Drug & supplement interaction

Carqueja + Linagliptin

Linagliptin brand name: Tradjenta.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Carqueja has a moderate interaction with Linagliptin. Theoretically, carqueja might lower blood glucose levels and might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs.

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

Carqueja and Linagliptin

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Linagliptin

Linagliptin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Carqueja interacts with.

Theoretically, carqueja might lower blood glucose levels and might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs. This might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), 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

Here's the simple version: carqueja, the bitter South American herb, may have a mild blood sugar lowering effect of its own. Linagliptin (Tradjenta) already works to bring your blood sugar down, so pairing the two could add up and push your numbers a little lower than expected. That's the worry behind this interaction.

To be honest with you, this is mostly a theoretical concern from lab and animal studies, not strong human evidence. On its own, linagliptin rarely causes low blood sugar, but if you take it with insulin or a sulfonylurea, the risk goes up more. Watch for shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling foggy. If you want to try carqueja tea, check your levels and loop in your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Coelho MG, Reis PA, Gava VB, et al. Anti-arthritic effect and subacute toxicological evaluation of Baccharis genistelloides aqueous extract. Toxicol Lett 2004;154:69-80. PubMed
  2. Oliveira AC, Endringer DC, Amorim LA, et al. Effect of the extracts and fractions of Baccharis trimera and Syzygium cumini on glycaemia of diabetic and non-diabetic mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;102:465-9. 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

Carqueja Also Interacts With Other Medications

Carqueja has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Linagliptin 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 Carqueja

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Linagliptin

This page covers Carqueja only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Linagliptin page lists 284 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acai (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 240 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Linagliptin page

“Linagliptin (Tradjenta) helps people with type 2 diabetes bring blood sugar down, so most of the 284 supplements and herbs on this page interact for one basic reason: they lower glucose too, and stacking them can drop you into hypoglycemia. I'd read this list with genuine care rather than a shrug.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Linagliptin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3 real supplement products containing Carqueja, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Carqueja. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Linagliptin too, on top of Carqueja — 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 Carqueja and Linagliptin 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 Carqueja
Steady interest

#1,297 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Linagliptin
Top half

#1,085 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 Carqueja

What is Carqueja?

  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Liver and gallbladder support
  • Blood sugar control
  • Weight loss
  • Anti-inflammatory

Carqueja is a South American herb traditionally used as a bitter tea for digestion, liver complaints, and blood sugar. Human evidence is very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. Because safety data are thin, it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding and used cautiously by everyone else.

Read the full Carqueja monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Linagliptin

What Is Linagliptin Used For?

Brand name: Tradjenta

Tradjenta (linagliptin) is used to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is meant to be used together with healthy eating and regular exercise, not as a replacement for them.

Linagliptin is not for type 1 diabetes, and it has not been studied in people with a history of pancreatitis.

See full Linagliptin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Carqueja

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

0Major
85Moderate
0Minor
2,744No known interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

Showing 60 of 85 moderate interactions — see all 85 on the Carqueja page.

No interaction 2,744 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 Carqueja and Linagliptin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Carqueja with Linagliptin?
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 Carqueja and Linagliptin 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 Linagliptin and Carqueja?

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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.