Drug & supplement interaction

Blue Cohosh + Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) brand name: Apidra.

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

Blue Cohosh has a moderate interaction with Insulin Glulisine (rDNA). There is some concern that blue cohosh might increase blood glucose levels.

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

Blue Cohosh and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Blue Cohosh interacts with.

There is some concern that blue cohosh might increase blood glucose levels. Theoretically, it might decrease the effectiveness of medicines used for diabetes. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
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

Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a fast-acting mealtime insulin you use to bring high blood sugar down. The worry here is that blue cohosh may nudge blood sugar upward, which could work against your insulin and make it harder to hit your targets. In real life that might show up as readings that run higher than you'd expect, more thirst, or feeling tired.

I want to be honest about how solid this is: it's a theoretical concern based on how the herb may behave, not strong human studies. Still, blue cohosh has real safety risks of its own, especially for the heart and in pregnancy. Please don't change your insulin dose. Check in with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing the two, and watch your numbers more closely if you do.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. 1st ed. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp., 1999.
  2. Scott, C. C. and Chen, K. K. The pharmacological action of N-methylcytisine. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapuetics 1943;79:334-339. DOI

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

Blue Cohosh Also Interacts With Other Medications

Blue Cohosh has 258 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 258 No known interaction 2,572 (incl. Insulin Glulisine (rDNA))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Blue Cohosh

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)

This page covers Blue Cohosh only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) page lists 239 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 1 major · 208 moderate · 30 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) page

“Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a rapid mealtime insulin, and this list calls for real vigilance. All 239 ingredients on file affect blood sugar, most of the 208 moderate entries by adding their own glucose lowering to the insulin's and raising the chance of a serious low.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 126 real supplement products containing Blue Cohosh, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Blue Cohosh. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) too, on top of Blue Cohosh — 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 Blue Cohosh and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) 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 Blue Cohosh
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)
Top half

#840 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 Blue Cohosh

What is Blue Cohosh?

  • Inducing labor or starting menstruation
  • Menstrual cramps and irregular periods
  • Symptoms of menopause
  • Pelvic or uterine discomfort
  • Traditional Native American remedy

Blue cohosh is a traditional herb historically used by Native Americans and midwives to bring on labor or menstruation, but it carries serious safety concerns, especially for the heart and during pregnancy. There is very little reliable human evidence that it works, and reports of harm—including serious problems in newborns—make it an herb most people should avoid without close professional supervision.

Read the full Blue Cohosh monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection

What Is Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection Used For?

Brand name: Apidra

Apidra and Apidra SoloStar are used to improve glycemic control (blood sugar management) in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. This includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Because insulin glulisine works very quickly, it is typically used around mealtimes to control the rise in blood sugar that happens after eating. It is generally used alongside a longer-acting insulin as part of a complete diabetes regimen.

See full Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Blue Cohosh

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

0Major
258Moderate
0Minor
2,571No known interaction
258 Moderate 2,571 No interaction
Moderate

258 interactions

Showing 60 of 258 moderate interactions — see all 258 on the Blue Cohosh page.

No interaction 2,571 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,571 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Blue Cohosh list.

See the full Blue Cohosh interactions page
See every supplement checked against Insulin Glulisine (rDNA), 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
Blue Cohosh monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Insulin Glulisine (rDNA), ranked by severity Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection 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 Blue Cohosh and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Blue Cohosh with Insulin Glulisine (rDNA)?
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 Blue Cohosh and Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) 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 Insulin Glulisine (rDNA) and Blue Cohosh?

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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.