Drug & supplement interaction

Turkey Tail Mushroom + Glipizide, Metformin

Glipizide, Metformin brand name: Metaglip.

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

Glipizide, Metformin 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, Metformin

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, Metformin 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, Metformin

Glipizide, Metformin 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's the gist with Metaglip, which combines glipizide (a pill that pushes your body to release more insulin) and metformin. Both already work to lower blood sugar. The concern with turkey tail mushroom is that it may have a mild blood-sugar-lowering effect of its own. Stacked on top of your diabetes medicine, that could in theory nudge your sugar a little too low.

I want to be honest that this is based on lab and animal research, not real people taking the supplement, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. Still, it's worth knowing the signs of low blood sugar: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling foggy. Since glipizide can cause lows on its own, just keep an eye on your readings and check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding turkey tail.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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, Metformin 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

This combo pill pairs glipizide with metformin. The glipizide half is cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. Lab studies hint that the PSP compound in turkey tail might slow that enzyme down. If it did, glipizide could linger longer in your body and push your blood sugar lower than expected. That matters because glipizide already works by lowering blood sugar, so the main thing to watch for would be signs of low blood sugar: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, hunger, or feeling confused. Metformin itself isn't really affected here.

Keep this in perspective. This is only a test-tube finding, and nothing like it has actually been reported in people. The official rating is minor. Still, if you'd like to use turkey tail, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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, Metformin one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 87 Minor 99 No known interaction 2,644 (incl. Glipizide, Metformin)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Glipizide, Metformin

This page covers Turkey Tail Mushroom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glipizide, Metformin 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 · 257 moderate · 48 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Glipizide, Metformin page

“Glipizide and metformin (Metaglip) already work hard to pull blood sugar down, which is exactly why this list of 307 ingredients deserves genuine vigilance rather than a shrug. Most of them, 239, can lower glucose on their own, and stacked on this pill the combined effect can tip into true hypoglycemia.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Glipizide, Metformin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Turkey Tail Mushroom and Glipizide, Metformin 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
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glipizide, Metformin
Top half

#987 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
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
87 Moderate 99 Minor 2,643 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,643 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Turkey Tail Mushroom list.

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

Can you take Turkey Tail Mushroom with Glipizide, Metformin?
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, Metformin?
Glipizide, Metformin 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, Metformin 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.