Drug & supplement interaction

Sesame + Saxagliptin

Saxagliptin brand name: Onglyza.

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

Sesame has a moderate interaction with Saxagliptin. Taking sesame oil with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

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

Sesame and Saxagliptin

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Saxagliptin

Saxagliptin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Sesame interacts with.

Taking sesame oil with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical studies show that sesame oil can decrease plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Some clinical research in patients taking glibenclamide shows that using sesame oil or a blend of sesame oil and rice bran oil in place of other oil for cooking reduces plasma glucose more than glibenclamide alone. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.
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 the simple version: sesame oil seems to nudge blood sugar down a little on its own. Some early studies show people using sesame oil for cooking had lower glucose and HbA1c readings. So if you pair it with saxagliptin (Onglyza), which already works to lower your blood sugar after meals, the two could add up and push your numbers lower than expected.

For most folks taking saxagliptin alone, low blood sugar is uncommon, but it's still worth knowing the signs: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling suddenly hungry or foggy. This is theoretical and based mostly on the cooking-oil studies, not strong proof. Sesame seeds sprinkled on food likely won't matter much. If you're using sesame oil regularly or as a supplement, just check your sugars and chat with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sankar, D., Rao, M. R., Sambandam, G., and Pugalendi, K. V. A pilot study of open label sesame oil in hypertensive diabetics. J Med Food 2006;9(3):408-412. PubMed
  2. Ramesh, B., Saravanan, R., and Pugalendi, K. V. Influence of sesame oil on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status in streptozotocin diabetic rats. J Med Food 2005;8(3):377-381. PubMed
  3. Devarajan S, Chatterjee B, Urata H, et al. A blend of sesame and rice bran oils lowers hyperglycemia and improves the lipids. Am J Med. 2016;129(7):731-9. PubMed
  4. Yargholi A, Najafi MH, Zareian MA, Hawkins J, Shirbeigi L, Ayati MH. The effects of sesame consumption on glycemic control in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021;2021:2873534. PubMed
  5. Sohouli MH, Haghshenas N, Hernández-Ruiz Á, Shidfar F. Consumption of sesame seeds and sesame products has favorable effects on blood glucose levels but not on insulin resistance: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Phytot PubMed
  6. Atefi M, Entezari MH, Vahedi H, Hassanzadeh A. The effects of sesame oil on metabolic biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2022;21(1):1065-1080. 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

Sesame Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sesame has 342 moderate, 185 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Saxagliptin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 342 Minor 185 No known interaction 2,303 (incl. Saxagliptin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sesame

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Saxagliptin

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

“Siberian cocklebur is the one supplement anyone on saxagliptin (Onglyza) for type 2 diabetes should avoid outright. Its seeds have caused severe hypoglycemia in people, dropping blood sugar soon after consumption and often worsening from there.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Saxagliptin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 434 real supplement products containing Sesame, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sesame. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Saxagliptin too, on top of Sesame — 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 Sesame and Saxagliptin 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 Sesame
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Saxagliptin
Steady interest

#2,207 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 Sesame

What is Sesame?

  • Heart and cholesterol health
  • Blood pressure support
  • Source of healthy fats and minerals
  • Skin and hair care (topical oil)
  • Antioxidant support
  • Cooking and nutrition

Sesame is a nutritious seed and oil widely used in cooking and traditional medicine, and it provides healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidant compounds called lignans. Some early research suggests sesame may modestly help with cholesterol and blood pressure, but the evidence is limited. Sesame is also a common, sometimes serious, food allergen, so people with seed allergies should be careful.

Read the full Sesame monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Saxagliptin

What Is Saxagliptin Used For?

Brand name: Onglyza

Saxagliptin tablets are used to help adults with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. It is meant to be used together with diet and exercise, either alone or alongside other diabetes medicines.

Saxagliptin tablets are not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous complication where the blood becomes too acidic).

See full Saxagliptin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sesame

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

0Major
342Moderate
185Minor
2,302No known interaction
342 Moderate 185 Minor 2,302 No interaction
Moderate

342 interactions

Showing 60 of 342 moderate interactions — see all 342 on the Sesame page.

Minor

185 interactions

Showing 60 of 185 minor interactions — see all 185 on the Sesame page.

No interaction 2,302 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,302 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sesame list.

See the full Sesame interactions page
See every supplement checked against Saxagliptin, 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
Sesame monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Saxagliptin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Saxagliptin, ranked by severity Saxagliptin drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Sesame and Saxagliptin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sesame with Saxagliptin?
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 Sesame and Saxagliptin 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 Saxagliptin and Sesame?

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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.