Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) Ginkgo is used to increase blood flow and circulation throughout the body, while also helping to improve memory.
Herb drug interactions may take place when Ginkgo is used with the following medications:
Anticonvulsant medications- High doses of Ginkgo biloba could possibly decrease the effectiveness of anticonvulsant medication in patients taking carbamazepine or valproic acid to control seizures. Blood-thinning medications - Ginkgo has blood-thinning properties and should not be used if you are taking anticoagulant medications, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, heparin, ticlopidine, or warfarin.
Cylosporine - Ginkgo biloba may actually be beneficial during treatment with cyclosporine because of its ability to protect cell membranes from damage.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) - Ginkgo may enhance the both the positive and negative effects of the antidepressant medications known as MAOIs, including phenelzine and tranylcypromine.
Papaverine - The combination of papaverine and ginkgo may be effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients who do not respond to papaverine alone.
Thiazide diuretics - Although there has been one report in medical literature of increased blood pressure when using ginkgo during treatment with thiazide diuretics, this interaction has not been verified by clinical trials. Nevertheless, you should consult with your healthcare pratictioner before using ginkgo if you are taking thiazide diuretics.
Trazodone- There has been a report of an adverse interaction between ginkgo and trazodone, an antidepressant medication, where an elderly patient went into a coma after combining ginkgo and trazodone.