Drug interactions
Garlic + Reteplase
Severity: Moderate
Garlic and Reteplase: 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
Garlic supplements have antiplatelet activity and may add to the bleeding risk of a thrombolytic such as reteplase. The clinical evidence is limited, but thrombolysis already carries a substantial hemorrhagic risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Garlic and Reteplase 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 effects on hemostasis: garlic inhibits platelet aggregation while reteplase causes fibrinolysis.
What to do
Ask about herbal supplement use before thrombolytic therapy and advise stopping garlic supplements where feasible. Monitor for bleeding during and after reteplase administration.
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 Reteplase?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Garlic and Reteplase 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. Garlic supplements have antiplatelet activity and may add to the bleeding risk of a thrombolytic such as reteplase. The clinical evidence is limited, but thrombolysis already carries a substantial hemorrhagic risk.
How serious is the interaction between Garlic and Reteplase?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Ask about herbal supplement use before thrombolytic therapy and advise stopping garlic supplements where feasible. Monitor for bleeding during and after reteplase administration.
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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