Drug & supplement interaction

Glyconutrients + Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab brand name: Actemra.

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

Glyconutrients has a moderate interaction with Tocilizumab. Evidence from in vitro research suggests that glyconutrients stimulate certain immune responses.

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

Glyconutrients and Tocilizumab

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

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Glyconutrients interacts with.

Evidence from in vitro research suggests that glyconutrients stimulate certain immune responses. Theoretically, glyconutrients might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressant drugs include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.
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 short version on mixing glyconutrients with Actemra (tocilizumab). Tocilizumab is a biologic that calms down an overactive immune system to ease conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or giant cell arteritis. Glyconutrients, on the other hand, have been shown in lab dish (test tube) studies only to nudge certain immune responses in the opposite direction. So the theory is that they could push back against the very thing tocilizumab is trying to do, possibly making it work a bit less well.

I want to stress this is theoretical and not proven in people, so don't panic. Still, since you're relying on tocilizumab to control real symptoms, it's worth a quick chat with your doctor or pharmacist before adding a glyconutrient supplement. Please don't start or stop anything on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lefkowitz DL, Stuart R, Gnade BT, Roberts E, Lefkowitz SS. Effects of a glyconutrient on macrophage functions. Int J Immunopharmacol 2000;22(4):299-308. PubMed
  2. See DM, Cimoch P, Chou S, Chang J, Tilles J. The in vitro immunomodulatory effects of glyconutrients on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Integr Physiol Behav Sci 1998;33(3):280-287. PubMed
  3. Haji, Faraji M. and Haji, Tarkhani A. The effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on essential hypertension. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1999;65(3):231-236. 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

Glyconutrients Also Interacts With Other Medications

Glyconutrients has 120 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Tocilizumab one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 120 No known interaction 2,710 (incl. Tocilizumab)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Glyconutrients

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Tocilizumab

This page covers Glyconutrients only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Tocilizumab page lists 89 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Active Hexose Correlated Compound (ahcc) (moderate) and Alfalfa (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 85 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Tocilizumab page

“Tocilizumab (Actemra) calms an overactive immune system in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and it is also known to strain the liver, which is exactly where its supplement interactions concentrate. This page deserves genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Tocilizumab interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Glyconutrients and Tocilizumab 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 Glyconutrients
Steady interest

#1,059 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Tocilizumab
Steady interest

#2,553 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 Glyconutrients

What is Glyconutrients?

  • General immune support
  • Overall wellness and energy
  • Cognitive or memory support
  • Inflammation
  • Digestive health

Glyconutrients are supplements containing certain sugar molecules (monosaccharides) that marketers claim are essential for cell communication and health. The science behind most health claims is weak and largely promotional, and your body already makes these sugars from a normal diet. They are generally low-risk, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using them, and don't rely on them to treat any disease.

Read the full Glyconutrients monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Tocilizumab Injection

What Is Tocilizumab Injection Used For?

Brand name: Actemra

Tocilizumab injection is used to treat several serious inflammatory and immune-related conditions. Actemra (tocilizumab) is indicated for moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adults who haven't responded well to other disease-modifying drugs, giant cell arteritis in adults, systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) to slow lung function decline, polyarticular and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years and older, and severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS) caused by CAR T-cell therapy in adults and children 2 and older.

Actemra is also approved for hospitalized adults and children aged 2 and older with COVID-19 who are on corticosteroids and need supplemental oxygen or mechanical breathing support. Not every brand or route is approved for every use — your prescriber will choose the right form for your specific condition.

See full Tocilizumab Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Glyconutrients

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

0Major
120Moderate
0Minor
2,709No known interaction
120 Moderate 2,709 No interaction
Moderate

120 interactions

Showing 60 of 120 moderate interactions — see all 120 on the Glyconutrients page.

No interaction 2,709 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,709 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Glyconutrients list.

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

Can you take Glyconutrients with Tocilizumab?
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 Glyconutrients and Tocilizumab 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 Tocilizumab and Glyconutrients?

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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.