Is Ginkgo Safe if You Take a Blood Thinner? What to Know Before NeuroRecall
Quick answerGinkgo may raise the risk of bleeding in people who take blood thinners such as warfarin, according to NCCIH. Neuro Recall lists ginkgo second in its 635 mg blend, so it can hold up to 317.5 mg per serving. If you take a blood thinner or daily aspirin, or have surgery coming up, ask your doctor before you start.
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Why is ginkgo a bleeding question?
Ginkgo is one of the oldest memory herbs on store shelves. It also carries a clear safety flag for people on heart medicines. NCCIH says ginkgo may raise the risk of bleeding, especially in people who take blood thinners such as warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
That matters for a lot of older adults. Blood thinners are common after a heart rhythm problem, a clot or a valve repair. Daily aspirin is common too. So before anyone adds a ginkgo product, the medicine list needs a second look.
- 2ndplace of ginkgo in the Neuro Recall blend
- 317.5 mgthe most ginkgo it can hold per serving
- 1doctor call before you start
Medicines and plans that call for a doctor's OK first
Some medicines and plans call for a doctor's OK before any ginkgo product. The table groups them by situation. If you are not sure what a pill does, read the pharmacy label or call the pharmacist.
| Your situation | Common examples | What to do before ginkgo |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription blood thinner | Warfarin and newer pills prescribed to prevent clots | Ask the prescribing doctor. Do not start on your own. |
| Daily aspirin | Low-dose aspirin for the heart | Ask your doctor, since aspirin also affects clotting. |
| Other anti-clot pills | Medicines given after a stent or stroke | Ask the heart doctor or neurologist who prescribed it. |
| Frequent pain relievers | Over-the-counter pain pills taken most days | Ask the pharmacist whether the combination adds risk. |
| Bleeding disorder | Easy bruising, a known clotting problem | Talk to your doctor before any ginkgo product. |
| Surgery or dental work | Planned operation, tooth extraction, procedure | Tell the surgeon or dentist well ahead of the date. |
What should you do about ginkgo before surgery?
Surgeons and dentists ask about blood thinners for a reason. Bleeding during or after a procedure is harder to control when clotting is slowed. Supplements are easy to forget on the intake form, so bring the bottle.
We do not give a number of days to stop. That depends on the procedure and on you, and your surgeon will set it. The timeline below shows when to speak up.
- When the date is set
Tell the surgeon's office every pill you take, including ginkgo or any memory supplement.
- At the pre-op visit
Bring the bottles. Ask whether to stop the supplement and on what day.
- The day of the procedure
Follow the stop plan you were given. Tell the team again if anything changed.
- After you go home
Restart only when the surgeon or dentist says it is safe.
Which bleeding signs should you watch for?
Many people who take ginkgo may never notice a problem. Still, if you are on any medicine that affects clotting, know the signs of extra bleeding. Write them on the medication list so family members know them too.
Call your doctor if you notice
- Bruises that appear without a bump or grow larger than usual
- A nosebleed that keeps going despite steady pressure
- Gums that bleed a lot when brushing
- Pink, red or brown urine
- Black or tarry stools, or red blood in the stool
- Heavier bleeding from small cuts than you are used to
Signs that need 911
A sudden severe headache, sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or weakness on one side can be signs of a stroke (CDC, Stroke signs). Call 911 and note the time it started.
The ginkgo ceiling in a Neuro Recall serving
Neuro Recall does not print the exact ginkgo amount. In a 635 mg blend of ten, ginkgo holds second place. By the label-order rule, that caps it at 317.5 mg per 2-capsule serving. The real amount could be much lower.
The large GEM trial used 120 mg twice a day, or 240 mg daily (Snitz et al., JAMA 2009). So Neuro Recall could hold a similar amount, or less. You can see the full ingredient list on our Supplement Facts page and more about the herb on our ginkgo biloba page.
Honest note
Even at the studied dose, ginkgo did not slow cognitive decline or lower dementia rates in more than 3,000 older adults over about six years (Snitz et al., JAMA 2009). So the bleeding question is not balanced by a strong memory benefit. That is worth saying out loud to the doctor.
What should you ask your doctor or pharmacist?
Short, clear questions get the most useful answers. Bring these to your next visit or pharmacy call. Bring the Neuro Recall bottle or any other ginkgo product too, so the label can be read.
- 01
Is ginkgo safe with the medicines I take now?
Name each blood thinner, aspirin and pain reliever. Let the doctor weigh the whole list.
- 02
Do any of my other supplements add to bleeding risk?
Some people take several herbs or oils. Ask about all of them together.
- 03
Should I stop it before my procedure?
If surgery or dental work is planned, ask for a stop date and a restart date.
- 04
Which signs mean I should call you?
Get a clear answer about bruising, nosebleeds and stool changes.
- 05
Are there other ingredients in this product I should ask about?
Some memory blends also contain items that lower blood sugar.
Neuro Recall is one such blend. It also has chromium, berberine and alpha lipoic acid, which may lower blood sugar. Our post on berberine and diabetes medicine covers that side. The side effects page lists the rest, and our caregiver guide shows how to keep a medication list for a parent.
If your doctor says yes, how do you start safely?
Sometimes the doctor looks at the list and says a ginkgo product is fine. Even then, a careful start makes problems easier to spot. Change one thing at a time, so you know what caused any new symptom.
A plain notebook works well. Write the start date, the dose from the label and anything unusual you notice. If you help a parent, keep the notebook next to the pill box so both of you can add to it.
Start one new product at a time
Wait a few weeks before adding anything else, so any change is easy to trace.
Follow the label dose
For Neuro Recall, that is 2 capsules a day, or what your health care provider directs.
Keep the bruise check simple
Glance at arms and legs when you dress. Note any new or larger bruises.
Report changes, do not wait
Call the doctor about bleeding signs instead of waiting for the next visit.
Update the medicine list
Add the supplement to the list your pharmacy and every doctor sees.
If a new prescription is added later, such as a blood thinner after a hospital stay, raise the supplement again. A yes from last year does not cover a new medicine.
Ginkgo and blood thinners FAQ
Is ginkgo off limits if I take a blood thinner?
Only with your doctor's approval. NCCIH says ginkgo may increase bleeding risk in people taking blood thinners such as warfarin.
Can I take ginkgo with aspirin?
Ask your doctor first. Aspirin also affects how blood clots, so this site treats daily aspirin the same way as a prescription blood thinner.
Does ginkgo thin your blood?
Ginkgo is not a blood thinner medicine, but NCCIH notes it may raise bleeding risk in some people. That is why it matters most when you already take something that affects clotting.
When should my surgeon hear that I take ginkgo?
Tell your surgeon and dentist that you take it, well before the date. They will tell you if and when to stop and when it is safe to restart.
Is ginkgo safe with Eliquis or Xarelto?
Ask the doctor who prescribed it before adding any ginkgo product. Newer blood thinners still prevent clots, so any extra bleeding risk matters.
What are signs of bleeding to watch for?
Watch for unusual bruising, nosebleeds or gum bleeding that will not stop, blood in urine, or black stools. Call your doctor if you notice any of these.
Could Neuro Recall hold as much ginkgo as the big trial used?
It could. The exact amount is not printed. Ginkgo is second of ten items in a 635 mg blend, so it can weigh at most 317.5 mg per 2-capsule serving.
Can I take ginkgo with fish oil or vitamin E?
Ask your pharmacist. Some supplements are often flagged for bleeding questions, and the safest step is to put every pill on one list for review.
Does ginkgo help memory if I am on a blood thinner?
The bleeding question comes first, and the memory benefit is weak anyway. A six-year trial of over 3,000 older adults found ginkgo did not lower dementia rates.
How much ginkgo is in Neuro Recall?
Ginkgo is the second item in the 635 mg blend, so a serving can hold up to 317.5 mg. The label does not print a separate amount for each item in the blend.
Should I tell my surgeon I take Neuro Recall?
Yes. Ginkgo may raise the risk of bleeding, so tell your surgeon and pharmacist about Neuro Recall before any planned surgery. Ask them whether and when to pause it, and follow their advice.
On a blood thinner? Call your doctor first.
If your doctor says ginkgo is fine for you, read the full Neuro Recall label and check the price and refund terms on the checkout before you pay.
