Drug & supplement interaction

Citric Acid + Tolbutamide

Tolbutamide brand name: Orinase.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Citric Acid and Tolbutamide 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.

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Interaction report

Citric Acid and Tolbutamide

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 Tolbutamide and Citric Acid 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Citric Acid at all — not against Tolbutamide, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

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.

Citric Acid safety at a glance

Citric Acid overall Generally safe Generally recognized as safe in the small amounts found in foods and most supplements.
Pregnancy Likely Safe When citric acid is used orally in the amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of citric acid whe... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Safe When citric acid is used orally in the amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of citric acid whe... 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 Tolbutamide and Citric Acid? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Citric Acid Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Tolbutamide. It is the side-effect record for Citric Acid on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Citric Acid, this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Topically, citric acid seems to be well tolerated when used as part of formulations containing the alpha hydroxy acids glycolic acid and lactic acid in concentrations at or below 10% and applied to the face. In general, products should be tested on a small area of skin before applying it to a larger area.

    Alpha hydroxy acids like citric acid can increase sensitivity to the sun and ultraviolet (UV) light.”

    Citric Acid · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in burns.

    6 sources cited
    1. 106612. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cosmetic Ingredients: Alpha Hydroxy Acids. August 2020. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/alpha-hydroxy-acids. Accessed on October 19, 2021.
    2. 6080. Kurtzweil P. Alpha-hydroxy acids for skin care: Smooth sailing or rough seas? FDA 1999. Available at: /www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/298_ahas.html (Accessed 18 August 2000). DOI
    3. 10101. Erbagci Z, Akcali C. Biweekly serial glycolic acid peels vs. long-term daily use of topical low-strength glycolic acid in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Int J Dermatol 2000;39:789-94.. PubMed
    4. 92209. Baumann LS, Oresajo C, Yatskayer M, Dahl A, Figueras K. Comparison of clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel to a novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid in the treatment
    5. 92210. Emtestam L, Svensson Å, Rensfeldt K. Treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp with a topical solution of urea, lactic acid, and propylene glycol (K301): results of two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies. Mycoses. 2012 Sep;55(5):3 PubMed
    6. 92214. Kaminaka C, Uede M, Matsunaka H, Furukawa F, Yamomoto Y. Clinical evaluation of glycolic acid chemical peeling in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 2014 Mar;40(3):314- PubMed
  • Sun sensitivity Additional detail

    Recorded for Citric Acid in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

  • Numbness or tingling / Itching / Swelling Additional detail

    Recorded for Citric Acid in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Recorded for Citric Acid in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Citric Acid — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Tolbutamide to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Tolbutamide.

Special populations

Citric Acid in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When citric acid is used orally in the amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of citric acid when used orally in larger amounts during pregnancy or lactation; avoid amounts greater than those found in foods.

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Tolbutamide

This page covers Citric Acid only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tolbutamide page lists 305 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), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 255 moderate · 48 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tolbutamide page

“People take tolbutamide (Orinase) to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, and diabetes is exactly the condition supplement shelves target, which is why this list runs to 305 ingredients and deserves real caution. Of those, 239 also push glucose around, most often downward, so combining them can drive sugar lower than intended.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tolbutamide interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 331 real supplement products containing Citric Acid, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Citric Acid. Even though Citric Acid itself has no known interaction with Tolbutamide, 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 Citric Acid and Tolbutamide 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 Citric Acid
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Tolbutamide
Steady interest

#1,685 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 Citric Acid reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Citric Acid and Tolbutamide 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 Citric Acid

What is Citric Acid?

  • Food and drink flavoring or sourness
  • Preservative and acidity adjuster
  • Kidney stone prevention (as citrate salts)
  • Cleaning and descaling (non-medical)
  • Effervescent supplement and antacid blends

Citric acid is a natural acid found in citrus fruits and is widely used as a safe food additive, flavoring, and preservative. In medicine, citrate forms (like potassium or sodium citrate) are used to help prevent certain kidney stones and to make urine less acidic. For most people the small amounts in foods and supplements are safe, but concentrated products can irritate the mouth, stomach, and skin.

Naturally found in citrus fruits; commercially made by fermentation · Powder, crystals, liquid, effervescent tablets, and as an ingredient in foods, drinks, and supplements

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

Citric Acid: dosing

There is no standard supplement dose of plain citric acid, because it is mainly used as a food ingredient rather than a treatment. Amounts used in foods and drinks are small and considered safe.For medicinal citrate products (such as potassium citrate or sodium citrate used for kidney stones or urine alkalinization), dosing is individualized and should be set by a doctor, often based on lab tests.

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

Read the full Citric Acid monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Tolbutamide

What Is Tolbutamide Used For?

Brand name: Orinase

  • Tolbutamide is used along with diet and exercise, and sometimes with other medications, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Tolbutamide is in a class of medications called sulfonylureas. Tolbutamide lowers blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin (a natural substance that is needed to break down sugar in the body) and helping the body use insulin efficiently. This medication will only help lower blood sugar in people whose bodies produce insulin naturally. Tolbutamide is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may occur if high blood sugar is not treated).

  • Over time, people who have diabetes and high blood sugar can develop serious or life-threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems. Taking medication(s), making lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise, quitting smoking), and regularly checking your blood sugar may help to manage your diabetes and improve your health. This therapy may also decrease your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes-related complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage (numb, cold legs or feet; decreased sexual ability in men and women), eye problems, including changes or loss of vision, or gum disease. Your doctor and other healthcare providers will talk to you about the best way to manage your diabetes.

See full Tolbutamide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Citric Acid

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Citric Acid list.

See the full Citric Acid interactions page
See every supplement checked against Tolbutamide, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Citric Acid References

The 10 references that drive our Citric Acid 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. Kurtzweil P. Alpha-hydroxy acids for skin care: Smooth sailing or rough seas? FDA 1999. Available at: /www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/298_ahas.html (Accessed 18 August 2000). DOI
  2. Erbagci Z, Akcali C. Biweekly serial glycolic acid peels vs. long-term daily use of topical low-strength glycolic acid in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Int J Dermatol 2000;39:789-94.. PubMed
  3. Ghadishah D, Gorchynski J. Airway compromise after routine alpha-hydroxy facial peel administration. J Emerg Med 2002;22:353-5.. PubMed
  4. Baumann LS, Oresajo C, Yatskayer M, Dahl A, Figueras K. Comparison of clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel to a novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid in the treatment
  5. Emtestam L, Svensson Å, Rensfeldt K. Treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp with a topical solution of urea, lactic acid, and propylene glycol (K301): results of two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies. Mycoses. 2012 Sep;55(5):3 PubMed
  6. Kaminaka C, Uede M, Matsunaka H, Furukawa F, Yamomoto Y. Clinical evaluation of glycolic acid chemical peeling in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 2014 Mar;40(3):314- PubMed
  7. Köse O, Özmen I, Arca E. An open, comparative study of 10% potassium hydroxide solution versus salicylic and lactic acid combination in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum in children. J Dermatolog Treat. 2013 Aug;24(4):300-4. PubMed
  8. Vachiramon V, Sahawatwong S, Sirithanabadeekul P. Treatment of melasma in men with low-fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser versus combined laser and glycolic acid peeling. Dermatol Surg. 2015 Apr;41(4):457-65. PubMed
  9. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cosmetic Ingredients: Alpha Hydroxy Acids. August 2020. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/alpha-hydroxy-acids. Accessed on October 19, 2021.
  10. Ormerod AD, van Voorst Vader PC, Majewski S, Vanscheidt W, Benjamin N, van der Meijden W. Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 3 dose regimens of topical sodium nitrite with citric acid in patients with anogenital warts: A randomized cl DOI

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 Citric Acid and Tolbutamide Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Citric Acid with Tolbutamide?
We do not list a known interaction between Citric Acid and Tolbutamide. 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.
Does Tolbutamide interact with any supplements?
Yes. Tolbutamide has documented interactions with 305 supplements in our database — Citric Acid is not one of them. The Tolbutamide 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

Citric Acid monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Tolbutamide drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Tolbutamide supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Tolbutamide, 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 10 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Tolbutamide and Citric Acid?

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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.