Drug & supplement interaction

Capsicum + Ertugliflozin

Ertugliflozin brand name: Steglatro.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Capsicum has a moderate interaction with Ertugliflozin. Theoretically, taking capsicum with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

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

Capsicum and Ertugliflozin

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Ertugliflozin

Ertugliflozin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Capsicum interacts with.

Theoretically, taking capsicum with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Preliminary clinical research shows that consuming capsicum 5 grams along with a glucose drink attenuates the rise in plasma glucose after 30 minutes by 21%, decreases the 2-hour postprandial area under the curve of plasma glucose by 11%, and increases the 2-hour postprandial area under the curve of plasma insulin by 58% in healthy individuals when compared with placebo. Other clinical research shows that taking capsicum 5 mg daily for 28 days significantly reduces postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels, but not fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, in patients with gestational diabetes.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 gist with ertugliflozin (Steglatro) and chili pepper supplements. This isn't about how your body breaks down the drug. Instead, capsicum may have its own mild blood-sugar-lowering effect. Some early studies suggest that larger amounts of capsicum can blunt the rise in blood sugar after a meal. Stack that on top of ertugliflozin, which already lowers your sugar by sending glucose out in your urine, and the two together could push your levels a little lower than expected.

To be fair, this is mostly theoretical and based on small, lower-quality research. The everyday amount of chili in your food is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated supplement doses are the real question. If you're considering one, watch for shaky, sweaty, dizzy lows and check in with your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Chaiyata, P., Puttadechakum, S., and Komindr, S. Effect of chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) ingestion on plasma glucose response and metabolic rate in Thai women. J.Med.Assoc.Thai. 2003;86(9):854-860.
  2. Chaiyasit, K., Khovidhunkit, W., and Wittayalertpanya, S. Pharmacokinetic and the effect of capsaicin in Capsicum frutescens on decreasing plasma glucose level. J Med.Assoc.Thai. 2009;92(1):108-113.
  3. Yuan LJ, Qin Y, Wang L, et al. Capsaicin-containing chili improved postprandial hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and fasting lipid disorders in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and lowered the incidence of large-for-gestational-age newborns. Clin 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

Capsicum Also Interacts With Other Medications

Capsicum has 214 moderate, 24 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Ertugliflozin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Capsicum

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ertugliflozin

This page covers Capsicum only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ertugliflozin 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 Ertugliflozin page

“Ertugliflozin (Steglatro) works by making your kidneys flush out extra sugar, and nearly all 256 supplements on this page pull on that same lever, so this is a list to approach carefully rather than casually. Most entries either add to the glucose-lowering effect and raise the risk of a low, or, like niacin, push blood sugar the other…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ertugliflozin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 4,130 real supplement products containing Capsicum, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Capsicum. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Ertugliflozin too, on top of Capsicum — 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 Capsicum and Ertugliflozin 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 Capsicum
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Ertugliflozin
Steady interest

#2,008 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 Capsicum

What is Capsicum?

  • Nerve pain (neuropathy)
  • Muscle and joint pain (arthritis)
  • Back pain
  • Digestive support
  • Cluster headache (intranasal)

Capsicum (chili pepper) contains capsaicin, which is best known and best studied as a topical treatment for certain types of pain. Topical capsaicin products are supported by reasonable evidence for some nerve and joint pain, but oral supplements are far less proven. Use it carefully, follow product directions, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting.

Read the full Capsicum monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Ertugliflozin

What Is Ertugliflozin Used For?

Brand name: Steglatro

Steglatro (ertugliflozin) is used as an add-on to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Steglatro is not recommended for improving blood sugar control in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

See full Ertugliflozin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Capsicum

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

0Major
214Moderate
24Minor
2,591No known interaction
Moderate

214 interactions

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

Minor

24 interactions

No interaction 2,591 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Capsicum and Ertugliflozin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Capsicum with Ertugliflozin?
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 Capsicum and Ertugliflozin 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 Ertugliflozin and Capsicum?

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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.