NutriStack
Garlic Extract and Ibuprofen, a caution.
Concentrated garlic extract may add antiplatelet activity to ibuprofen's bleeding risk. This is most relevant with high-dose garlic products, repeated ibuprofen use, upcoming procedures, ulcer history, or other blood-thinning medicines. Culinary garlic in food is much less concerning than supplement-dose extract.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Garlic Extract and Ibuprofen
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Emerging
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Emerging evidence
Caution
What is happening. Concentrated garlic extract may add antiplatelet activity to ibuprofen's bleeding risk. This is most relevant with high-dose garlic products, repeated ibuprofen use, upcoming procedures, ulcer history, or other blood-thinning medicines. Culinary garlic in food is much less concerning than supplement-dose extract.
Mechanism. Garlic preparations can affect platelet aggregation and bleeding time in human studies. Ibuprofen can reversibly inhibit platelet COX-1 and increase NSAID-related GI mucosal injury, creating additive pharmacodynamic bleeding risk.
Recommendation. Avoid high-dose garlic extract while using ibuprofen regularly. Stop garlic extract before procedures if your surgical team recommends it, and watch for nosebleeds, bruising, black stools, or vomiting blood.
Sources (2)
- Fakhar H, Hashemi Tayer A. Effect of the Garlic Pill in comparison with Plavix on Platelet Aggregation and Bleeding Time. Iran J Ped Hematol Oncol. 2012;2(4):146-152. PMID 24575255
- Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Arroyo MT, Lanas A. Adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, aspirin and coxibs) on upper gastrointestinal tract. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2010;24(2):121-132. PMID 20227026
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Garlic Extract and Ibuprofen are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
Check your full routine
One pair was the worked example. NutriStack runs every pair in your stack at once.
Drop in your supplements and prescriptions and the public database surfaces every interaction, synergy, timing rule, and contraindication, every one linked to its primary source.