Drug interactions
Garlic + Pau d'arco
Severity: Moderate
Garlic and Pau d'arco: 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
Pau d'arco contains naphthoquinones such as lapachol, which can interfere with vitamin K and clotting. With garlic's antiplatelet effects, bleeding risk may increase.
What this interaction means in plain words
Garlic and Pau d'arco 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
Lapachol may antagonize vitamin K-dependent clotting, adding to garlic's antiplatelet effect.
What to do
Avoid using together in patients on anticoagulants or antiplatelets. Monitor for bleeding and stop before surgery.
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 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 Pau d'arco?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Garlic and Pau d'arco 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. Pau d'arco contains naphthoquinones such as lapachol, which can interfere with vitamin K and clotting. With garlic's antiplatelet effects, bleeding risk may increase.
How serious is the interaction between Garlic and Pau d'arco?
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 together in patients on anticoagulants or antiplatelets. Monitor for bleeding and stop before surgery.
What other medicines interact with Garlic?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Garlic with, for example, Saquinavir, Aceclofenac, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Garlic page.
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