Drug & supplement interaction

Alfalfa + Acarbose

Acarbose brand names: Precose, Prandase, Glucobay.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Alfalfa has a moderate interaction with Acarbose. Theoretically, alfalfa might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Alfalfa and Acarbose

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Acarbose

Acarbose falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Alfalfa interacts with.

Theoretically, alfalfa might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that alfalfa decreases blood sugar in diabetic mice. Also, in one case report, a diabetic patient experienced hypoglycemia after consuming alfalfa extract. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: alfalfa may have a mild blood sugar lowering effect of its own. When you stack that on top of acarbose, which is already helping keep your post-meal sugars down, the two together could nudge your glucose lower than expected. So this is really about an additive effect, not alfalfa changing how acarbose is broken down.

I'll be honest about the evidence, though. This mostly comes from animal studies and a single patient report, so it's more theoretical than proven. Watch for signs of low sugar like shakiness, sweating, or feeling lightheaded. One tricky note: because acarbose slows sugar absorption, treat any low with glucose tablets, not table sugar. If you want to try alfalfa, check in with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your readings.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gray, A. M. and Flatt, P. R. Pancreatic and extra-pancreatic effects of the traditional anti- diabetic plant, Medicago sativa (lucerne). Br J Nutr. 1997;78(2):325-334.
  2. Rubenstein AH, Levin NW, and Elliott GA. Manganese-induced hypoglycemia. Lancet 1962;1348-1351.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Alfalfa Also Interacts With Other Medications

Alfalfa has 2 major, 580 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Acarbose one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 580 No known interaction 2,248 (incl. Acarbose)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Alfalfa

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Alfalfa. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Alfalfa or Acarbose

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Alfalfa or Acarbose, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acarbose

This page covers Alfalfa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acarbose page lists 281 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Acai (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 240 moderate · 37 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acarbose page

“Acarbose (Precose, Glucobay) is taken with meals to blunt the blood sugar rise after eating, and its supplement list calls for genuine care, starting with the four major-rated entries: heavy alcohol and the herb Siberian cocklebur can strain the liver alongside acarbose, while activated charcoal can soak up oral drugs and cut what reac…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acarbose interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Alfalfa as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 3,559 real supplement products containing Alfalfa, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Alfalfa. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acarbose too, on top of Alfalfa — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Alfalfa and Acarbose Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Alfalfa
Top 10%

#84 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Acarbose
Top 10%

#280 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Alfalfa

What is Alfalfa?

Alfalfa
  • High cholesterol
  • Digestive complaints
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Arthritis and joint pain
  • General nutritional supplement

Alfalfa is a nutrient-rich legume that people use for high cholesterol, menopause symptoms, and general wellness, but solid human evidence for most of these uses is limited. It is best avoided by people with autoimmune diseases, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone with a weakened immune system, and you should check with your pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Read the full Alfalfa monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Acarbose

What Is Acarbose Used For?

Brand names: Precose, Prandase, Glucobay

Acarbose tablets are used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is always used together with a proper diet and regular exercise — not as a replacement for them.

Acarbose can be used on its own or combined with other diabetes medicines, such as sulfonylureas, insulin, or metformin, to further improve blood sugar control.

See full Acarbose drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Alfalfa

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Alfalfa — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

2Major
580Moderate
0Minor
2,247No known interaction
2 Major 580 Moderate 2,247 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

580 interactions

Showing 60 of 580 moderate interactions — see all 580 on the Alfalfa page.

No interaction 2,247 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Alfalfa against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,247 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Alfalfa list.

See the full Alfalfa interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acarbose, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Alfalfa monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acarbose supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acarbose, ranked by severity Acarbose drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Alfalfa and Acarbose Together: Common Questions

Can you take Alfalfa with Acarbose?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Alfalfa and Acarbose interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Acarbose and Alfalfa?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.