Are Beet Supplements Safe To Take With Eliquis?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not there is an interaction between Eliquis and beet supplements.
Can my husband drink pure beet juice while taking Eliquis?
Jun 20, 2024- There is no known interaction between beet supplements or beet juice and Eliquis.
- Beets contain nitrates that can lower blood pressure, which may be a concern if you're also taking blood pressure medications, but this doesn't apply to Eliquis specifically.
- It's best to discuss beet supplements with your doctor before starting them so you can be appropriately monitored.
Answer
Great question! Thank you for contacting us.
While our drug-herbal interaction checker does show a minor interaction between beets and blood pressure medications (such as lisinopril), there is no known interaction between beets (or beet juice) and Eliquis (apixaban).
Beets contain nitrates, which are metabolized in the body and produce nitric oxide, which can cause blood vessels to widen, potentially lowering blood pressure. Due to this, consuming beets could increase the risk of low blood pressure, especially for those already taking blood pressure medications.
Regarding Eliquis, while beets may influence blood pressure slightly, there is no evidence of a significant interaction with blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs.
Having said that, there unfortunately is very limited data available to go off of so a definitive conclusion on whether or not an interaction exists cannot be made. As a safety precaution, it's always best to speak with your doctor before making any changes to your medication regimen so you can be appropriately monitored.
Final Words
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References & sources
- All-natural nitrite and nitrate containing dietary supplement promotes nitric oxide production and reduces triglycerides in humans — PubMed
- The effect of beetroot inorganic nitrate supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Nitrates
- Chemical compounds found in beets that the body breaks down to produce other substances that affect blood vessels.
- Nitric oxide
- A substance produced in the body that helps relax and widen blood vessels.
- Blood pressure medications
- Drugs prescribed to help lower or control high blood pressure, such as lisinopril.
- Eliquis
- A prescription medication (also called apixaban) that thins the blood to help prevent blood clots.
- Apixaban
- The generic name for Eliquis, a blood-thinning medication.
- Blood thinners
- Medications that reduce the blood's ability to clot and help prevent dangerous blood clots.
- Antiplatelet drugs
- Medications that prevent blood cells called platelets from sticking together to form clots.
- Drug-herbal interaction checker
- A tool or database used to identify potential reactions between prescription medications and natural substances like herbs or foods.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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