Drug & supplement interaction

Eleuthero + Glyburide

Glyburide brand names: Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase, Glycron, Micronized, and others.

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

Glyburide falls into 3 drug categories that Eleuthero can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, eleuthero might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Eleuthero and Glyburide

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Eleuthero interacts with whole categories of medication. Glyburide falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Eleuthero in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Glyburide

Glyburide falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES — the group Eleuthero interacts with.

Theoretically, eleuthero might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9.
In vitro and animal research suggest that standardized extracts of eleuthero might inhibit CYP2C9. This effect has not been reported in humans.
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 gist with glyburide and eleuthero. Your body clears glyburide using a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. In lab dishes and animal studies, eleuthero seemed to slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happened in people, glyburide could hang around a little longer and work a little harder, which mainly means a higher chance of low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion, or feeling suddenly hungry).

That said, I want to be honest: this is only a theoretical concern. It has never actually been reported in humans, so I'd file it as worth knowing, not worth panicking over. If you take both, keep an eye on your blood sugar readings and let your pharmacist or doctor know before starting eleuthero.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Harkey MR, Henderson GL, Zhou L, et al. Effects of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) on c-DNA-expressed P450 drug metabolizing enzymes. Alt Ther 2001;7:S14.
Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

2 of 3

Glyburide also falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS.

Theoretically, eleuthero might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that certain constituents of eleuthero have hypoglycemic activity in both healthy and diabetic animals. A small study in adults with type 2 diabetes also shows that taking eleuthero for 3 months can lower blood glucose levels. However, one very small study in healthy individuals shows that taking powdered eleuthero 3 grams, 40 minutes prior to a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test, significantly increases postprandial blood glucose levels when compared with placebo. These contradictory findings might be due to patient-specific variability and variability in active ingredient ratios.
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 simple version: Glyburide already lowers your blood sugar by pushing your pancreas to release more insulin. Eleuthero may have its own mild blood-sugar-lowering effect, so adding it on top could nudge your levels down a little further than expected. That raises the chance of low blood sugar, which can show up as shakiness, sweating, dizziness, hunger, or feeling confused.

I want to be honest about how strong this is. The evidence is mixed and limited. Some studies hint eleuthero lowers sugar, while one small study showed it actually raised it, so reactions vary person to person. This isn't a reason to panic, but if you'd like to take eleuthero, check with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your blood sugar readings.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hikino H, Takahashi M, Otake K, Konno C. Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of eleutherans A, B, C, D, E, F, and G: glycans of Eleutherococcus senticosus roots. J Nat Prod 1986;49:293-7. PubMed
  2. Sievenpiper JL, Arnason JT, Leiter LA, Vuksan V. Decreasing, null and increasing effects of eight popular types of ginseng on acute postprandial glycemic indices in healthy humans: the role of ginsenosides. J Am Coll Nutr 2004;23:248-58. PubMed
  3. Molokovskii, D. S., Davydov, V. V., and Tiulenev, V. V. [The action of adaptogenic plant preparations in experimental alloxan diabetes]. Probl.Endokrinol.(Mosk) 1989;35(6):82-87.
  4. Niu, H. S., Hsu, F. L., Liu, I. M., and Cheng, J. T. Increase of beta-endorphin secretion by syringin, an active principle of Eleutherococcus senticosus, to produce antihyperglycemic action in type 1-like diabetic rats. Horm.Metab Res 2007;39(12):894-898
  5. Watanabe, K., Kamata, K., Sato, J., and Takahashi, T. Fundamental studies on the inhibitory action of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms on glucose absorption. J Ethnopharmacol. 10-28-2010;132(1):193-199. PubMed
  6. Martinez, B. and Staba, E. J. The physiological effects of Aralia, Panax and Eleutherococcus on exercised rats. Jpn J Pharmacol 1984;35(2):79-85. DOI
  7. Medon, P. J., Thompson, E. B., and Farnsworth, N. R. Hypoglycemic effect and toxicity of Eleutherococcus senticosus following acute and chronic administration in mice. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue.Bao. 1981;2(4):281-285.
  8. Freye E, GLeske J. Siberian ginseng results in beneficial effects on glucose metabolism in diabetes type 2 patients: a double blind placebo-controlled study in comparison to panax ginseng. Int J Clin Nutr. 2013;1(1):11-17.
Minor

ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP)

3 of 3

Glyburide also falls under ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP).

Theoretically, eleuthero might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by OATP.
In vitro research suggests that eleuthero inhibits OATP2B1, which might reduce the bioavailability of oral drugs that are substrates of OATP2B1. Due to the weak inhibitory effect identified in this study, this interaction is not likely to be clinically significant.
Severity Minor 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 situation with eleuthero and your glyburide. Glyburide partly relies on a transporter called OATP2B1 to get absorbed from your gut into your bloodstream. In lab dish studies (not in people), eleuthero appeared to mildly block that transporter. In theory, less glyburide might get absorbed, which could make it work a little less well at controlling your blood sugar.

The honest takeaway: this is based only on test-tube research, and the blocking effect was weak, so it's unlikely to cause a real problem for most people. I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, if you decide to use eleuthero, it's worth keeping an eye on your blood sugar readings and mentioning it to your pharmacist or doctor first, just so everyone's on the same page.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Fuchikami H, Satoh H, Tsujimoto M, Ohdo S, Ohtani H, Sawada Y. Effects of herbal extracts on the function of human organic anion-transporting polypeptide OATP-B. Drug Metab Dispos 2006;34:577-82. 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

Eleuthero Also Interacts With Other Medications

Eleuthero has 678 moderate, 461 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Glyburide one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 678 Minor 461 No known interaction 1,691 (incl. Glyburide)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Eleuthero

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Eleuthero or Glyburide

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

This page covers Eleuthero only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glyburide page lists 331 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 279 moderate · 45 minor.

Open the Glyburide interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 3,795 real supplement products containing Eleuthero, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Eleuthero. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Glyburide too, on top of Eleuthero — 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 Eleuthero and Glyburide 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 Eleuthero
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glyburide
Top half

#712 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 Eleuthero

What is Eleuthero?

Eleuthero
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Physical and athletic performance
  • Stress resistance (adaptogen)
  • Immune support
  • Mental focus and alertness

Eleuthero is an herb traditionally used as an 'adaptogen' to fight fatigue, boost energy, and help the body handle stress. The scientific evidence behind these uses is limited and mixed, so it should not replace proven treatments. It is generally well tolerated short-term, but pregnant and breastfeeding people and those with certain conditions should avoid it or check with a healthcare provider first.

Read the full Eleuthero monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Glyburide

What Is Glyburide Used For?

Brand names: Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase, Glycron, Micronized, Glynase PresTab, Albert Glyburide

Glyburide tablets are used alongside diet and exercise to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication where the body produces dangerous levels of acids called ketones).

Glyburide may be used alone or combined with metformin when metformin alone is not enough. It can also be used to help transition patients who are moving from insulin or other diabetes pills to a new regimen, under a doctor's guidance.

See full Glyburide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Eleuthero

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

0Major
678Moderate
461Minor
1,690No known interaction
678 Moderate 461 Minor 1,690 No interaction
Moderate

678 interactions

Showing 60 of 678 moderate interactions — see all 678 on the Eleuthero page.

Minor

461 interactions

Showing 60 of 461 minor interactions — see all 461 on the Eleuthero page.

No interaction 1,690 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,690 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Eleuthero list.

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

Can you take Eleuthero with Glyburide?
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.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Eleuthero and Glyburide?
Glyburide belongs to more than one drug category, and Eleuthero interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Eleuthero and Glyburide 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 Glyburide and Eleuthero?

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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.