Drug interactions
Danshen + Ginko biloba
Severity: Moderate
Danshen and Ginko biloba: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Danshen has antiplatelet and anticoagulant activity and has been associated with raised INR in patients taking warfarin. Added to ginkgo, which may also impair platelet function, bleeding risk could increase.
What this interaction means in plain words
Danshen and Ginko biloba can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive antiplatelet effects through platelet-activating factor antagonism and danshen-related inhibition of platelet aggregation.
What to do
Avoid using the two herbs together, particularly in patients on antithrombotics. Stop both before surgery and monitor for bleeding.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Ginko biloba
- Ginko biloba + Ketorolac Major
- Abciximab + Ginko biloba Moderate
- Aceclofenac + Ginko biloba Moderate
- Acemetacin + Ginko biloba Moderate
- Alteplase + Ginko biloba Moderate
- Anagrelide + Ginko biloba Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Danshen with Ginko biloba?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Danshen and Ginko biloba can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Danshen has antiplatelet and anticoagulant activity and has been associated with raised INR in patients taking warfarin. Added to ginkgo, which may also impair platelet function, bleeding risk could increase.
How serious is the interaction between Danshen and Ginko biloba?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid using the two herbs together, particularly in patients on antithrombotics. Stop both before surgery and monitor for bleeding.
What other medicines interact with Ginko biloba?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ginko biloba with, for example, Ketorolac, Abciximab, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Ginko biloba page.
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