Turmeric is a food, but when you take it every day at supplement levels, especially with black pepper, it can change how some medicines work. Usually that’s manageable, as long as your doctor, vet or pharmacist knows about it.
There are two ways this happens:
- Turmeric itself has mild effects on clotting, blood sugar and blood pressure that can add to some medicines.
- Black pepper (piperine) slows how the liver clears certain drugs, which can raise their levels in the blood.
Looking for a specific medicine? Our Medication interactions A–Z guide covers more than 400 medicines for people and animals, with notes on each one.
Medicines to check before starting
Blood thinners and antiplatelets: warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), clopidogrel (Plavix), aspirin. Turmeric can slow clotting. Warfarin is checked regularly with INR tests, but the newer drugs aren’t routinely monitored, so an interaction could go unnoticed. Work with your doctor before adding turmeric.
Surgery: stop turmeric the day before, and restart once you’re eating normally again (or follow your surgeon’s advice).
Diabetes medication and insulin: turmeric may improve insulin sensitivity. Monitor your glucose more closely when starting.
Blood pressure medication: ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers may have a stronger effect. Monitor your blood pressure.
Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics such as amitriptyline): piperine may slow how these are cleared and increase side effects. Be especially careful when changing doses or coming off them.
Strong pain relief (morphine, codeine, fentanyl) and seizure medication (phenobarbital, phenytoin, benzodiazepines): piperine may raise blood levels. Make sure your doctor or vet knows. This matters for dogs on phenobarbital too.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy: some chemotherapy drugs don’t mix with turmeric. Always check with the oncologist, for people and pets.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and enrofloxacin in animals): turmeric may reduce how well they work. Most other antibiotics are fine.
Anti-rejection drugs after a transplant: talk to your specialist first.
Over-the-counter medicines
Many cold and pain products contain aspirin or paracetamol. Read labels, and tell every health practitioner everything you take, turmeric included.
The golden rule
Never stop a prescribed medicine in favour of turmeric. Use it alongside your doctor’s or vet’s care, and let them know you’re taking it.
General information only, not medical or veterinary advice.
Have a question about a specific medicine? Check the A–Z guide, Ask Dr Doug or leave a comment.
Leave a Reply