Drug & supplement interaction

Cobalt + 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 Cobalt 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

Cobalt 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 Cobalt 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 Cobalt 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.

Cobalt safety at a glance

Cobalt overall Avoid Inorganic cobalt supplements have no proven benefit and can cause serious toxicity, so they are generally not recommended.
Pregnancy Avoid Cobalt supplements should be avoided during pregnancy because of toxicity concerns and a lack of safety data.
Breastfeeding Avoid Avoid cobalt supplements while breastfeeding; rely on vitamin B12 for any needed cobalt.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Tolbutamide and Cobalt? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Cobalt Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Tolbutamide. It is the side-effect record for Cobalt on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Cobalt, this list is the first place to look. 5 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Loss of vision / Hearing loss Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, cobalt seems to be well-tolerated when taken for up to 90 days in small amounts. Taking cobalt orally long-term or in high doses may cause cardiomyopathy, hearing loss, and vision loss. Topically, cobalt-containing products can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some patients.”

    Cobalt · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    6 sources cited
    1. 102066. Packer M. Cobalt cardiomyopathy: a critical reappraisal in light of a recent resurgence. Circ Heart Fail 2016;9(12). pii: e003604. PubMed
    2. 102068. Lim CA, Khan J, Chelva E, Khan R, Unsworth-Smith T. The effect of cobalt on the human eye. Doc Ophthalmol 2015;130(1):43-8. PubMed
    3. 102077. Catalani S, Rizzetti MC, Padovani A, Apostoli P. Neurotoxicity of cobalt. Hum Exp Toxicol 2012;31(5):421-37. PubMed
    4. 102070. Fowler JF Jr. Cobalt. Dermatitis 2016;27(1):3-8.
    5. 102071. Zajdel NJ, Smith WA, Taintor AR, Jacob SE, Olasz EB. Chemical tattoo treatment leading to systemic cobalt hypersensitivity. Skinmed 2017;15(3):221-2.
    6. 102072. Bregnbak D, Opstrup MS, Jellesen MS, Johansen JD, Thyssen JP. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by cobalt in leather - clinical cases. Contact Dermatitis 2017;76(6):366-8. PubMed

    “Oral, occupational, and systemic exposure to cobalt may cause adverse ocular and otic effects. While rare, reversible and irreversible vision loss, optic neuropathy and atrophy, signs of abnormal retinal functioning, hearing loss, bilateral deafness, and tinnitus have been reported in patients taking cobalt for anemia, working in industries with exposure to cobalt dust, and those with cobalt-containing prosthetic joi…”

    Cobalt · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anemia.

    3 sources cited
    1. 102068. Lim CA, Khan J, Chelva E, Khan R, Unsworth-Smith T. The effect of cobalt on the human eye. Doc Ophthalmol 2015;130(1):43-8. PubMed
    2. 102074. Paustenbach DJ, Galbraith DA, Finley BL. Interpreting cobalt blood concentrations in hip implant patients. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2014;52(2):98-112. PubMed
    3. 102077. Catalani S, Rizzetti MC, Padovani A, Apostoli P. Neurotoxicity of cobalt. Hum Exp Toxicol 2012;31(5):421-37. PubMed
  • A change in thyroid levels Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Oral, occupational, and systemic exposure to cobalt may cause cardiomyopathy. While rare, this adverse effect has been reported in patients taking cobalt for anemia, consuming cobalt-fortified beer, working in industries with exposure to cobalt dust, and those with cobalt-containing prosthetic joints.”

    Cobalt · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anemia.

    2 sources cited
    1. 102066. Packer M. Cobalt cardiomyopathy: a critical reappraisal in light of a recent resurgence. Circ Heart Fail 2016;9(12). pii: e003604. PubMed
    2. 102076. Zywiel MG, Cherian JJ, Banerjee S, et al. Systemic cobalt toxicity from total hip arthroplasties: review of a rare condition Part 2. measurement, risk factors, and step-wise approach to treatment. Bone Joint J 2016;98-B(1):14-20. PubMed
  • Memory problems / Seizures / Low mood Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Exposure to cobalt may cause reversible neurologic adverse effects in some patients. Demyelinating neuropathy, cognitive decline, headaches, depression, convulsions, and forgetfulness have been reported in patients with cobalt-containing hip joint prostheses. Vertigo and impairment in memory and attention have been reported after occupational exposure to cobalt.”

    Cobalt · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in depression.

    3 sources cited
    1. 102074. Paustenbach DJ, Galbraith DA, Finley BL. Interpreting cobalt blood concentrations in hip implant patients. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2014;52(2):98-112. PubMed
    2. 102076. Zywiel MG, Cherian JJ, Banerjee S, et al. Systemic cobalt toxicity from total hip arthroplasties: review of a rare condition Part 2. measurement, risk factors, and step-wise approach to treatment. Bone Joint J 2016;98-B(1):14-20. PubMed
    3. 102077. Catalani S, Rizzetti MC, Padovani A, Apostoli P. Neurotoxicity of cobalt. Hum Exp Toxicol 2012;31(5):421-37. PubMed
  • Anemia Worth acting on Additional detail

    Recorded for Cobalt in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Loss of vision / Hearing loss above.

  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Occupational exposure to cobalt can cause interstitial lung disease (ILD). Patients with subacute cobalt-related ILD may present with dyspnea, cough, fevers, chills, and weight loss a few months to years after exposure, and symptoms typically resolve after removal of the exposure.”

    Cobalt · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cough.

    1 source cited
    1. 102067. Adams TN, Butt YM, Batra K, Glazer CS. Cobalt related interstitial lung disease. Respir Med 2017;129:91-7. PubMed
  • Weight loss Additional detail

    Recorded for Cobalt in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Shortness of breath above.

  • Ringing in the ears Additional detail

    Recorded for Cobalt in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Loss of vision / Hearing loss above.

Showing the 10 most notable of 15 recorded effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Cobalt — 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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Tolbutamide

This page covers Cobalt 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 Cobalt as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 120 real supplement products containing Cobalt, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Cobalt. Even though Cobalt 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 Cobalt 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 Cobalt
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Tolbutamide
Steady interest

#1,944 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 Cobalt reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Cobalt 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 Cobalt

What is Cobalt?

  • Anemia (historically)
  • Part of vitamin B12 nutrition
  • General 'energy' tonics (unproven)
  • Athletic or performance claims (unproven and risky)

Cobalt is a trace element that the body only needs as part of vitamin B12 (cobalamin); there is no proven reason to take inorganic cobalt supplements, and doing so can be harmful. If you need cobalt for nutrition, get it through vitamin B12 from food or a B12 supplement, not from standalone cobalt products.

Cobalt is a chemical element (a trace mineral), not a plant part · Cobalt salts, supplement tablets (rare and discouraged), and as part of vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

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

Cobalt: dosing

There is no established safe or beneficial dose of inorganic cobalt as a dietary supplement, and health professionals generally do not recommend taking it.The cobalt your body actually needs is supplied through vitamin B12. For B12, follow the dose on the product label or your doctor's advice.

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

Read the full Cobalt 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 & Cobalt

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Cobalt — 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 Cobalt 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 Cobalt list.

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

Cobalt References

The 11 references that drive our Cobalt 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. Packer M. Cobalt cardiomyopathy: a critical reappraisal in light of a recent resurgence. Circ Heart Fail 2016;9(12). pii: e003604. PubMed
  2. Adams TN, Butt YM, Batra K, Glazer CS. Cobalt related interstitial lung disease. Respir Med 2017;129:91-7. PubMed
  3. Lim CA, Khan J, Chelva E, Khan R, Unsworth-Smith T. The effect of cobalt on the human eye. Doc Ophthalmol 2015;130(1):43-8. PubMed
  4. Guarneri F, Guarneri C, Cannavò SP. Nail-art and cobalt allergy. Contact Dermatitis 2010;62(5):320-1. PubMed
  5. Fowler JF Jr. Cobalt. Dermatitis 2016;27(1):3-8.
  6. Zajdel NJ, Smith WA, Taintor AR, Jacob SE, Olasz EB. Chemical tattoo treatment leading to systemic cobalt hypersensitivity. Skinmed 2017;15(3):221-2.
  7. Bregnbak D, Opstrup MS, Jellesen MS, Johansen JD, Thyssen JP. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by cobalt in leather - clinical cases. Contact Dermatitis 2017;76(6):366-8. PubMed
  8. Simonsen AB, Friis UF, Johansen JD, Zachariae C, Sloth JJ, Thyssen JP. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by cobalt in machine oil. Contact Dermatitis 2019;80(1):59-61. PubMed
  9. Paustenbach DJ, Galbraith DA, Finley BL. Interpreting cobalt blood concentrations in hip implant patients. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2014;52(2):98-112. PubMed
  10. Zywiel MG, Cherian JJ, Banerjee S, et al. Systemic cobalt toxicity from total hip arthroplasties: review of a rare condition Part 2. measurement, risk factors, and step-wise approach to treatment. Bone Joint J 2016;98-B(1):14-20. PubMed
  11. Catalani S, Rizzetti MC, Padovani A, Apostoli P. Neurotoxicity of cobalt. Hum Exp Toxicol 2012;31(5):421-37. PubMed

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 Cobalt and Tolbutamide Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Cobalt with Tolbutamide?
We do not list a known interaction between Cobalt 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 — Cobalt 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

Cobalt 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 11 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Tolbutamide and Cobalt?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.