Drug & supplement interaction

Elderflower + Tobutamide

Tobutamide brand name: Mobenol.

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

Elderflower has a moderate interaction with Tobutamide. Theoretically, elderflower 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

Elderflower and Tobutamide

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Tobutamide

Tobutamide falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Elderflower interacts with.

Theoretically, elderflower might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
In vitro research suggests that elderflower might lower blood glucose levels. Monitor blood glucose levels closely.
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

Tolbutamide (Mobenol) is an older sulfonylurea that lowers your blood sugar by nudging your pancreas to release more insulin. Elderflower, in turn, has shown some blood-sugar-lowering activity, but only in lab and test-tube studies, not in solid human research. So this is a theoretical concern rather than a proven problem.

The worry is simple: if both work in the same direction, your blood sugar could dip too low. Watch for shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion, or a fast heartbeat, and treat lows quickly. A cup of elderflower tea now and then is unlikely to do much, but concentrated extracts could add up. Don't change your tolbutamide on your own; just check with your pharmacist or doctor and keep an eye on your glucose readings.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gray AM, Abdel-Wahab YH, Flatt PR. The traditional plant treatment, Sambucus nigra (elder), exhibits insulin-like and insulin-releasing actions in vitro. J Nutr 2000;130:15-20. 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

Elderflower Also Interacts With Other Medications

Elderflower has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Tobutamide 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. Tobutamide)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Elderflower

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Tobutamide

This page covers Elderflower only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tobutamide page lists 256 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 · 215 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tobutamide page

“Long as this list is, it mostly tells one story, and with Tobutamide (Mobenol), a sulfonylurea that lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, that story deserves genuine care. Most of the 215 moderate entries add to the drug's effect and invite hypoglycemia, the shaky, sweaty, sometimes dangerous low.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tobutamide interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Elderflower and Tobutamide 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 Elderflower
Steady interest

#1,399 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Tobutamide
Steady interest

#2,199 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 Elderflower

What is Elderflower?

  • Colds and flu
  • Sinus congestion
  • Fever and sweating
  • Sore throat
  • Coughs

Elderflower comes from the elder plant (Sambucus nigra) and is traditionally used as a tea or extract for colds, sinus congestion, and fever. Good-quality human evidence is limited, so it should be seen as a soothing traditional remedy rather than a proven treatment. Raw or unripe parts of the plant can be toxic, so use only properly prepared products, and check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Elderflower monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Elderflower

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Elderflower — 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 Elderflower page.

No interaction 2,744 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Elderflower 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 Elderflower list.

See the full Elderflower interactions page
See every supplement checked against Tobutamide, 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
Elderflower monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Tobutamide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Tobutamide, 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 Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Elderflower and Tobutamide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Elderflower with Tobutamide?
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 Elderflower and Tobutamide 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 Tobutamide and Elderflower?

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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.