Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects (Cont.)

Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects to Report

There are a number of potential side effects with ginkgo biloba that you should report to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Seizures
  • Increased bruising or bleeding (ginkgo biloba can increase the risk of bleeding)
  • Nosebleeds
  • Black, tarry stools, bright-red blood in the stool, or vomiting of blood (signs of gastrointestinal bleeding)
  • Signs of a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain), such as vision or speech changes, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or a severe headache
  • Signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, hives, itching, swelling of the mouth or throat, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.
     
Ginkgo seeds (especially fresh seeds) contain a toxin known as ginkgotoxin that can cause seizures and death. Ginkgo leaves (which are used to make ginkgo biloba supplements) contain much less of these toxins. In general, ginkgo seeds should be avoided.
 
Ginkgo biloba supplements contain ginkgolic acid, a toxin that can cause very severe allergic reactions and may be a carcinogen (may increase the risk of cancer) at high doses. Choosing a ginkgo biloba supplement from a reputable manufacturer is a good idea, as these manufacturers are more likely to check the ginkgolic acid levels in their supplements. Make sure that your ginkgo biloba supplement contains less than 5 ppm (parts per million) of ginkgolic acid. Also, fresh or dried ginkgo biloba leaves should generally be avoided (as they are not tested for ginkgolic acid content). It is best to stick with a reputable, tested pharmaceutical-grade ginkgo biloba product.
 

Final Thoughts on Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects

It is possible that you may experience some or none of these ginkgo biloba side effects explained above. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking ginkgo biloba, or if you experience something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect of ginkgo biloba, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;