What teas to avoid while on Eliquis?

October 7, 2025 •

4 min read

Unlike the blood thinner warfarin, Eliquis doesn't have major dietary restrictions related to vitamin K, but certain herbal teas can still pose serious risks. Knowing what teas to avoid while on Eliquis is crucial for managing your bleeding risk and ensuring the medication's effectiveness.

Quick Summary

This article discusses specific herbal teas and supplements, including gingko biloba, St. John's wort, and concentrated green tea, that can interact with Eliquis (apixaban). It explains how these interactions can increase bleeding risk or decrease the medication's effectiveness, and provides guidance on safer alternatives and when to consult a healthcare provider.

Key Points

Ginkgo Biloba is High-Risk: Due to its antiplatelet properties, ginkgo biloba tea should be strictly avoided while taking Eliquis to prevent increased bleeding.
Avoid St. John's Wort: This herb significantly reduces Eliquis levels in the blood, decreasing its effectiveness and raising your risk for blood clots.
Limit Concentrated Herbs: High-dose ginger and turmeric, especially in supplements or extracts, can increase bleeding risk when combined with Eliquis.
Green Tea Caution: While normal green tea is usually fine, concentrated extracts should be avoided due to potential interactions. Discuss significant green tea intake with a doctor.
Grapefruit and Cranberry Juice: Like some herbs, grapefruit and cranberry juice can increase Eliquis levels in the body, which can raise the risk of bleeding.
Consult a Doctor for All Supplements: Always inform your healthcare provider about any herbal teas or supplements you use, as they can screen for potential interactions.

Eliquis (apixaban) is a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) prescribed to prevent and treat blood clots. While it offers more dietary freedom than older blood thinners like warfarin, it's still essential to be mindful of certain food and supplement interactions, especially concerning herbal teas. Many herbs have pharmacological effects that can either increase the risk of bleeding or interfere with how Eliquis is metabolized in the body.

Herbal Teas to Avoid with Eliquis

Some herbal teas contain compounds that can affect blood clotting or alter how your body processes Eliquis, potentially leading to dangerous side effects. These teas and supplements should be approached with caution or avoided entirely, particularly in concentrated forms.

Herbs that Increase Bleeding Risk

Several herbs commonly used in teas possess natural antiplatelet or anticoagulant properties that can have an additive effect when combined with a blood thinner like Eliquis, significantly increasing the risk of bleeding.

Ginkgo Biloba: Often taken for memory and cognitive function, ginkgo has well-documented antiplatelet effects. Using ginkgo biloba tea or supplements while on Eliquis can increase your risk of bleeding or bruising.
Ginger: While small amounts of ginger in food are likely fine, consuming large, medicinal quantities or concentrated supplements via ginger tea may increase bleeding risk due to its antiplatelet properties. Excessive consumption has been linked to bleeding events in patients on other anticoagulants.
Turmeric/Curcumin: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric and its active component, curcumin, may also increase bleeding risk. This is especially a concern with concentrated turmeric supplements, though it applies to excessive tea consumption as well.
Chamomile: Despite often being considered a calming tea, chamomile contains coumarin-like substances that can affect blood coagulation. While normal consumption is likely safe, large amounts of chamomile tea could pose a risk, particularly when combined with anticoagulants.
Dong Quai: A traditional Chinese herb sometimes found in herbal teas, dong quai has known anticoagulant effects and should be avoided.
Feverfew: This herb, sometimes used for migraines, has antiplatelet properties and should not be used with Eliquis.

Herbs that Affect Drug Metabolism

Some herbs can interfere with the enzymes in your liver that break down Eliquis, either reducing its effectiveness or causing it to build up to dangerous levels. These interactions can significantly undermine your treatment plan.

St. John's Wort: This herbal supplement is a powerful inducer of the CYP3A4 enzyme, which is responsible for metabolizing Eliquis. St. John's wort can significantly decrease Eliquis levels in the blood, reducing its effectiveness and increasing your risk of dangerous blood clots.

Green Tea and Other Potential Interactions

While regular consumption of green tea is generally considered safe with Eliquis, the distinction between a brewed beverage and concentrated extracts is critical. Green tea extract contains high concentrations of catechins, which can potentially interfere with drug metabolism. As a precaution, it's best to discuss any significant green tea intake with your doctor.

Comparison of Teas with Eliquis


Tea/Herb	Potential Interaction	Risk Level with Eliquis
Ginkgo Biloba	Antiplatelet effects increase bleeding risk.	High - Avoid
St. John's Wort	Decreases Eliquis levels, reducing effectiveness.	High - Avoid
Ginger (high dose)	Antiplatelet effects increase bleeding risk.	Moderate to High - Limit or avoid concentrated forms
Turmeric (high dose)	Antiplatelet effects increase bleeding risk.	Moderate to High - Limit or avoid concentrated forms
Chamomile (high dose)	Coumarin content may affect coagulation.	Moderate - Limit excessive consumption
Green Tea (concentrated)	Extracts may increase bleeding risk via antiplatelet effects.	Moderate - Avoid extracts; discuss high intake
Peppermint Tea	No known interactions; generally safe.	Low - Safe for most
Rooibos Tea	No known interactions; generally safe.	Low - Safe for most
Standard Black Tea	No known interactions; generally safe.	Low - Safe for most

Safe Teas and Consultation

For those who enjoy a warm beverage, many teas are generally safe for consumption while on Eliquis. These include common choices like peppermint, rooibos, and standard black tea, as they do not have known interactions with apixaban. However, this information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The most important step is always to speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about all supplements, including herbal teas, that you are taking. They can review your specific medical history and other medications to provide personalized guidance.

The Importance of Avoiding Self-Medication

Given the lack of FDA regulation for herbal supplements compared to prescription drugs, the quality and potency of herbal teas and extracts can vary significantly. This inconsistency makes it difficult to predict the exact nature and severity of potential interactions. Simply because an herb is 'natural' does not mean it is safe to combine with a potent medication like Eliquis. Always err on the side of caution and consult a professional before starting any new herbal product.

Conclusion: Caution is Key

Maintaining the correct balance of blood-thinning effects is essential for the safety and effectiveness of Eliquis treatment. While the medication frees patients from the strict vitamin K dietary concerns of older anticoagulants, it does not remove the need for caution with supplements and herbal teas. Herbs such as gingko biloba, St. John's wort, and concentrated forms of ginger and turmeric can pose serious risks by either increasing bleeding or decreasing the drug's efficacy. By avoiding known problematic herbs and consulting a healthcare provider before introducing new ones, you can help ensure your treatment remains safe and effective.

How to Discuss Teas with Your Doctor

When speaking with your doctor or pharmacist about your tea consumption, be prepared to provide details on the specific brand and blend you use. Also, be aware that many herbal supplements are not tested for interactions with prescription drugs. Being proactive and transparent about your complete supplement and dietary regimen is the best way to prevent dangerous interactions.

For more detailed information on Eliquis and its interactions, reputable sources like Drugs.com offer comprehensive checkers. For example, their Eliquis and ginkgo Interactions Checker provides specific risk information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, generally, normal dietary consumption of brewed green tea is considered safe. However, concentrated green tea extracts can pose a risk. Discuss your intake with your doctor, especially if you consume large amounts.

Yes, several herbal supplements can interact with Eliquis. Some, like ginkgo biloba and St. John's wort, are high-risk and should be avoided. Others, like high doses of ginger and turmeric, can increase bleeding risk.

While small amounts of chamomile tea are likely safe, some sources recommend caution with high doses due to coumarin-like substances that can affect blood clotting. It's best to consult your healthcare provider.

Herbal teas can interact with Eliquis by having their own anti-coagulant or anti-platelet effects, which add to Eliquis's blood-thinning effect, or by altering the liver enzymes that metabolize Eliquis.

Yes, many common teas are considered safe with Eliquis, including peppermint tea, rooibos, and standard black tea. They don't have known interactions that affect blood thinning.

You should be cautious with ginger tea. While normal food-level consumption is likely fine, large amounts or concentrated forms, like supplements, should be avoided as they may increase bleeding risk.

No, unlike warfarin, Eliquis is not affected by vitamin K. You do not need to worry about your intake of vitamin K-rich foods or teas, but you still need to be aware of other types of interactions.

The biggest risk is either an increased risk of serious, uncontrolled bleeding or a reduction in the effectiveness of the medication, which can lead to a higher risk of blood clots.