Can You Take Eliquis And Ashwagandha Together?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the combined use of ashwagandha and Eliquis.
Is it safe to consume ashwagandha and Eliquis daily but at different times?
Apr 12, 2024- No documented interaction has been found between Eliquis and ashwagandha at typical supplement doses. You should still discuss taking ashwagandha with your doctor before starting it, since there are limited studies on this specific combination. Your doctor can monitor you appropriately if you decide to take both together.
Answer
Thank you for reaching out! It's always very important to look into potential interactions between prescription medications and over-the-counter supplements, particularly for individuals taking anticoagulants or other medications that affect blood clotting, so I'm happy to answer this for you.
While our herbal interaction checker highlights several potential interactions between ashwagandha and prescription/over-the-counter medications, we do not currently list an interaction between Eliquis and ashwagandha (Ashwagandha - Apixaban Interaction Details | HelloPharmacist).
There is currently no documented evidence indicating that ashwagandha, at typical supplement doses, has a clinically significant effect on blood coagulation in humans.
While some studies have reported a very minor antiplatelet effect with ashwagandha, this has only been observed in laboratory studies or in animals receiving very high doses of the herb.
Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that it interacts with Eliquis in a clinically significant manner. So, to answer your question specifically, I could find no evidence that Eliquis and ashwagandha are unsafe together.
It's important to note, however, that there is a lack of specific studies evaluating the combined use of ashwagandha and Eliquis. I couldn't find a single one. Therefore, just to be safe, caution is advised, and consulting your doctor before making any changes to your medication regimen is important to do.
Final Words
In summary, while no interaction between ashwagandha and Eliquis is expected based on current knowledge, it's important to let your doctor know about the medication changes you are considering so you can be appropriately monitored.
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Anticoagulants
- Medications that prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger.
- Eliquis
- A prescription anticoagulant medication used to prevent blood clots and reduce stroke risk.
- Ashwagandha
- An herbal supplement derived from a plant that is commonly used in traditional medicine.
- Antiplatelet effect
- The ability to reduce the clumping together of platelets, which are blood cells involved in clotting.
- Blood coagulation
- The process by which blood thickens and forms clots.
- Clinically significant
- Important or noticeable enough to have a meaningful effect on a person's health or treatment.
- Interaction
- A reaction that occurs when two or more medications or supplements affect how each other works in the body.
- Medication regimen
- The complete schedule and set of medications a person takes regularly.
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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