Drug & supplement interaction

Wintergreen + Warfarin Sodium

Warfarin Sodium brand names: Coumadin, Panwarfin, Sofarin.

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

Wintergreen has a major interaction with Warfarin Sodium. Using wintergreen oil topically might increase the effects and adverse effects of warfarin.

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

Wintergreen and Warfarin Sodium

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

Major

WARFARIN (Coumadin)

Using wintergreen oil topically might increase the effects and adverse effects of warfarin.
Several case reports show that concomitant use of topical wintergreen oil-containing products and warfarin can increase INR and bleeding risk due to systemic absorption of the methyl salicylate contained in wintergreen oil. Topical analgesic gels, lotions, creams, ointments, liniments, and sprays can contain up to 55% methyl salicylate.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing about rubbing wintergreen products on your skin while you're taking warfarin. Wintergreen oil is loaded with methyl salicylate, which acts a lot like aspirin once it gets into your body. Even though you're putting it on your skin, enough can soak in to nudge your warfarin's effect higher. That can push your INR up and raise your risk of bleeding.

Warfarin is a narrow therapeutic index drug, so even small shifts matter. Watch for things like easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, pink or dark urine, or cuts that won't stop. The evidence here is mostly case reports, not large studies, but with a blood thinner I'd play it safe. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before using any wintergreen rub, gel, or cream.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Chan TY. Potential dangers from topical preparations containing methyl salicylate. Hum Exp Toxicol 1996;15:747-50.
  2. Joss JD, LeBlond RF. Potentiation of warfarin anticoagulation associated with topical methyl salicylate. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:729-33. 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

Wintergreen Also Interacts With Other Medications

Wintergreen has 1 major, 35 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.

Major 1 Moderate 35 No known interaction 2,794 (incl. Warfarin Sodium)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Wintergreen

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Wintergreen 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 Wintergreen 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 Wintergreen 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 Wintergreen as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 42 real supplement products containing Wintergreen, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Wintergreen. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Warfarin Sodium too, on top of Wintergreen — 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 Wintergreen 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 Wintergreen
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Warfarin Sodium
Top 1%

#25 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 Wintergreen

What is Wintergreen?

  • Muscle and joint pain (topical)
  • Arthritis discomfort
  • Headaches
  • Sore throat and oral care
  • Flavoring agent

Wintergreen is a low-growing North American plant whose oil is rich in methyl salicylate, an aspirin-like compound used in topical pain rubs. While it may help ease minor muscle and joint pain when applied to the skin, the concentrated oil is highly toxic if swallowed and should never be taken by mouth. Talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using wintergreen products, especially around children.

Read the full Wintergreen 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 & Wintergreen

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

1Major
35Moderate
0Minor
2,793No known interaction
1 Major 35 Moderate 2,793 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

35 interactions

No interaction 2,793 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,793 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Wintergreen list.

See the full Wintergreen interactions page
See every supplement checked against Warfarin Sodium, 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
Wintergreen monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Warfarin Sodium supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Warfarin Sodium, ranked by severity Warfarin 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 Wintergreen and Warfarin Sodium Together: Common Questions

Can you take Wintergreen with Warfarin Sodium?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Wintergreen and Warfarin Sodium interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Warfarin Sodium and Wintergreen?

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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.