Food and medicine interaction
Turmeric and curcumin supplements and warfarin, clopidogrel and other blood thinners
TheoreticalEvidence level: theoretical. Suggested by how the food and the drug work, or by lab data. Not shown in people.
Last reviewed
What can happen
Turmeric supplements are often said to add to bleeding risk with blood thinners. The evidence is thin: in a rat study curcumin changed warfarin and clopidogrel levels without changing clotting, and good human data are lacking.
- Why it happens
- Curcumin may affect drug-metabolizing enzymes and platelet function in lab and animal studies.
- At ordinary food amounts
- Turmeric used as a spice in cooking is not the concern. Supplements, especially high-absorption curcumin products, are.
What to do
Ask your prescriber before taking turmeric or curcumin supplements with any blood thinner, and tell your care team before surgery. NCCIH advises talking to your provider before using any herbal product with medicines.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to the prescriber.
Common questions
Can I have turmeric and curcumin supplements while taking anticoagulants?
Ask your prescriber before taking turmeric or curcumin supplements with any blood thinner, and tell your care team before surgery. NCCIH advises talking to your provider before using any herbal product with medicines. Turmeric used as a spice in cooking is not the concern. Supplements, especially high-absorption curcumin products, are.
Sources
Related
- RemedyTurmeric: the full evidence pageCurcumin capsules have eased knee osteoarthritis pain in trials, but cooking with turmeric delivers very little curcumin, and some high-absorption products have been linked to liver injury.
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