Questions About Taking Garlic, Cumin And Chili With Eliquis
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not Eliquis interacts with certain spices.
I’m on 5mg of Eliquis twice a day and 37.5 mg of metoprolol once a day. Can I add traditional spices to my chili? Specifically, garlic, chili powder, and cumin? What’s the point of cooking chili after all without flavor? Thanks in advance.
Jan 28, 2023- The small amounts of garlic, cumin, and chili used in cooking are unlikely to cause problems with Eliquis, though these spices have mild blood-thinning effects in theory.
- Watch for signs of unusual bruising or bleeding if you consume these spices regularly while taking Eliquis.
- Garlic supplements (rather than food amounts) could potentially lower blood pressure too much when combined with metoprolol.
Answer
I agree chili would be no good without the spices! I'll discuss the three you mention in your question (garlic, chili, and cumin) in regard to drug interactions with Eliquis and metoprolol.
Although the small amounts of each of these that you use in food would be very unlikely to cause clinically significant drug interactions, there are some concerns to be aware of.
Cumin, Garlic, And Chili With Eliquis
All three of the spices you are asking about (cumin, garlic, and chili) have been reported to have mild-blood thinning effects, and therefore have a theoretical interaction with any drug that does the same (such as Eliquis, warfarin, Pradaxa, Plavix, Eliquis, warfarin, Pradaxa, Plavix, etc.). You can read more details on each interaction via other pages on our site:
However, it is important to note that the purported blood-thinning effects of these spices have generally only been observed in small lab studies (i.e., not in humans).
Additionally, in studies that have linked certain spices to minor bleeding episodes, the spices were generally taken as an extract in supplement form (e.g., garlic extract). It's quite unlikely that the small amount of spice used in food would cause a clinically significant interaction.
Nevertheless, these theoretical interactions are important to be aware of. If you consume foods that contain spices like garlic, cumin, and chili while taking a blood thinner, be sure to keep an eye out for easy bruising or other signs of bleeding.
What About Blood Pressure?
Garlic has been studied for its purported blood-pressure-lowering effects and it's often marketed as helping to support healthy blood pressure (like Garlique).
Taking garlic with metoprolol, a blood pressure medication, could potentially cause blood pressure to drop too low, causing symptoms of hypotension (e.g., lightheadedness, and dizziness).
Again, just like I discussed in the section above, this interaction is likely only of concern if you are taking garlic in the amounts found in supplements. The low amounts of spice used in food likely won't cause a clinically significant interaction, but it is important to be aware of.
Final Words
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References & sources
- Antiplatelet effect of capsaicin — PubMed
- Inhibition of platelet aggregation by capsaicin. An effect unrelated to actions on sensory afferent neurons — PubMed
- Extracts from two frequently consumed spices--cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa)--inhibit platelet aggregation and alter eicosanoid biosynthesis in human blood platelets — PubMed
- Curcumin, a major component of food spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) inhibits aggregation and alters eicosanoid metabolism in human blood platelets — PubMed
- Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Eliquis
- A prescription blood thinner medication used to help prevent blood clots.
- Drug interactions
- When two substances taken together affect how each other works in your body.
- Blood-thinning effects
- The ability of a substance to make blood less likely to clot or form blockages.
- Clinically significant
- Large enough to actually cause noticeable health effects in a real person.
- Extract
- A concentrated form of a substance made by removing the active parts from a plant or food.
- Metoprolol
- A prescription medication that lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
- Hypotension
- A condition where blood pressure drops too low, which can cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Warfarin
- A prescription blood thinner medication used to prevent dangerous blood clots.
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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