Drug & supplement interaction

Irvingia Gabonensis + Metformin Hydrochloride

Metformin Hydrochloride brand name: Riomet ER.

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

Irvingia Gabonensis has a moderate interaction with Metformin Hydrochloride. Theoretically, taking Irvingia gabonensis with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients.

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

Irvingia Gabonensis and Metformin Hydrochloride

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Metformin Hydrochloride

Metformin Hydrochloride falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Irvingia Gabonensis interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Irvingia gabonensis with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients.
Human research shows that Irvingia gabonensis decreases blood sugar in diabetic patients being treated with antidiabetes agents. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.
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: African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) may lower blood sugar on its own. So when you pair it with metformin, which is already working to bring your glucose down, the two can add up and push your numbers a bit lower than expected. Metformin by itself rarely causes true low blood sugar, but stacking another sugar-lowering agent on top can make it more likely.

Watch for signs like shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling foggy and hungry. The evidence here is fairly limited, so this won't happen to everyone, but it's worth knowing. Please don't stop or change your metformin on your own. Instead, check your glucose more often and chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding this supplement.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Adamson, I., Okafor, C., and Abu-Bakare, A. A supplement of Dikanut (Irvingia gabonesis) improves treatment of type II diabetics. West Afr.J.Med. 1990;9(2):108-115.
  2. Adamson, I., Okafor, C., and Abu-Bakare, A. Erythrocyte membrane ATPases in diabetes: effect of dikanut (Irvingia gabonensis). Enzyme 1986;36(3):212-215. 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

Irvingia Gabonensis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Irvingia Gabonensis has 93 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Metformin Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 93 No known interaction 2,737 (incl. Metformin Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Irvingia Gabonensis

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Metformin Hydrochloride

This page covers Irvingia Gabonensis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metformin Hydrochloride page lists 257 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 · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metformin Hydrochloride page

“Anyone taking metformin hydrochloride (Riomet ER) should treat this list with genuine care, because two of its 257 entries are rated major. Siberian cocklebur has caused severe hypoglycemia in people and should not be combined with metformin at all, and activated charcoal can adsorb the drug in the gut so less reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin Hydrochloride interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 406 real supplement products containing Irvingia Gabonensis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Irvingia Gabonensis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Metformin Hydrochloride too, on top of Irvingia Gabonensis — 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 Irvingia Gabonensis and Metformin Hydrochloride 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 Irvingia Gabonensis
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin Hydrochloride
Top half

#870 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 Irvingia Gabonensis

What is Irvingia Gabonensis?

Irvingia Gabonensis
  • Weight loss
  • Appetite control
  • Cholesterol support
  • Blood sugar support
  • Metabolism support

Irvingia gabonensis (African mango) is a seed extract marketed mainly for weight loss and metabolic health. A few small studies suggest possible benefits, but the research is limited and low-quality, so the true effect is uncertain. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and do not rely on it in place of proven diet and lifestyle changes.

Read the full Irvingia Gabonensis monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Irvingia Gabonensis

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

0Major
93Moderate
0Minor
2,736No known interaction
93 Moderate 2,736 No interaction
Moderate

93 interactions

Showing 60 of 93 moderate interactions — see all 93 on the Irvingia Gabonensis page.

No interaction 2,736 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,736 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Irvingia Gabonensis list.

See the full Irvingia Gabonensis interactions page
See every supplement checked against Metformin Hydrochloride, 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
Irvingia Gabonensis monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Metformin Hydrochloride supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Metformin Hydrochloride, 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 Irvingia Gabonensis and Metformin Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Irvingia Gabonensis with Metformin Hydrochloride?
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 Irvingia Gabonensis and Metformin Hydrochloride 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 Hydrochloride and Irvingia Gabonensis?

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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.