Drug & supplement interaction

Picrorhiza + Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide

Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide brand name: Xultophy 100/3.6.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Picrorhiza has a moderate interaction with Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide. Evidence from animal research suggests that an extract of picrorhiza can reduce fasting and non-fasting blood sugar levels.

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

Picrorhiza and Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide

Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Picrorhiza interacts with.

Evidence from animal research suggests that an extract of picrorhiza can reduce fasting and non-fasting blood sugar levels. Theoretically, picrorhiza might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. 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

Xultophy is a once-daily injection that pairs a long-acting insulin (degludec) with the GLP-1 medication liraglutide. Both parts already work to lower your blood sugar, so they are powerful glucose-lowering tools on their own.

Here's the concern with picrorhiza: in animal studies, this herb seems to nudge blood sugar down a little too. Stacked on top of Xultophy, the worry is an additive effect that could push your numbers too low. Watch for hypoglycemia signs like shakiness, sweating, a racing heart, confusion, or feeling lightheaded. I'll be honest though, this is theoretical and based only on lab and animal data, so it isn't a proven problem in people. If you'd like to try picrorhiza, check your glucose more closely and talk with your doctor or pharmacist first about whether any dose tweak makes sense.

References
  1. Joy, K. L. and Kuttan, R. Anti-diabetic activity of Picrorrhiza kurroa extract. J Ethnopharmacol 11-1-1999;67(2):143-148. 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

Picrorhiza Also Interacts With Other Medications

Picrorhiza has 206 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide 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 Picrorhiza

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide

This page covers Picrorhiza only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide 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 Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide page

“Every ingredient on this page acts on blood sugar one way or the other, which is why this list deserves genuine care from anyone using Xultophy (insulin degludec and liraglutide), a combination injection for type 2 diabetes. Most of the entries add to the pen's glucose-lowering effect and raise the odds of hypoglycemia, while a smaller…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 177 real supplement products containing Picrorhiza, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Picrorhiza. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide too, on top of Picrorhiza — 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 Picrorhiza and Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide 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 Picrorhiza
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide
Top 5%

#44 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 Picrorhiza

What is Picrorhiza?

  • Liver support
  • Digestive complaints
  • Asthma and breathing problems
  • Skin conditions
  • Fever
  • Immune support

Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurroa) is a bitter Himalayan herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, mainly for liver and digestive complaints. Early lab and small human studies suggest possible liver-protective and anti-inflammatory effects, but high-quality evidence is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Picrorhiza monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Picrorhiza

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

0Major
206Moderate
0Minor
2,623No known interaction
Moderate

206 interactions

Showing 60 of 206 moderate interactions — see all 206 on the Picrorhiza page.

No interaction 2,623 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 Picrorhiza and Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Picrorhiza with Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide?
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 Picrorhiza and Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide 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 Insulin Degludec, Liraglutide and Picrorhiza?

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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.