Ginkgo Biloba & Drug Interaction

Drug interaction could be an effect one may potentially notice when using Ginkgo Biloba extracts. The use of Ginkgo Biloba in treating various bodily disorders has been practiced for years. Widespread use of ginkgo extracts was reputed to be started in China 5,000 years ago. The Ginkgo Biloba tree has been in existence for the past 250 million years. This living fossil’s phenomenal journey through time is almost miraculous. And no wonder people are using ginkgo to find links to its longevity.

The Ginkgo Biloba tree was thought to be extinct until in 1690 when a German botanist discovered it in China’s illustrious pagoda gardens maintained by the Buddhist monks. Since then, Ginkgo Biloba has been cultivated for medicinal purposes. And Ginkgo Biloba farms can be found everywhere in the world including Europe where it has gained immense popularity.

Interaction is apparent in some drugs and therapy. For patients who are using medications, they should take caution in administering ginkgo to avoid drug interaction complications. But positive Ginkgo Biloba interaction could also be noticed in some drugs.  Interactions could be positive or negative depending on the drugs.

Positive interaction is reported when using cyclosporine drugs. When combined with cyclosporine, ginkgo Biloba is known to help protect cell membranes from damage. Biloba drug ginkgo interaction proved to be useful in cases like this. Another positive interaction could be found in using papaverine. When combined with papaverine, Ginkgo Biloba may be effective in treating erectile dysfunction. With the aid of Ginkgo Biloba, papaverine might be more effective since ginkgo has similar properties as papaverine.

Ginkgo Biloba drug interaction is also apparent in anti-depressant drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). Ginkgo Biloba may increase the effects of both good and bad MAOIs. This could be beneficial or negative depending on the interaction.

Ginkgo Biloba is reported to have an adverse effect when combined with some drugs. Although these reports are rare and unverifiable, precaution is still advised to prevent negative interaction.

Negative drug interaction could be possible when using anticonvulsant medications. Gingko Biloba may decrease the effectiveness of anticonvulsant drugs which is taken to control seizures such as carbamazepine or valproic acid.

Possible negative interaction may also be noticed in anti-coagulant medications. Because of ginkgo’s anticoagulant or blood thinning properties, it is not advisable to take it with  anti-coagulant products. Precaution should be exercised when taking blood thinning medications, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, heparin, ticlopidine, or warfarin.

Ginkgo Biloba may also increase blood pressure in patients when taken with thiazide diuretics during treatment. It could also produce adverse effects when combined with trazodone, another anti-depressant medication. Ginkgo Biloba drug interaction with trazodone could cause coma to the patient.

Drug interaction should be taken into serious consideration when combining ginkgo extracts with medications. Drug interactions may be avoidable if you take the recommended dosage of ginkgo extracts or refrain from taking ginkgo extracts in cases where negative drug interactions could manifest.