral celiprolol and midazolam in rats. Drug Metab Dispos. 2007;35(1):110-115. PubMed
  6. Limtrakul, P., Chearwae, W., Shukla, S., Phisalphong, C., and Ambudkar, S. V. Modulation of function of three ABC drug transporters, P-glycoprotein (ABCB1), mitoxantrone resistance protein (ABCG2) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (ABCC1) by tetrahydrocu
  7. Holland, M. L., Panetta, J. A., Hoskins, J. M., Bebawy, M., Roufogalis, B. D., Allen, J. D., and Arnold, J. C. The effects of cannabinoids on P-glycoprotein transport and expression in multidrug resistant cells. Biochem.Pharmacol 4-14-2006;71(8):1146-1154 PubMed
  8. Tang, X. Q., Bi, H., Feng, J. Q., and Cao, J. G. Effect of curcumin on multidrug resistance in resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901/VCR. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2005;26(8):1009-1016. PubMed
  9. Nabekura, T., Kamiyama, S., and Kitagawa, S. Effects of dietary chemopreventive phytochemicals on P-glycoprotein function. Biochem.Biophys.Res Commun. 2-18-2005;327(3):866-870. PubMed
  10. Romiti, N., Tongiani, R., Cervelli, F., and Chieli, E. Effects of curcumin on P-glycoprotein in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Life Sci. 1998;62(25):2349-2358. PubMed
  11. Yue, G. G., Cheng, S. W., Yu, H., Xu, Z. S., Lee, J. K., Hon, P. M., Lee, M. Y., Kennelly, E. J., Deng, G., Yeung, S. K., Cassileth, B. R., Fung, K. P., Leung, P. C., and Lau, C. B. The role of turmerones on curcumin transportation and P-glycoprotein acti
  12. Pochet S, Lechon AS, Lescrainier C, et al. Herb-anticancer drug interactions in real life based on VigiBase, the WHO global database. Sci Rep 2022;12(1):14178. 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

Turmeric Also Interacts With Other Medications

Turmeric has 1,055 moderate, 77 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Apixaban one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,055 Minor 77 No known interaction 1,698 (incl. Apixaban)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Turmeric

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Turmeric or Apixaban

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

This page covers Turmeric only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Apixaban page lists 285 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Grapefruit (major), Piracetam (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 5 major · 240 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Apixaban page

“St. John's wort can weaken apixaban (Eliquis), speeding how the body clears this blood thinner and leaving you less protected from the strokes and clots it is prescribed to prevent.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Apixaban interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,368 real supplement products containing Turmeric, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Turmeric. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Apixaban too, on top of Turmeric — 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 Turmeric and Apixaban 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 Turmeric
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Apixaban
Most looked up

#1 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 Turmeric

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Inflammation
  • Digestive upset
  • Antioxidant support
  • Skin conditions

Turmeric is a popular spice whose main active compounds, curcuminoids, are studied mostly for inflammation and joint pain. Some research is promising, but quality is mixed and curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own. For most people, dietary amounts are safe, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking concentrated supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.

Read the full Turmeric monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Apixaban

What Is Apixaban Used For?

Brand name: Eliquis

Apixaban is used to reduce the risk of stroke and dangerous clots traveling through the body in adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm not caused by a heart valve problem). It is also used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT — a blood clot in the leg) in adults after hip or knee replacement surgery, and to treat DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE — a blood clot in the lungs) in adults, including reducing the risk of those clots coming back.

Eliquis (the brand-name tablet and kit) is additionally approved to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE — blood clots in the veins) and reduce the risk of recurrent VTE in pediatric patients from birth and older, after at least 5 days of initial anticoagulant treatment. The generic apixaban tablet carries the adult indications only.

See full Apixaban drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Turmeric

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

0Major
1,055Moderate
77Minor
1,697No known interaction
1,055 Moderate 77 Minor 1,697 No interaction
Moderate

1,055 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,055 moderate interactions — see all 1,055 on the Turmeric page.

Minor

77 interactions

Showing 60 of 77 minor interactions — see all 77 on the Turmeric page.

No interaction 1,697 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,697 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Turmeric list.

See the full Turmeric interactions page
See every supplement checked against Apixaban, ranked by severity
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
Turmeric monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Apixaban supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Apixaban, ranked by severity Apixaban drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Turmeric and Apixaban Together: Common Questions

Can you take Turmeric with Apixaban?
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.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Turmeric and Apixaban?
Apixaban belongs to more than one drug category, and Turmeric interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Turmeric and Apixaban 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 Apixaban and Turmeric?

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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.