Drug & supplement interaction

Juniper + Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride

Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride brand name: Synjardy XR.

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

Juniper has a moderate interaction with Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride. Theoretically, taking juniper berry with antidiabetes medications might cause additive hypoglycemia.

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

Juniper and Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride

Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Juniper interacts with.

Theoretically, taking juniper berry with antidiabetes medications might cause additive hypoglycemia.
Animal research shows that juniper berry can lower blood glucose.
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

Synjardy XR combines two diabetes medicines, empagliflozin and metformin, that both work to bring your blood sugar down. The thought here is pretty simple: juniper berry has been shown in animal studies to lower blood glucose on its own. So if you pair it with your diabetes medication, the two could add up and push your sugar lower than you intend.

I want to be honest that this is theoretical, based on lab and animal work rather than solid human studies, so the gin-and-tonic level of juniper isn't likely to do much. With concentrated juniper supplements, just keep an eye out for low blood sugar signs (shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion). Juniper can also irritate the kidneys, which matters with these drugs, so please check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Sanchez de Medina F, Gamez MJ, Jimenez I, et al. Hypoglycemic activity of juniper "berries." Planta Med 1994;60:197-200. PubMed
  3. Swanston-Flatt SK, Day C, Bailey CJ, Flatt PR. Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetologia 1990;33:462-4. 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

Juniper Also Interacts With Other Medications

Juniper has 85 moderate, 76 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 85 Minor 76 No known interaction 2,669 (incl. Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Juniper

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride

This page covers Juniper only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride page lists 258 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 · 218 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride page

“Synjardy XR pairs two glucose-lowering medicines, empagliflozin and metformin, which is exactly why its 258-ingredient supplement list warrants real caution. The dominant pattern is additive.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,100 real supplement products containing Juniper, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Juniper. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride too, on top of Juniper — 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 Juniper and Empagliflozin, 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 Juniper
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride
Top half

#859 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 Juniper

What is Juniper?

  • Water retention (diuretic)
  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Urinary tract support
  • Joint and muscle discomfort
  • Flavoring (gin and food)

Juniper berry is a traditional herb best known for flavoring gin and for its folk use as a diuretic and digestive aid. Solid human evidence for its health benefits is limited, and it can irritate the kidneys with high doses or long-term use. Pregnant people and those with kidney problems should avoid it, and everyone should check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Juniper monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Juniper

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

0Major
85Moderate
76Minor
2,668No known interaction
85 Moderate 76 Minor 2,668 No interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

Showing 60 of 85 moderate interactions — see all 85 on the Juniper page.

Minor

76 interactions

Showing 60 of 76 minor interactions — see all 76 on the Juniper page.

No interaction 2,668 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,668 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Juniper list.

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

Can you take Juniper with Empagliflozin, 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 Juniper and Empagliflozin, 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 Empagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride and Juniper?

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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.