Does Astaxanthin Interact With Eliquis?

Answer

Hello, and thank you for reaching out with your question!

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid recognized for its strong antioxidant properties. It’s very commonly found in dietary supplements, especially those marketed for eye health.

Regarding potential interactions, we have a comprehensive page on astaxanthin that lists all known or theoretical interactions. We do list a potential interaction with Eliquis (apixaban).

Interaction Details

Laboratory studies indicate that astaxanthin may increase (induce) the activity of the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme, one of the primary drug-metabolizing enzymes in the human body. If astaxanthin meaningfully induces CYP3A4, it could theoretically lower the blood levels of Eliquis (apixaban) by speeding up how quickly the body breaks it down. Since apixaban is a blood thinner used to prevent strokes and treat or prevent dangerous blood clots, any decrease in its level or effectiveness could raise the risk of harmful clots.

However, please note that this interaction is primarily supported by laboratory and limited animal or cell-based data. There is no strong, definitive human research demonstrating that astaxanthin causes a clinically significant interaction with apixaban.

Still, due to the potential seriousness of even minor changes in blood-thinner levels, if you’re thinking about starting astaxanthin while taking apixaban, it’s important to speak with your physician or pharmacist first.

Final Words

I hope this answer helps! Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or concerns and take care!