Drug & supplement interaction

Salacia + Metformin XR

Metformin XR brand name: Glucophage XR.

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

Salacia has a moderate interaction with Metformin XR. Salacia might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.

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

Salacia and Metformin XR

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Metformin XR

Metformin XR falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Salacia interacts with.

Salacia might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Clinical research suggests that salacia might lower blood glucose levels.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

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 simple version: both Salacia and your Metformin XR work to bring blood sugar down, just in different ways. Salacia slows how fast carbs turn into sugar in your gut, while Metformin lowers the sugar your liver makes and helps your body use insulin better. Stack them together and the lowering effect could add up.

On its own, Metformin rarely causes truly low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), but pairing it with another sugar-lowering agent nudges that risk up a bit. Watch for shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling foggy. Just so you know, this caution is based on how these things work in theory, not strong head-to-head studies. Before adding Salacia, check in with your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on your numbers.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Jayawardena MH, de Alwis NM, Hettigoda V, Fernando DJ. A double blind randomised placebo controlled cross over study of a herbal preparation containing Salacia reticulata in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;97:215-8. PubMed
  2. Williams JA, Choe YS, Noss MJ, et al. Extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:124-30. PubMed
  3. Kajimoto O, Kawamori S, Shimoda H, et al. Effects of a Diet Containing Salacia reticulata on Mild Type 2 Diabetes in Humans. A Placebo-controlled, Cross-over Trial. Nippon Eiyo Shokuryo Gakkaishi 2000;53(5):199-205. DOI

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

Salacia Also Interacts With Other Medications

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

Moderate 85 No known interaction 2,745 (incl. Metformin XR)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Salacia

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Metformin XR

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

“Siberian cocklebur stands alone at the top of this list; its seeds have caused severe low blood sugar in humans, and no one taking metformin XR (Glucophage XR) should use it. Almost everything else here, 239 of the 256 ingredients, affects blood sugar too, so this list earns real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin XR interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 34 real supplement products containing Salacia, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Salacia. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Metformin XR too, on top of Salacia — 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 Salacia and Metformin XR 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 Salacia
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin XR
Top 25%

#391 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 Salacia

What is Salacia?

Salacia
  • Blood sugar control
  • Type 2 diabetes support
  • Weight management
  • Obesity
  • Traditional Ayurvedic remedy

Salacia is a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine, mostly studied for lowering blood sugar after meals. Some small human studies suggest it may modestly blunt blood sugar spikes, but the evidence is limited and far from conclusive. If you have diabetes or take other medicines, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Salacia monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Salacia

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Salacia — 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
85 Moderate 2,744 No interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

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

No interaction 2,744 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,744 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Salacia list.

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

Can you take Salacia with Metformin XR?
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 Salacia and Metformin XR 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 Metformin XR and Salacia?

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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.