Drug & supplement interaction

Turmeric + Glyburide

Glyburide brand names: Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase, Glycron, Micronized, and others.

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

Glyburide falls into 4 drug categories that Turmeric can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, turmeric might increase the risk of liver damage when taken with hepatotoxic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions4
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Turmeric and Glyburide

These two interact in 4 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 4 Interactions?

Turmeric interacts with whole categories of medication. Glyburide falls into 4 of those categories, so it can interact with Turmeric in 4 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS

1 of 4

Why this applies to Glyburide

Glyburide falls under HEPATOTOXIC DRUGS — the group Turmeric interacts with.

Theoretically, turmeric might increase the risk of liver damage when taken with hepatotoxic drugs.
There is concern that turmeric might cause hepatotoxicity, especially when highly bioavailable formulations are used in high doses.
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: this isn't about turmeric changing how your glyburide controls blood sugar. It's about the liver. Glyburide is processed by the liver, and on rare occasions it can stress that organ. The worry is that concentrated turmeric supplements, especially the high-dose, 'highly absorbable' formulas, have been linked in a handful of case reports to liver irritation too. Stacking two things that lean on the liver could, in theory, raise that risk.

I'll be honest with you, this is based on scattered anecdotal reports, not strong studies, so I don't want you to panic. The turmeric in your curry or a sprinkle on food is very unlikely to matter. If you take a daily turmeric supplement alongside glyburide, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor, and watch for yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, belly pain, or unusual tiredness.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lombardi N, Crescioli G, Maggini V, et al. Acute liver injury following turmeric use in Tuscany: an analysis of the Italian Phytovigilance database and systematic review of case reports. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020. PubMed
  2. Sohal A, Alhankawi D, Sandhu S, Chintanaboina J. Turmeric-induced hepatotoxicity: Report of 2 cases. Int Med Case Rep J 2021;14:849-852. PubMed
  3. 109288 Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Navarro V, Ahmad J, et al. Liver injury associated with turmeric-A growing problem: Ten cases from the drug-induced liver injury network [DILIN]. Am J Med. 2022:S0002-9343(22)00740-9. PubMed
  4. Arzallus T, Izagirre A, Castiella A, Torrente S, Garmendia M, Zapata EM. Drug induced autoimmune hepatitis after turmeric intake. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023. PubMed
Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

2 of 4

Glyburide also falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS.

Theoretically, taking turmeric with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research and case reports suggest that curcumin, a turmeric constituent, can reduce blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Furthermore, clinical research in adults with type 2 diabetes shows that taking curcumin 475 mg daily for 10 days prior to taking glyburide 5 mg decreased postprandial glucose levels for up to 24 hours when compared with glyburide alone, despite the lack of a significant pharmacokinetic interaction. Other clinical studies in patients with diabetes show that taking curcumin daily can reduce blood glucose levels when compared with placebo.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 when you pair turmeric with glyburide: both can nudge your blood sugar downward, so stacking them may push it down a little too far. In one small study, folks with type 2 diabetes who took curcumin (a turmeric compound) before their glyburide had lower after-meal blood sugar for up to a day, even though turmeric didn't really change how much glyburide was in the blood.

What this looks like in real life is the usual signs of low blood sugar: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, hunger, or feeling foggy. Keep in mind this is mostly theoretical and based on lower-quality research, and a sprinkle of turmeric in your cooking is unlikely to matter. It's the concentrated curcumin capsules to watch. If you want to add one, please loop in your pharmacist or doctor first and keep checking your sugars.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Mahesh, T., Balasubashini, M. S., and Menon, V. P. Effect of photo-irradiated curcumin treatment against oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Med.Food 2005;8(2):251-255. PubMed
  2. Patumraj, S., Wongeakin, N., Sridulyakul, P., Jariyapongskul, A., Futrakul, N., and Bunnag, S. Combined effects of curcumin and vitamin C to protect endothelial dysfunction in the iris tissue of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Clin Hemorheol.Microcirc. 2006;3
  3. Murugan, P. and Pari, L. Influence of tetrahydrocurcumin on erythrocyte membrane bound enzymes and antioxidant status in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 9-25-2007;113(3):479-486. PubMed
  4. Seo, K. I., Choi, M. S., Jung, U. J., Kim, H. J., Yeo, J., Jeon, S. M., and Lee, M. K. Effect of curcumin supplementation on blood glucose, plasma insulin, and glucose homeostasis related enzyme activities in diabetic db/db mice. Mol.Nutr.Food Res 2008;5
  5. Weisberg, S. P., Leibel, R., and Tortoriello, D. V. Dietary curcumin significantly improves obesity-associated inflammation and diabetes in mouse models of diabesity. Endocrinology 2008;149(7):3549-3558. PubMed
  6. Jain, S. K., Rains, J., Croad, J., Larson, B., and Jones, K. Curcumin supplementation lowers TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion in high glucose-treated cultured monocytes and blood levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, MCP-1, glucose, and glycosylated hemog
  7. Yu, Y., Hu, S. K., and Yan, H. [The study of insulin resistance and leptin resistance on the model of simplicity obesity rats by curcumin]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi.Xue.Za Zhi. 2008;42(11):818-822.
  8. Madkor, H. R., Mansour, S. W., and Ramadan, G. Modulatory effects of garlic, ginger, turmeric and their mixture on hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic rats. Br J Nutr 2011;105(8):1210-1217. PubMed
  9. Srinivasan, M. Effect of curcumin on blood sugar as seen in a diabetic subject. Indian J Med Sci 1972;26(4):269-270.
  10. Neerati P, Devde R, Gangi AK. Evaluation of the effect of curcumin capsules on glyburide therapy in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Phytother Res. 2014;28(12):1796-800. PubMed
  11. Shafabakhsh R, Asemi Z, Reiner Z, Soleimani A, Aghadavod E, Bahmani F. The effects of nano-curcumin on metabolic status in patients with diabetes on hemodialysis, a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Iran J Kidney Dis. 2020;14(4):290-9.
  12. Yaikwawong M, Jansarikit L, Jirawatnotai S, Chuengsamarn S. Curcumin Reduces Depression in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients 2024;16(15):2414. PubMed
  13. Yaikwawong M, Jansarikit L, Jirawatnotai S, Chuengsamarn S. The Effect of Curcumin on Reducing Atherogenic Risks in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients 2024;16(15):2441. PubMed
Moderate

ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP)

3 of 4

Glyburide also falls under ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE SUBSTRATES (OATP).

Theoretically, turmeric might increase blood levels of OATP4C1 substrates.
In vitro research shows that the turmeric constituent curcumin competitively inhibits OATP4C1 transport. This transporter is expressed in the kidney and facilitates the renal excretion of certain drugs. Theoretically, taking turmeric might decrease renal excretion of OATP substrates.
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 basic idea with turmeric and your glyburide. Glyburide isn't a prodrug, so it works the moment it's in your bloodstream. The concern on file is that curcumin (the main active part of turmeric) may slow down a kidney transporter that helps clear certain drugs out of your body. If that happens, a little more glyburide could linger, which in theory means a slightly stronger blood-sugar-lowering effect and a bit more risk of low blood sugar (think shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or feeling confused).

I want to be honest with you, though: this is only based on lab studies, not real-world cases, so it's largely theoretical. Cooking with turmeric is very unlikely to matter. Concentrated supplements are where I'd be more cautious, so check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding one and keep an eye on your readings.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Sato T, Yagi A, Yamauchi M, et al. The use of an antioxidant enables accurate evaluation of the interaction of curcumin on organic anion-transporting polypeptides 4C1 by preventing auto-oxidation. Int J Mol Sci 2024;25(2):991. PubMed
Minor

GLYBURIDE (Diabeta, others)

4 of 4
Theoretically, taking turmeric and glyburide in combination might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical research shows that taking curcumin 475 mg daily for 10 days prior to taking glyburide 5 mg increases blood levels of glyburide by 12% at 2 hours after the dose in patients with type 2 diabetes. While maximal blood concentrations of glyburide were not affected, turmeric modestly decreased postprandial glucose levels for up to 24 hours when compared to glyburide alone, possibly due to the hypoglycemic effect of turmeric demonstrated in animal research.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence B

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 these two together: turmeric (really its curcumin) can nudge your glyburide levels up a bit and seems to have a mild blood-sugar-lowering effect of its own. In one study, curcumin raised glyburide blood levels by about 12% and kept after-meal sugars a little lower for up to a day. The concern is that stacking those effects could push your blood sugar too low.

What low blood sugar feels like: shakiness, sweating, dizziness, a racing heart, or feeling confused or foggy. Honestly, this is a minor interaction based on lower-quality evidence, and a sprinkle of turmeric in your cooking won't do much. Concentrated capsules are the real question. Before adding a turmeric supplement, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Neerati P, Devde R, Gangi AK. Evaluation of the effect of curcumin capsules on glyburide therapy in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Phytother Res. 2014;28(12):1796-800. 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

Turmeric Also Interacts With Other Medications

Turmeric has 1,057 moderate, 76 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Glyburide one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,057 Minor 76 No known interaction 1,697 (incl. Glyburide)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Turmeric

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Turmeric or Glyburide

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Turmeric or Glyburide, 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 Glyburide

This page covers Turmeric only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Glyburide page lists 331 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 7 major · 279 moderate · 45 minor.

Open the Glyburide interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 1,368 real supplement products containing Turmeric, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Turmeric. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Glyburide too, on top of Turmeric — 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 Turmeric and Glyburide 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 Turmeric
Top 5%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Glyburide
Top half

#1,376 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 Turmeric

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Inflammation
  • Digestive upset
  • Antioxidant support
  • Skin conditions

Turmeric is a popular spice whose main active compounds, curcuminoids, are studied mostly for inflammation and joint pain. Some research is promising, but quality is mixed and curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own. For most people, dietary amounts are safe, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking concentrated supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.

Read the full Turmeric monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Glyburide

What Is Glyburide Used For?

Brand names: Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase, Glycron, Micronized, Glynase PresTab, Albert Glyburide

Glyburide tablets are used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

See full Glyburide drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Turmeric

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

0Major
1,057Moderate
76Minor
1,696No known interaction
1,057 Moderate 76 Minor 1,696 No interaction
Moderate

1,057 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,057 moderate interactions — see all 1,057 on the Turmeric page.

Minor

76 interactions

Showing 60 of 76 minor interactions — see all 76 on the Turmeric page.

No interaction 1,696 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,696 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Turmeric list.

See the full Turmeric interactions page
See every supplement checked against Glyburide, 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
Turmeric monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Glyburide supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Glyburide, ranked by severity Glyburide 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 Turmeric and Glyburide Together: Common Questions

Can you take Turmeric with Glyburide?
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 4 interactions listed for Turmeric and Glyburide?
Glyburide belongs to more than one drug category, and Turmeric 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 Turmeric and Glyburide 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 Glyburide and Turmeric?

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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.