Drug & supplement interaction

Combretum Micranthum + Metformin

Metformin brand names: Glucophage, Metformin.

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

Combretum Micranthum has a moderate interaction with Metformin. Theoretically, taking Combretum micranthum leaf 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

Combretum Micranthum and Metformin

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Metformin

Metformin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Combretum Micranthum interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Combretum micranthum leaf with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Some preliminary human and animal research suggests that Combretum micranthum leaf has hypoglycemic effects.
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: kinkeliba tea (Combretum micranthum) may have a mild blood-sugar-lowering effect of its own. When you sip it alongside metformin, the two can add up, and your blood sugar could dip lower than you'd expect. Metformin by itself rarely causes true lows, but stacking another sugar-lowering helper on top changes that math a bit.

If your sugar drops too far, you might feel shaky, sweaty, dizzy, lightheaded, or unusually hungry or confused. The good news is the evidence here is pretty thin, coming from small, lower-quality studies and animal research, so this is more of a theoretical concern than a sure thing. Don't change your metformin, but check your blood sugar a little more closely and chat with your pharmacist or doctor if you want to add this tea.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Kpemissi M, Potârniche AV, Lawson-Evi P, et al. Nephroprotective effect of Combretum micranthum G. Don in nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy in rats: In-vivo and in-silico experiments. J Ethnopharmacol 2020;261:113133. PubMed
  2. Chika A, Bello SO. Antihyperglycaemic activity of aqueous leaf extract of Combretum micranthum (Combretaceae) in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;129(1):34-7. PubMed
  3. Seck SM, Doupa D, Dia DG, et al. Clinical efficacy of African traditional medicines in hypertension: A randomized controlled trial with Combretum micranthum and Hibiscus sabdariffa. J Hum Hypertens 2017;32(1):75-81. 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

Combretum Micranthum Also Interacts With Other Medications

Combretum Micranthum has 264 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Metformin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 264 No known interaction 2,566 (incl. Metformin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Combretum Micranthum

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Combretum Micranthum or Metformin

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

This page covers Combretum Micranthum only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metformin page lists 258 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 · 217 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metformin page

“Siberian cocklebur is the ingredient I most want anyone taking metformin (Glucophage) to know about. It has caused severe low blood sugar in people, documented in humans, and it should not be combined with any glucose-lowering medication.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Combretum Micranthum and Metformin 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 Combretum Micranthum
Steady interest

#1,449 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin
Top 1%

#29 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 Combretum Micranthum

What is Combretum Micranthum?

Combretum Micranthum
  • Digestive upset
  • Liver and gallbladder support
  • Fever
  • Weight management
  • Mild urinary or fluid retention
  • Traditional opium withdrawal aid

Combretum micranthum (kinkeliba) is a West African shrub whose leaves are brewed into a traditional tea for digestion, liver complaints, and fever. Solid human studies are lacking, so its benefits remain unproven, and people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have liver or kidney problems should be cautious and talk to a healthcare professional first.

Read the full Combretum Micranthum monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Metformin

What Is Metformin Used For?

Brand names: Glucophage, Metformin

Metformin is used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is always used together with diet and exercise, not instead of them.

Metformin hydrochloride tablets and oral solution are approved for adults and children 10 years and older. Metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets — including brands such as Fortamet, Glumetza, and Metformin Hydrochloride Extended Release — are approved for adults only.

See full Metformin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Combretum Micranthum

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

0Major
264Moderate
0Minor
2,565No known interaction
264 Moderate 2,565 No interaction
Moderate

264 interactions

Showing 60 of 264 moderate interactions — see all 264 on the Combretum Micranthum page.

No interaction 2,565 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,565 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Combretum Micranthum list.

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

Can you take Combretum Micranthum with Metformin?
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 Combretum Micranthum and Metformin 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 Metformin and Combretum Micranthum?

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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.