Drug interactions
Ginkgo biloba + Ibuprofen
Severity: Moderate
Ginkgo biloba and Ibuprofen: 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
Ginkgo has been associated with case reports of spontaneous bleeding, and it may inhibit platelet activating factor. Together with ibuprofen, the risk of bleeding, particularly gastrointestinal, may be increased.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ginkgo biloba and Ibuprofen 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: ginkgo antagonizes platelet-activating factor while ibuprofen inhibits cyclooxygenase-dependent platelet aggregation.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid ginkgo while taking regular NSAIDs, or monitor for bruising, black stools and other bleeding. Stop ginkgo before surgical procedures.
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 Ibuprofen
- Ibuprofen + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Ibuprofen + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Ibuprofen Major
- Alteplase + Ibuprofen Major
- Amiloride + Ibuprofen Major
- Apixaban + Ibuprofen Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ginkgo biloba with Ibuprofen?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ginkgo biloba and Ibuprofen 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. Ginkgo has been associated with case reports of spontaneous bleeding, and it may inhibit platelet activating factor. Together with ibuprofen, the risk of bleeding, particularly gastrointestinal, may be increased.
How serious is the interaction between Ginkgo biloba and Ibuprofen?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid ginkgo while taking regular NSAIDs, or monitor for bruising, black stools and other bleeding. Stop ginkgo before surgical procedures.
What other medicines interact with Ibuprofen?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ibuprofen with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Ibuprofen page.
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