Drug & supplement interaction

Magnesium + Glyburide, Metformin

Glyburide, Metformin brand name: Glucovance.

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

Magnesium has a moderate interaction with Glyburide, Metformin. Magnesium increases the systemic absorption of sulfonylureas, increasing their effects and side effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Magnesium and Glyburide, Metformin

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

Moderate

SULFONYLUREAS

Why this applies to Glyburide, Metformin

Glyburide, Metformin falls under SULFONYLUREAS — the group Magnesium interacts with.

Magnesium increases the systemic absorption of sulfonylureas, increasing their effects and side effects.
Clinical research shows that administration of magnesium hydroxide with glyburide increases glyburide absorption, increases maximal insulin response by 35-fold, and increases the risk of hypoglycemia, when compared with glyburide alone. A similar interaction occurs between magnesium hydroxide and glipizide. The mechanism of this effect appears to be related to the elevation of gastrointestinal pH by magnesium-based antacids, increasing solubility and enhancing absorption of sulfonylureas.
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 gist with your Glucovance, which pairs glyburide (a sulfonylurea) with metformin. Taking magnesium, especially magnesium-based antacids like milk of magnesia, can raise the pH in your stomach and gut. That actually helps your body absorb more of the glyburide part, so it ends up hitting harder than expected.

In practical terms, that means a bigger drop in your blood sugar. Watch for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion, fast heartbeat, or feeling suddenly hungry. A study even saw a large jump in the insulin response when these were combined. This isn't a reason to panic or to stop anything on your own. Just give your pharmacist or doctor a heads-up so they can check your sugar pattern and timing.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Neuvonen PJ, Kivistö KT. The effects of magnesium hydroxide on the absorption and efficacy of two glibenclamide preparations. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1991;32(2):215-20. PubMed
  2. Kivistö KT, Neuvonen PJ. Enhancement of absorption and effect of glipizide by magnesium hydroxide. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1991;49(1):39-43. PubMed
  3. Neuvonen PJ, Kivistö KT. Enhancement of drug absorption by antacids. An unrecognised drug interaction. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1994;27(2):120-8. 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

Magnesium Also Interacts With Other Medications

Magnesium has 6 major, 174 moderate, 114 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Glyburide, Metformin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 6 Moderate 174 Minor 114 No known interaction 2,536 (incl. Glyburide, Metformin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Magnesium

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Magnesium or Glyburide, Metformin

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

This page covers Magnesium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glyburide, Metformin page lists 332 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 · 281 moderate · 44 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Glyburide, Metformin page

“Glucovance combines glyburide and metformin to lower blood sugar, and its list of 332 interacting supplements deserves real care, starting with the seven rated major. Most entries, 239 of them, lower blood sugar on their own, so stacking one on top of a drug built to do exactly that can drop your glucose into dangerous territory.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Glyburide, Metformin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 29,717 real supplement products containing Magnesium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Magnesium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Glyburide, Metformin too, on top of Magnesium — 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 Magnesium and Glyburide, Metformin 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 Magnesium
Top 10

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glyburide, Metformin
Top half

#1,021 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 Magnesium

What is Magnesium?

Magnesium
  • Preventing or treating magnesium deficiency
  • Constipation
  • Muscle cramps
  • Sleep support
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Migraine prevention

Magnesium is an essential mineral your body needs for muscles, nerves, blood pressure, and many other functions, and supplements are useful for preventing or correcting deficiency. Some other uses, like easing constipation or preventing migraines, have reasonable support, while uses for sleep and anxiety are less proven. It is generally safe for most healthy people at recommended amounts, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you have kidney problems.

Read the full Magnesium monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Magnesium

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

6Major
174Moderate
114Minor
2,535No known interaction
6 Major 174 Moderate 114 Minor 2,535 No interaction
Major

6 interactions

Moderate

174 interactions

Showing 60 of 174 moderate interactions — see all 174 on the Magnesium page.

Minor

114 interactions

Showing 60 of 114 minor interactions — see all 114 on the Magnesium page.

No interaction 2,535 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,535 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Magnesium list.

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

Can you take Magnesium with Glyburide, Metformin?
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 Magnesium and Glyburide, Metformin 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, Metformin and Magnesium?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.