Drug & supplement interaction

Turkey Tail Mushroom + Glipizide

Glipizide brand names: Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Glipizide falls into 2 drug categories that Turkey Tail Mushroom can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, taking turkey tail mushroom with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Turkey Tail Mushroom and Glipizide

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Turkey Tail Mushroom interacts with whole categories of medication. Glipizide falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Turkey Tail Mushroom in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Glipizide

Glipizide falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Turkey Tail Mushroom interacts with.

Theoretically, taking turkey tail mushroom with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research suggests that turkey tail mushroom and a polysaccharide component can have hypoglycemic effects.
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 is the short version: glipizide already pushes your pancreas to release more insulin, which lowers your blood sugar. Some animal studies hint that turkey tail mushroom, and one of its polysaccharide pieces, may have a mild blood-sugar-lowering effect of its own. Stack those two together and there is a theoretical chance your sugar could dip lower than expected.

I want to be honest with you, though, this is based on lab and animal research, not on people taking the two together, so the real-world risk is uncertain and probably small. Still, it is worth knowing the signs of low blood sugar: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling suddenly hungry or confused. If you want to try turkey tail, check with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your glucose readings.

References
  1. Meng F, Lin Y, Hu L, Feng W, Su P, Wu L. The therapeutic effect of Coriolus versicolor fruiting body on STZ-induced ICR diabetic mice. J Healthc Eng 2022;2022:7282453. PubMed
  2. Nikolic M, Lazarevic N, Novakovic J, et al. Characterization, in vitro biological activity and in vivo cardioprotective properties of Trametes versicolor (L.:Fr.) quél. heteropolysaccharides in a rat model of metabolic syndrome. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 20 PubMed
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Glipizide also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, the polysaccharide peptide (PSP) component of turkey tail mushroom might inhibit CYP2C9.
Laboratory research suggests that the PSP component of turkey tail mushroom dose-dependently inhibits CYP2C9. Theoretically, taking PSP with drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 might increase drug levels and the risk of adverse effects. However, this has not been reported in humans.
Severity Minor 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 gist with glipizide and turkey tail. Your liver uses an enzyme called CYP2C9 to clear glipizide out of your system. Lab studies hint that the PSP part of turkey tail might slow that enzyme down a bit. If it did, glipizide could hang around longer and push your blood sugar lower than expected, which can mean shakiness, sweating, dizziness, hunger, or feeling faint from low blood sugar.

The important thing: this is only a theoretical concern from test-tube research, and it has never actually been reported in people taking glipizide. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, if you start turkey tail, keep an eye on your sugar readings and mention it to your pharmacist or doctor first.

References
  1. Yeung JH and Or PM. Polysaccharide peptides from Coriolus versicolor competitively inhibit tolbutamide 4-hydroxylation in specific human CYP2C9 isoform and pooled human liver microsomes. Phytomedicine 2011;18(13):1170-5. 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

Turkey Tail Mushroom Also Interacts With Other Medications

Turkey Tail Mushroom has 87 moderate, 99 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Glipizide one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Turkey Tail Mushroom

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Turkey Tail Mushroom or Glipizide

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Turkey Tail Mushroom or Glipizide, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Glipizide

This page covers Turkey Tail Mushroom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glipizide page lists 307 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), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 256 moderate · 49 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Glipizide page

“Glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL) lowers blood sugar by prompting the pancreas to release more insulin, and that same power is why I read its supplement list with real seriousness. Of the 307 ingredients on file, 239 also act on blood glucose, so stacking them can drive sugar dangerously low.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Glipizide interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Turkey Tail Mushroom and Glipizide 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 Turkey Tail Mushroom
Steady interest

#1,368 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Glipizide
Top half

#1,029 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 Turkey Tail Mushroom

What is Turkey Tail Mushroom?

Turkey Tail Mushroom
  • Immune support
  • Used alongside cancer care
  • Gut and digestive health
  • General wellness and energy
  • Antioxidant support

Turkey tail is a woodland mushroom rich in polysaccharides like beta-glucans, and it is mainly used to support the immune system. Some of its purified extracts (PSK and PSP) have been studied as add-on treatments alongside conventional cancer therapy in Asia, but evidence for everyday supplement use is limited. It is generally well tolerated, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a health condition or take other medicines.

Read the full Turkey Tail Mushroom monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Glipizide

What Is Glipizide Used For?

Brand names: Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL

Glipizide tablets and glipizide extended-release tablets are both used as an add-on to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not used for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication of uncontrolled blood sugar).

See full Glipizide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Turkey Tail Mushroom

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

0Major
87Moderate
99Minor
2,643No known interaction
Moderate

87 interactions

Showing 60 of 87 moderate interactions — see all 87 on the Turkey Tail Mushroom page.

Minor

99 interactions

Showing 60 of 99 minor interactions — see all 99 on the Turkey Tail Mushroom page.

No interaction 2,643 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 Turkey Tail Mushroom and Glipizide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Turkey Tail Mushroom with Glipizide?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Turkey Tail Mushroom and Glipizide?
Glipizide belongs to more than one drug category, and Turkey Tail Mushroom interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Turkey Tail Mushroom and Glipizide 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

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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.