Drug & supplement interaction

American Ginseng + Saxagliptin

Saxagliptin brand name: Onglyza.

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

American Ginseng has a moderate interaction with Saxagliptin. Theoretically, taking American ginseng with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

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

American Ginseng and Saxagliptin

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Saxagliptin

Saxagliptin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group American Ginseng interacts with.

Theoretically, taking American ginseng with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
American ginseng seems to lower postprandial blood glucose. Theoretically, concomitant use with antidiabetes drugs might enhance blood glucose lowering effects and possibly cause hypoglycemia.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

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

Here's the simple version: American ginseng can nudge your blood sugar down a little on its own, especially after meals. Since saxagliptin (Onglyza) is also working to lower your blood sugar, using both together could add up and push your numbers lower than expected.

The good news is that saxagliptin rarely causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) by itself, so this combination is usually low risk. Still, it's worth knowing the warning signs: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, or feeling suddenly hungry or confused. This concern is mostly theoretical and based on limited studies, so I'm not telling you to avoid ginseng. Just keep an eye on your readings and chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding it, particularly if you also take other diabetes meds.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Vuksan V, Sievenpiper JL, Koo VY, et al. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1009-13. PubMed
  2. Vuksan V, Stavro MP, Sievenpiper JL, et al. Similar postprandial glycemic reductions with escalation of dose and administration time of American ginseng in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2000;23:1221-6. PubMed

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

American Ginseng Also Interacts With Other Medications

American Ginseng has 2 major, 214 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Saxagliptin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 214 No known interaction 2,614 (incl. Saxagliptin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against American Ginseng

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Saxagliptin

This page covers American Ginseng only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Saxagliptin page lists 256 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 215 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Saxagliptin page

“Siberian cocklebur is the one supplement anyone on saxagliptin (Onglyza) for type 2 diabetes should avoid outright. Its seeds have caused severe hypoglycemia in people, dropping blood sugar soon after consumption and often worsening from there.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Saxagliptin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 992 real supplement products containing American Ginseng, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides American Ginseng. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Saxagliptin too, on top of American Ginseng — 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 American Ginseng and Saxagliptin 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 American Ginseng
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Saxagliptin
Steady interest

#2,210 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 American Ginseng

What is American Ginseng?

American Ginseng
  • Stress and energy support
  • Immune support and colds
  • Blood sugar management
  • Mental focus and clarity
  • General wellness (adaptogen)

American ginseng is an herbal root used as an 'adaptogen' to support energy, stress, immune function, and blood sugar. Some uses—such as reducing the chance or length of colds and modestly lowering after-meal blood sugar—have early supportive evidence, but most claims are not well proven. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before use, especially if you have a health condition or take medications.

Read the full American Ginseng monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Saxagliptin

What Is Saxagliptin Used For?

Brand name: Onglyza

Saxagliptin tablets are used to help adults with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. It is meant to be used together with diet and exercise, either alone or alongside other diabetes medicines.

Saxagliptin tablets are not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous complication where the blood becomes too acidic).

See full Saxagliptin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & American Ginseng

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

2Major
214Moderate
0Minor
2,613No known interaction
2 Major 214 Moderate 2,613 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

214 interactions

Showing 60 of 214 moderate interactions — see all 214 on the American Ginseng page.

No interaction 2,613 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,613 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full American Ginseng list.

See the full American Ginseng interactions page
See every supplement checked against Saxagliptin, 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
American Ginseng monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Saxagliptin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Saxagliptin, ranked by severity Saxagliptin 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 American Ginseng and Saxagliptin Together: Common Questions

Can you take American Ginseng with Saxagliptin?
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 American Ginseng and Saxagliptin 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 Saxagliptin and American Ginseng?

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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.