Drug & supplement interaction

Fig + Exenatide Synthetic

Exenatide Synthetic brand name: Bydureon BCISE.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Fig has a moderate interaction with Exenatide Synthetic. Theoretically, fig leaf might enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of hypoglycemic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Fig and Exenatide Synthetic

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Exenatide Synthetic

Exenatide Synthetic falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Fig interacts with.

Theoretically, fig leaf might enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of hypoglycemic drugs.
A small clinical study in patients with type 1 diabetes shows that consuming a tea made from fig leaves modestly reduces postprandial glucose levels and insulin requirements.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: fig leaf may have its own mild blood-sugar-lowering effect, and exenatide (Bydureon BCISE) already works to bring your glucose down. Put them together and they could nudge your sugar a little lower than you expect. Keep in mind this is based on a small study using fig leaf tea, so the evidence is limited and the effect looks modest.

The everyday fig fruit you eat as food is very unlikely to cause trouble. The bigger question is concentrated fig leaf supplements or strong teas. If you're using those alongside exenatide, watch for signs of low blood sugar like shakiness, sweating, or feeling lightheaded, and check your readings. Don't change anything on your own. Just give your pharmacist or doctor a heads-up first.

References
  1. Serraclara A, Hawkins F, Perez C, et al. Hypoglycemic action of an oral fig-leaf decoction in type-I diabetic patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1998;39:19-22. 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

Fig Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fig has 409 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Exenatide Synthetic one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fig

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Exenatide Synthetic

This page covers Fig only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Exenatide Synthetic page lists 239 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate), Agaricus Mushroom (moderate) and Agmatine (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 208 moderate · 30 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Exenatide Synthetic page

“Exenatide Synthetic (Bydureon BCISE) is a once-weekly injection for type 2 diabetes, and I treat its supplement list with real respect. All 239 ingredients on file act on blood sugar, and most of the 208 moderate entries are herbs and foods that lower it further, stacking extra low-blood-sugar risk onto a drug already doing that job.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Exenatide Synthetic interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 189 real supplement products containing Fig, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fig. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Exenatide Synthetic too, on top of Fig — 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 Fig and Exenatide Synthetic 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 Fig
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Exenatide Synthetic
Top 25%

#470 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 Fig

What is Fig?

  • Constipation and digestive health
  • Blood sugar support
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Skin conditions (topical sap)
  • Source of fiber and minerals

Fig (Ficus carica) is a common fruit that has long been used as a gentle food remedy for constipation, and its leaves are used traditionally for blood sugar and coughs. The fruit is a safe and nutritious food, but evidence for fig leaf supplements treating specific health conditions is limited. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated fig leaf products, especially if you have diabetes.

Read the full Fig monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Exenatide Injection

What Is Exenatide Injection Used For?

Brand name: Bydureon BCISE

Exenatide injection is used as an addition to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not a substitute for healthy lifestyle changes — it works best when combined with them.

It should not be used together with other exenatide-containing products. The brands Byetta, Bydureon, and BYDUREON BCise all contain exenatide and should never be combined with each other.

See full Exenatide Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fig

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

0Major
409Moderate
0Minor
2,420No known interaction
Moderate

409 interactions

Showing 60 of 409 moderate interactions — see all 409 on the Fig page.

No interaction 2,420 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Fig and Exenatide Synthetic Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fig with Exenatide Synthetic?
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 Fig and Exenatide Synthetic 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 Exenatide Synthetic and Fig?

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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.