Drug & supplement interaction

Cissus Quadrangularis + Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone brand name: Actos.

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

Cissus Quadrangularis has a moderate interaction with Pioglitazone. Theoretically, Cissus quadrangularis might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.

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

Cissus Quadrangularis and Pioglitazone

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Cissus Quadrangularis interacts with.

Theoretically, Cissus quadrangularis might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Small clinical studies suggest that Cissus quadrangularis might reduce fasting blood glucose in individuals with overweight or obesity.
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: Pioglitazone (Actos) already works to lower your blood sugar by making your body more sensitive to insulin. Cissus quadrangularis may have a mild blood-sugar-lowering effect of its own, based on a few small studies in people who are overweight. Put them together and, in theory, your blood sugar could dip lower than expected.

I want to be clear this is a theoretical concern, not something proven, so don't panic. But it's worth watching for signs of low blood sugar like shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling unusually hungry or confused. If you'd like to try this supplement, check in with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your glucose readings. Don't change your pioglitazone dose on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, et al. The use of Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Lipids Health Dis 2008;7:12.
  2. Nash R, Azantsa B, Kuate D, Singh H, Oben J. The use of a stem and leaf aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) to reduce body fat and other components of metabolic syndrome in overweight participants. J Altern Complement Med. 2019;25(1):98-106

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

Cissus Quadrangularis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Cissus Quadrangularis has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Pioglitazone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 85 No known interaction 2,745 (incl. Pioglitazone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Cissus Quadrangularis

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Cissus Quadrangularis or Pioglitazone

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

This page covers Cissus Quadrangularis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Pioglitazone page lists 356 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 6 major · 309 moderate · 41 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Pioglitazone page

“Most of what appears on this pioglitazone (Actos) list shares one trait: the ingredients lower blood sugar on their own, which sounds helpful until you remember pioglitazone already does that job for people with type 2 diabetes. Stacked together, they can push glucose too low, and I would read this list with genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Pioglitazone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 371 real supplement products containing Cissus Quadrangularis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cissus Quadrangularis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Pioglitazone too, on top of Cissus Quadrangularis — 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 Cissus Quadrangularis and Pioglitazone 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 Cissus Quadrangularis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Pioglitazone
Top half

#1,025 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 Cissus Quadrangularis

What is Cissus Quadrangularis?

Cissus Quadrangularis
  • Bone fracture healing
  • Joint pain and bone health
  • Weight management
  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive complaints

Cissus quadrangularis is a traditional vine used mainly for bone health, joint pain, and weight management. Most of the supporting evidence comes from animal studies and a small number of human trials, so its benefits are not firmly proven. It appears reasonably well tolerated in the short term, but people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing chronic conditions should talk to a doctor or pharmacist first.

Read the full Cissus Quadrangularis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Pioglitazone

What Is Pioglitazone Used For?

Brand name: Actos

Pioglitazone tablets — sold as Actos and under the generic names Pioglitazone and Pioglitazone Hydrochloride — are used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. They are taken along with diet and exercise, either alone or combined with other diabetes medicines such as a sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin.

Pioglitazone is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication where the blood becomes too acidic). It only works when the body is still producing some of its own insulin.

See full Pioglitazone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Cissus Quadrangularis

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Cissus Quadrangularis — 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
85 Moderate 2,744 No interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

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

No interaction 2,744 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,744 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Cissus Quadrangularis list.

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

Can you take Cissus Quadrangularis with Pioglitazone?
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 Cissus Quadrangularis and Pioglitazone 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 Pioglitazone and Cissus Quadrangularis?

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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.