Drug & supplement interaction

Onion + Lixisenatide

Lixisenatide brand name: Adlyxin.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Onion has a moderate interaction with Lixisenatide. Concomitant use of antidiabetes drugs with onion may increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Onion and Lixisenatide

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Lixisenatide

Lixisenatide falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Onion interacts with.

Concomitant use of antidiabetes drugs with onion may increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research and clinical research shows that taking onion can lower blood glucose levels. Monitor blood glucose levels closely.
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: onion can nudge your blood sugar down on its own, and lixisenatide (Adlyxin) is already working hard to lower it by helping your pancreas release insulin when sugar is high. Stack the two and you could end up lower than expected, which means more chances of hypoglycemia (shakiness, sweating, dizziness, headache, or feeling confused).

The good news is that onion in your normal cooking is very unlikely to cause trouble. This caution is really about concentrated onion supplements taken on purpose for blood sugar. The evidence here is modest, so don't panic, but if you do start an onion supplement, check your glucose a little more closely and let your pharmacist or doctor know first.

References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  2. Mathew, P. T. and Augusti, K. T. Hypoglycaemic effects of onion, Allium cepa Linn. on diabetes mellitus - a preliminary report. Indian J.Physiol Pharmacol. 1975;19(4):213-217.
  3. Campos, K. E., Diniz, Y. S., Cataneo, A. C., Faine, L. A., Alves, M. J., and Novelli, E. L. Hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of onion, Allium cepa: dietary onion addition, antioxidant activity and hypoglycaemic effects on diabetic rats. Int J Food S
  4. El Demerdash, F. M., Yousef, M. I., and El Naga, N. I. Biochemical study on the hypoglycemic effects of onion and garlic in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2005;43(1):57-63. PubMed
  5. Kook, S., Kim, G. H., and Choi, K. The antidiabetic effect of onion and garlic in experimental diabetic rats: meta-analysis. J Med Food 2009;12(3):552-560. PubMed
  6. Sharma, K. K., Gupta, R. K., Gupta, S., and Samuel, K. C. Antihyperglycemic effect of onion: effect on fasting blood sugar and induced hyperglycemia in man. Indian J.Med.Res. 1977;65(3):422-429.
  7. Jain, R. C., Vyas, C. R., and Mahatma, O. P. Letter: Hypoglycaemic action of onion and garlic. Lancet 12-29-1973;2(7844):1491.
  8. Jain, R. C. and Vyas, C. R. Letter: Hypoglycaemia action of onion on rabbits. Br.Med.J. 6-29-1974;2(5921):730. PubMed
  9. Tjokroprawiro, A., Pikir, B. S., Budhiarta, A. A., Pranawa, Soewondo, H., Donosepoetro, M., Budhianto, F. X., Wibowo, J. A., Tanuwidjaja, S. J., Pangemanan, M., and . Metabolic effects of onion and green beans on diabetic patients. Tohoku J Exp Med 1983; PubMed
  10. Akash MS, Rehman K, Chen S. Spice plant Allium cepa: dietary supplement for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition 2014;30(10):1128-37. PubMed
  11. Eldin IM, Ahmed EM, HM AE. Preliminary study of the clinical hypoglycemic effects of Allium cepa (red onion) in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Environmental health insights 2010;4:71. 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

Onion Also Interacts With Other Medications

Onion has 274 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Lixisenatide 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 Onion

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lixisenatide

This page covers Onion only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lixisenatide 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 Lixisenatide page

“Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) is injected to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, and nearly everything on this page acts on blood sugar too, which is why I would treat the list with genuine care rather than a shrug. Most of the entries, from bitter melon and fenugreek to both types of ginseng, can push glucose lower still and raise the odds…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lixisenatide interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,061 real supplement products containing Onion, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Onion. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Lixisenatide too, on top of Onion — 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 Onion and Lixisenatide 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 Onion
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Lixisenatide
Steady interest

#1,889 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 Onion

What is Onion?

Onion
  • Colds and respiratory symptoms
  • Heart and cholesterol health
  • Blood sugar support
  • Antimicrobial and wound care
  • Scar appearance (topical gels)

Onion is a common food with a long history in traditional medicine, and it contains antioxidants like quercetin and sulfur compounds. Eating onion as part of a balanced diet is safe for most people, but high-dose supplements have only limited human evidence for any specific health condition. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated onion products for a medical reason.

Read the full Onion monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lixisenatide Injection

What Is Lixisenatide Injection Used For?

Brand name: Adlyxin

  • Lixisenatide injection is used along with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Lixisenatide injection is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Lixisenatide is not used instead of insulin to treat people with diabetes who need insulin. Lixisenatide injection is in a class of medications called incretin mimetics. It works by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. Lixisenatide injection also slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite.

  • Over time, people who have diabetes and high blood sugar can develop serious or life-threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems. Using medication(s), making lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise, quitting smoking), and regularly checking your blood sugar may help to manage your diabetes and improve your health. This therapy may also decrease your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes-related complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage (numb, cold legs or feet; decreased sexual ability in men and women), eye problems, including changes or loss of vision, or gum disease. Your doctor and other healthcare providers will talk to you about the best way to manage your diabetes.

  • Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with lixisenatide injection and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) to obtain the Medication Guide.

See full Lixisenatide Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Onion

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

0Major
274Moderate
0Minor
2,555No known interaction
Moderate

274 interactions

Showing 60 of 274 moderate interactions — see all 274 on the Onion page.

No interaction 2,555 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

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Onion and Lixisenatide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Onion with Lixisenatide?
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 Onion and Lixisenatide 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 Lixisenatide and Onion?

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.