Quick Answer: Can You Safely Take Turmeric / Curcumin with Xarelto?
Turmeric is well known for its blood-thinning properties. Xarelto is a blood-thinning drug used to prevent the formation of blood clots. Therefore, it has been suggested that taking turmeric with Xarelto may increase the therapeutic activity. However, taking Xarelto with high amounts of turmeric is not recommended as turmeric may aggravate the drug’s blood-thinning effects. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor before taking turmeric with Xarelto.
Dietary consumption of turmeric is safe with Xarelto, but turmeric in high doses is not recommended along with regular Xarelto therapy.
Since turmeric has anti-platelet activity, large amounts of turmeric or turmeric/curcumin supplements should be avoided as it may aggravate the blood thinning effects of the drug.
It is important that you please consult a health practitioner before taking turmeric/curcumin supplements or turmeric powder in large quantities along with Xarelto.
Table of Contents
Can you Take Turmeric with Xarelto
As per available studies, turmeric consumption with Xarelto may be of concern in two ways.
1. It may elevate the blood-thinning effect of the drug
Xarelto or rivaroxaban, is a blood-thinning medicine used to prevent the coagulation of blood and the formation of blood clots. It is commonly used for treating thrombosis and related disorders.
It works by inhibiting the enzyme Factor Xa responsible for bringing about coagulation. [1] [2]
Turmeric and its active compound curcumin are known for their cardioprotective properties.
Read: Turmeric benefits to Heart
They are strong anticoagulants, due to which they have proved to be beneficial in treating disorders like deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and arterial fibrillation. [3] [4] [5]
Studies have shown that turmeric has the same mechanism of action as Xarelto.
Turmeric also carries out its blood-thinning effects by suppressing the same enzyme Factor Xa. [6][7]
As both Xarelto and turmeric have similar action, taking them together may increase the therapeutic activity.
Studies have shown the possible interaction of turmeric with anti-coagulants and antiplatelet agents. This interaction is synergistic in nature, which means that combined, they have an increased effect. [8]
However, this may also aggravate the side effects of Xarelto in some individuals which include severe internal bleeding or bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
If one is planning on taking turmeric or curcumin supplements for a particular health condition, together with Xarelto, it is recommended to consult a healthcare practitioner.
This will help in preventing any unwanted effects on health.
2. Turmeric may affect metabolism of Xarelto in the body
Turmeric has low bioavailability due to which it is often used with black pepper in the golden paste.
Read: How to increase absorption of turmeric?
The active component of black pepper, piperine is a bioenhancer and increases absorption of turmeric, curcumin and also some drugs.[9] [10]
Thus, it is essential to consider the effect of piperine, turmeric, and curcumin on drug pharmacokinetics.
Preliminary studies have hinted at the fact that Curcumin from turmeric and Piperine in black pepper can affect the process of drug metabolism and absorption.
Curcumin and piperine inhibit enzyme Cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-glycoprotein, both of which play a vital role in drug metabolism. [11] [12] [13]
Moreover, the drug Xarelto is a substrate of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein and is metabolised by these enzymes. Hence, according to scientists, it should not be used concomitantly with substances that inhibit both these proteins.[14]
Based on these studies, it can be said that turmeric may lower drug metabolism which further reduces the therapeutic action.
It also makes the drug remain in the body for an extended period which may result in increased side effects, if any.
However, these are laboratory results, and there is very low possibility of occurrence of the same effect in humans.
Also, further research and more extensive trials are required to ascertain these facts in human patients.[15]
Bottomline
It is clear that problems when taking turmeric alongside Xarelto may happen when either supplements are taken or a large amount of powder.
Dietary intake (as a spice) of turmeric is safe with the drug as it contains curcumin in low amounts, which is unlikely to have significant effects.
While taking turmeric it is advised to maintain a gap of 3-4 hours to avoid possible interaction.
Taking the drug 3-4 hours before taking turmeric will ensure that most of the drug is already metabolised before the inhibitory action of turmeric takes place.
Despite providing these precautionary measures, we strongly advise consulting a suitable health practitioner before taking turmeric/curcumin supplements with any blood-thinning medicines including Xarelto.
If you are blood-thinning medications and have taken turmeric along with it, do share your feedback to help others.
Frequently Asked Questions
A study showed that curcumin and its derivative, bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), possessed antithrombotic activities. It prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. It inhibited thrombin and FXa activities. Therefore, the daily consumption of turmeric may help maintain anticoagulant status.
Turmeric may slow down blood clotting. Anticoagulant drugs, including aspirin, clopidogrel, diclofenac, are medications that may slow blood clotting. Therefore taking turmeric along with antiplatelets may have an added effect increasing the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Few medicines and supplements may affect rivaroxaban. It includes any anticoagulants, drugs to treat fungal or bacterial infections, drugs to treat HIV, drugs to treat epilepsy and NSAIDs. It is recommended not to take St John’s wort (herbal remedy for depression), turmeric while taking Xarelto.
With the supply shortages that we may be facing, if we run out of RX of xarelto, what would be the amount of Turmeric equivalent to a 10 mg dosage of xarelto per day, until rx was again available?
I developed blood clots twice in my lungs and legs in a two month time span and now I’m on Xarelto for life. I prefer turmeric instead. I been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and it found that Xarelto and induce ocular Myasthenia Gravis. I have 500mg turmeric pills and I have turmeric tea. I use one tea bag with lots of water one day only and the xarelto the next day only to keep them from interacting. But now I’m afraid to continue these ritual because I don’t know how much turmeric I’m get per tea bag.
I tried to get off Xarelto and go all natural, and take tumeric/ginger and cinnamon. They alone didn’t help as I got another blood clot, so I went. Ack on Xarelto. I now take Xarelto in morning and take a small drop quarter of a doppler of tumeric at night and no side effects. I have factor v leiden so Xarelto for life for me, unless there is a cure. Hope to read others thoughts.
I had blood clots show up after surgery on my spine where two vertebrae were removed and a titanium cage was substituted – I had compression fractures from metastasized breast cancer in my spine. I was off my feet for weeks and I developed blood clots in my lungs. My doctor put me on Xarelto but I was also taking curcumin. I started to have bleeding elsewhere in my body and they were worried because I looked like I had hot spots develop in some of my organs with no masses attached to them. What was happening was that I was bleeding. I had to quit taking curcumin and the problem immediately went away. When I quit the curcumin my feet started to swell a bit – not much, but it is there. I am finding that quite annoying as I now have added a water pill into my regimen. I am very lucky as my cancer has been in remission for some time now. I have started to see what I can learn about the possibility of going back to the curcumin and getting off the xarelto. It might even be that I can also give up the water pill. Wish me luck!
Hi. We are really sorry to hear about what you faced. But really glad to hear that the cancer has been in remission. We wish you speedy recovery and better health. Please consult your doctor before taking curcumin.
I have been taking a small amount of Tumeric paste..about a half inch with xarelto..no issue’s…
I have had one clot in my right knee which floated up to my lung, and was a minor problem, solved by Xarelto etc., and I take 10 mg daily with my breakfast… but I am a huge fan of Tumeric/curcumin and black pepper/poperine… and have discussed dropping Xarelto completely. I am 81 and have great “numbers”, and take many supplements, chosen wisely, and tracked by content and usefulness on a spreadsheet. When I have an appointment with my doctors, they listen to me… Gawd! don’t those people take the time to read anything but the crapola put out by the Big Pharm? I have provided so many medical tips… and they just sit there, dazed. Thank me, and I HOPE they act on my research. I pass the Word around as I find them, and my friends online appreciate the heads’up… but it is amazing how in the dark standard MDs are. I am a non-medical doctor, but specialize in research writing… my daughter once told me I was not a doctor of oweeee. Kids are so perceptive.
I agree with you about the attitude of doctors. I been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and it found that Xarelto and induce ocular Myasthenia Gravis. I have 500mg turmeric pills and I have turmeric tea. I use one tea bag with lots of water one day only and the xarelto the next day only to keep them from interacting. But now I’m afraid to continue these ritual because I don’t know how much turmeric I’m get per tea bag.
I take vitamin k with tumeric. Since Vitamin k is a natural anticoagulant, is it also not advised as with Xarelto to take in combination with turmeric?
I have been taking both! omg…I hope I don’t die. I’m taking 20mg of Xarelto, and 500mg of Turmeric, I think. whatever comes in the bottle. After my grandma pass from been told to stop taking blood thinning medication, 2 PEs, an uncle that died already from a PE, and having a gene mutation or blood disorder, I figured to start again. I have been feeling a pain on the lower right side and then now it has moved to under my rib cage. I think is a clot that I had there back in January… hopefully taking these two would watered it down enough not to kill me. We shall see, I should make an appointment with my doctor. 🙁 By the way I have to take blood thinners for life. So that’s why I wanted to try Turmeric, just so that I don’t have to spend $4,800 if I live to another 40 years.