Drug & supplement interaction

Phlorizin + Glucose

Glucose brand name: IV Glucose.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Phlorizin has a moderate interaction with Glucose. Phlorizin is a potent, nonselective inhibitor of SGLT1 and SGLT2.

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

Phlorizin and Glucose

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Glucose

Glucose falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Phlorizin interacts with.

Phlorizin is a potent, nonselective inhibitor of SGLT1 and SGLT2. It has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels in animal research. Theoretically, phlorizin might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. However, the likelihood of this effect is unclear due to the poor bioavailability and rapid degradation of phlorizin. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.
Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), 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 an interesting wrinkle. Glucose (the IV sugar your care team gives to raise blood sugar) and phlorizin actually pull in opposite directions. Phlorizin's main job is to block the SGLT transporters that help your body hold onto sugar, so it tends to push sugar out through your urine and lower blood sugar. Glucose is given to bring blood sugar back up. So in theory, phlorizin could work against the very thing the glucose is trying to fix.

In practice, this is very much a paper concern. Phlorizin is poorly absorbed when swallowed and breaks down fast, and the evidence here comes from lab and animal work, not people. Still, since glucose is often given in serious situations like treating a low, it's worth flagging any supplement to your doctor or pharmacist so they can check your numbers closely.

References
  1. Chao EC, Henry RR. SGLT2 inhibition--a novel strategy for diabetes treatment. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2010;9(7):551-9. 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

Phlorizin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Phlorizin has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Glucose 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 Phlorizin

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Glucose

This page covers Phlorizin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glucose page lists 256 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 · 215 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Glucose page

“Glucose given by IV raises a dangerously low blood sugar, and this list warrants real caution because most of its 256 ingredients pull the other way. Nearly all of them lower blood sugar on their own, working against the treatment and setting up another crash.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Glucose interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 6 real supplement products containing Phlorizin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Phlorizin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Glucose too, on top of Phlorizin — 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 Phlorizin and Glucose 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 Phlorizin
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glucose
Top 25%

#653 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 Phlorizin

What is Phlorizin?

  • Blood sugar support
  • Diabetes research
  • Antioxidant
  • Weight management interest

Phlorizin is a natural plant compound (a dihydrochalcone) found in apple tree bark and other plants that has been studied mostly in the laboratory for its effects on blood sugar handling. There is no good human evidence that taking it as a supplement is safe or effective, and it is poorly absorbed when swallowed. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using any product containing it.

Read the full Phlorizin monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phlorizin

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

0Major
85Moderate
0Minor
2,744No known interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

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

No interaction 2,744 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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phlorizin and Glucose Together: Common Questions

Can you take Phlorizin with Glucose?
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 Phlorizin and Glucose 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 Glucose and Phlorizin?

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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.