Blog
Ginkgo Before Surgery: When to Stop and Who to Tell
Ginkgo before surgery is a question for your surgical team. FDA says a health care professional may ask you to stop supplements two to three weeks before a procedure to avoid changes in heart rate, blood pressure or bleeding risk. Tell everyone involved about every capsule, and keep taking prescribed medicine as directed.
By the MemoPryl label deskUpdated · 4 min read
Should I stop ginkgo before surgery?
Ask your surgeon or anesthesiologist, because the answer is theirs to give. FDA says a clinician may ask you to stop supplements two to three weeks before a procedure (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
The reason is practical. Supplements can change heart rate, blood pressure or bleeding risk, and ginkgo is one of the items FDA names as able to thin the blood (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
This applies to dental procedures too. Tell the dentist what you take.
The window exists because the body takes time to clear a supplement. A short pause the night before may not be enough, so ask early rather than late. If your date is close, call the surgical office today.
Pausing a supplement is a different matter from pausing a prescription. Never change a prescription unless your surgeon or doctor says so.
Why does ginkgo matter for surgery?
Because of bleeding. NCCIH says ginkgo may increase bleeding risk (NCCIH, Ginkgo), and Memorial Sloan Kettering lists case reports of spontaneous bleeding with it (MSK, Ginkgo).
During and after an operation, the team wants blood to clot as expected. A supplement that nudges bleeding risk upward is worth flagging, even if the chance is small.
The same caution covers aspirin, warfarin and vitamin E, which FDA lists with ginkgo (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
What should I tell the surgical team?
Tell them every supplement, vitamin and herb you take, with the name and the date you last took it.
- When the date is set
Bring the bottle or a photo to the pre-surgery visit and read out each name on it.
- Two to three weeks before
This is the window FDA mentions. Follow the exact date your team gives you (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
- The day before
Confirm once more that your list is complete and your prescriptions are on it.
| Person | Why |
|---|---|
| Surgeon | Sets the stopping date |
| Anesthesiologist | Checks heart and blood pressure effects |
| Dentist | Dental work can bleed too |
MemoPryl: capsules in 2, 3 or 6 bottlesRead the bottle · check medicines first · 60-day window (confirm)
See packsDoes MemoPryl contain ginkgo?
Ginkgo biloba leaf is named on a sibling MemoPryl pack. Nothing confirms it for the bottle you receive.
No image we have prints directions or warnings, so the bottle that arrives is the source of truth. If it lists ginkgo, show it to the surgical team. More on the ginkgo ingredient page.
Thinking about MemoPryl?Check your medicines with a pharmacist first. The checkout confirms prices and the 60-day window.
Middle pack
3 bottles
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle · Not listed on the pack
Get 3 bottlesLargest pack
6 bottles
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle · Not listed on the pack
Get 6 bottlesUntil the seller confirms its list, prices stay as fill-in fields. The checkout shows the final total.
FAQ01
Questions people ask about MemoPryl
Do I need to tell my dentist about ginkgo?
Yes. FDA's advice about stopping supplements applies to procedures in general, and a tooth extraction can bleed. Tell the dentist every supplement you take and follow their instructions.
Is ginkgo the only supplement to tell my surgeon about?
No. Tell the team about every supplement, vitamin and herb. FDA also lists aspirin, warfarin and vitamin E as items that can thin the blood, so mention those as well.
What if my surgery is next week and I take ginkgo?
Call your surgeon's office today and say what you take. Do not guess a stopping date. They will tell you what to do and whether the date needs a second look.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Each page draws on the bottle images, the seller's product notes and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by MemoPryl USA retail, not by the manufacturer or the distributor of the bottle. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
Related MemoPryl reading
MemoPryl USA retail
Ready to look at MemoPryl?
Read the bottle you receive and go over your medicines with a pharmacist before you pick a pack. The checkout confirms prices and the guarantee terms.
- Order desk: +1 (302) 200-3480
- 60-day window (confirm at checkout)
- Ships from the U.S. unless the checkout says otherwise