Drug & supplement interaction

Autumn Crocus + Metformin

Metformin brand names: Glucophage, Metformin.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Autumn Crocus and Metformin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Autumn Crocus and Metformin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Metformin and Autumn Crocus in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Autumn Crocus safety at a glance

Autumn Crocus overall Avoid The raw plant is poisonous and can cause fatal colchicine poisoning.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally. Autumn crocus is a potential mutagen and is associated with significant and potentially fatal adverse effects; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Unsafe When used orally. Autumn crocus is a potential mutagen and is associated with significant and potentially fatal adverse effects; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Metformin and Autumn Crocus? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Metformin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Metformin is filed under 5 classifications — including organic cation transporter 2 (oct2) substrates, antidiabetes drugs, oral drugs. Autumn Crocus has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being colchicine (major) — and none of Metformin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Autumn Crocus Does Interact With Other Medications

Autumn Crocus has 2 major, known drug interactions in our database — Metformin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 No known interaction 2,828 (incl. Metformin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Autumn Crocus

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Autumn Crocus and Metformin May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 2 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Low blood sugar Worth acting on Additional detail

    Autumn Crocus

    “Predominant endocrine symptoms of autumn crocus poisoning include metabolic acidosis, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, and hypoglycemia.”

    Autumn Crocus · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypocalcemia.

    2 sources cited
    1. 99057. Nagesh KR, Menezes RG, Rastogi P, et al. Suicidal plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale. J Forensic Leg Med 2011;18(6):285-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2011.04.008. PubMed
    2. 99058. Brncic N, Viskovic I, Peric R, et al. Accidental plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale: report of two cases. Croat Med J 2001;42(6):673-5.

    Metformin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Metformin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on Additional detail

    Autumn Crocus

    “Predominant pulmonary symptoms of autumn crocus poisoning include tachypnea, respiratory distress or failure, and pleural effusions. Some patients require mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for life support.”

    Autumn Crocus · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ards).

    5 sources cited
    1. 99057. Nagesh KR, Menezes RG, Rastogi P, et al. Suicidal plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale. J Forensic Leg Med 2011;18(6):285-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2011.04.008. PubMed
    2. 99058. Brncic N, Viskovic I, Peric R, et al. Accidental plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale: report of two cases. Croat Med J 2001;42(6):673-5.
    3. 99059. Sundov Z, Nincevic Z, Definis-Gojanovic M, et al. Fatal colchicine poisoning by accidental ingestion of meadow saffron-case report. Forensic Sci Int 2005;149(2-3):253-6. PubMed
    4. 33947. Brvar, M., Kozelj, G., Mozina, M., and Bunc, M. Acute poisoning with autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.). Wien.Klin Wochenschr. 3-31-2004;116(5-6):205-208. PubMed
    5. 99060. Boisramé-Helms J, Rahmani H, Stiel L, Tournoud C, Sauder P. Extracorporeal life support in the treatment of colchicine poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2015;53(8):827-9.

    Metformin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Metformin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea / Vomiting Additional detail

    Autumn Crocus

    “Gastrointestinal symptoms are often the first signs of autumn crocus poisoning and include burning of the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and ileus. These symptoms typically occur within 2-12 hours after oral ingestion, with early onset indicating a poorer prognosis. Pancreatitis has also been reported with severe autumn crocus poisoning.”

    Autumn Crocus · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    6 sources cited
    1. 33947. Brvar, M., Kozelj, G., Mozina, M., and Bunc, M. Acute poisoning with autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.). Wien.Klin Wochenschr. 3-31-2004;116(5-6):205-208. PubMed
    2. 99056. Kritikos A, Spertini O. Reversible granulocyte abnormalities after accidental ingestion of Colchicum autumnale. Blood 2017;130(1):95. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-02-766410. PubMed
    3. 99057. Nagesh KR, Menezes RG, Rastogi P, et al. Suicidal plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale. J Forensic Leg Med 2011;18(6):285-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2011.04.008. PubMed
    4. 99058. Brncic N, Viskovic I, Peric R, et al. Accidental plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale: report of two cases. Croat Med J 2001;42(6):673-5.
    5. 99059. Sundov Z, Nincevic Z, Definis-Gojanovic M, et al. Fatal colchicine poisoning by accidental ingestion of meadow saffron-case report. Forensic Sci Int 2005;149(2-3):253-6. PubMed
    6. 99060. Boisramé-Helms J, Rahmani H, Stiel L, Tournoud C, Sauder P. Extracorporeal life support in the treatment of colchicine poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2015;53(8):827-9.

    Metformin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Metformin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Autumn Crocus but not commonly for Metformin: numbness or tingling, a low platelet count, a low white blood cell count and stomach pain.

Effects for Metformin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Autumn Crocus come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Autumn Crocus in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Unsafe

When used orally. Autumn crocus is a potential mutagen and is associated with significant and potentially fatal adverse effects; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Autumn Crocus or Metformin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Autumn Crocus or Metformin, 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 Metformin

This page covers Autumn Crocus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metformin page lists 258 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 · 217 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metformin page

“Siberian cocklebur is the ingredient I most want anyone taking metformin (Glucophage) to know about. It has caused severe low blood sugar in people, documented in humans, and it should not be combined with any glucose-lowering medication.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1 real supplement products containing Autumn Crocus, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Autumn Crocus. Even though Autumn Crocus itself has no known interaction with Metformin, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Autumn Crocus and Metformin 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 Autumn Crocus
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin
Top 1%

#29 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Autumn Crocus reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Autumn Crocus and Metformin records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Autumn Crocus

What is Autumn Crocus?

Autumn Crocus
  • Gout
  • Familial Mediterranean fever
  • Joint pain and inflammation
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (traditional use)

Autumn Crocus is a highly poisonous plant that contains colchicine, a compound that has real medical value but is dangerous in its raw form. You should never eat the plant or take homemade preparations from it. If you need colchicine for gout or familial Mediterranean fever, use the standardized, FDA-approved prescription product under a doctor's supervision.

Colchicum autumnale · Colchicaceae · Corm (bulb-like underground stem), seeds, and flowers · Rarely used as a raw plant or crude extract; the purified active compound (colchicine) is available only as an FDA-approved prescription medicine

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Autumn Crocus is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Autumn Crocus record says about it on its own.

Autumn Crocus: dosing

There is no safe established dose of the Autumn Crocus plant as a supplement, and it should not be taken in any homemade form. The colchicine content of the plant cannot be reliably measured, so even small amounts can cause serious harm.The only appropriate way to use colchicine is through an FDA-approved prescription product, which has a precise, controlled dose set by your healthcare provider.

From our Autumn Crocus monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Autumn Crocus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Metformin

What Is Metformin Used For?

Brand names: Glucophage, Metformin

Metformin is used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is always used together with diet and exercise, not instead of them.

Metformin hydrochloride tablets and oral solution are approved for adults and children 10 years and older. Metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets — including brands such as Fortamet, Glumetza, and Metformin Hydrochloride Extended Release — are approved for adults only.

See full Metformin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Autumn Crocus

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

2Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,827No known interaction
2 Major 2,827 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

No interaction 2,827 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,827 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Autumn Crocus list.

See the full Autumn Crocus interactions page
See every supplement checked against Metformin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Autumn Crocus References

The 9 references that drive our Autumn Crocus monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. Brvar, M., Kozelj, G., Mozina, M., and Bunc, M. Acute poisoning with autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.). Wien.Klin Wochenschr. 3-31-2004;116(5-6):205-208. PubMed
  4. Kritikos A, Spertini O. Reversible granulocyte abnormalities after accidental ingestion of Colchicum autumnale. Blood 2017;130(1):95. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-02-766410. PubMed
  5. Nagesh KR, Menezes RG, Rastogi P, et al. Suicidal plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale. J Forensic Leg Med 2011;18(6):285-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2011.04.008. PubMed
  6. Brncic N, Viskovic I, Peric R, et al. Accidental plant poisoning with Colchicum autumnale: report of two cases. Croat Med J 2001;42(6):673-5.
  7. Sundov Z, Nincevic Z, Definis-Gojanovic M, et al. Fatal colchicine poisoning by accidental ingestion of meadow saffron-case report. Forensic Sci Int 2005;149(2-3):253-6. PubMed
  8. Boisramé-Helms J, Rahmani H, Stiel L, Tournoud C, Sauder P. Extracorporeal life support in the treatment of colchicine poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2015;53(8):827-9.
  9. Razinger G, Kozelj G, Gorjup V, Grenc D, Brvar M. Accidental poisoning with autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale): a case series. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2021 Jun;59(6):493-9.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Autumn Crocus and Metformin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Autumn Crocus with Metformin?
We do not list a known interaction between Autumn Crocus and Metformin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Autumn Crocus and Metformin have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Autumn Crocus and Metformin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Metformin is filed under 5 classifications, and Autumn Crocus has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Metformin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Autumn Crocus interact with any other medications?
Yes. Autumn Crocus has 2 documented drug interactions in our database — Metformin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Metformin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Metformin has documented interactions with 258 supplements in our database — Autumn Crocus is not one of them. The Metformin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Autumn Crocus monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Metformin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Metformin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Metformin, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 9 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Metformin and Autumn Crocus?

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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.