Drug interactions
Garlic + Mefenamic acid
Severity: Minor
Garlic and Mefenamic acid: minor 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
Garlic supplements may have mild antiplatelet activity, which could add to the bleeding risk from mefenamic acid. Evidence is limited and mostly theoretical.
What this interaction means in plain words
Garlic and Mefenamic acid have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Garlic belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Mefenamic acid belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive antiplatelet effects, with garlic constituents inhibiting platelet aggregation and NSAIDs inhibiting cyclooxygenase.
What to do
Counsel patients taking high-dose garlic supplements to report bruising or bleeding. Consider pausing the supplement if bleeding occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Garlic and Mefenamic acid, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Mefenamic acid
- Ketorolac intranasal + Mefenamic acid Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Mefenamic acid Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Mefenamic acid Major
- Acemetacin + Mefenamic acid Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Mefenamic acid Major
- Alteplase + Mefenamic acid Major
Other interactions of Garlic
- Garlic + Saquinavir Major
- Aceclofenac + Garlic Moderate
- Acemetacin + Garlic Moderate
- Aescin + Garlic Moderate
- Alteplase + Garlic Moderate
- Argatroban + Garlic Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Garlic with Mefenamic acid?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Garlic and Mefenamic acid have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Garlic supplements may have mild antiplatelet activity, which could add to the bleeding risk from mefenamic acid. Evidence is limited and mostly theoretical.
How serious is the interaction between Garlic and Mefenamic acid?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel patients taking high-dose garlic supplements to report bruising or bleeding. Consider pausing the supplement if bleeding occurs.
What other medicines interact with Mefenamic acid?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mefenamic acid with, for example, Ketorolac intranasal, Ketorolac, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Mefenamic acid page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
