Herb & supplement monograph

Fig Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Fig interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Fig is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Fig is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Fig Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Fig drug interaction appears low for most people. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and while all are graded moderate, only a few rest on actual human evidence.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The best-documented concern involves diabetes medications and insulin. A small human study found that tea made from fig leaves modestly lowered after-meal blood sugar and reduced insulin needs, so adding fig products could strengthen the blood-sugar-lowering effect of these closely monitored medicines. There is also a possible added risk of sun sensitivity when fig is combined with photosensitizing drugs, such as certain antibiotics and amitriptyline, since skin reactions to fig leaf after sun exposure have been reported.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of medications largely reflects that one sun-sensitivity concern spread across many drugs that share the same side effect. That concern is theoretical, based on skin reactions to fig leaf itself rather than proof that the combinations cause harm. In short, a big number here does not mean every pairing is risky.

Check your medications against Fig

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Fig interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Fig

410 medications have a known interaction with Fig, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Fig using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Fig interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. 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.
Possible. 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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Fig combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Fig affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Fig is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 3 drug categories Fig interacts with

Antidiabetes DrugsInsulinPhotosensitizing Drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, fig leaf might enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of hypoglycemic drugs.
A small clinical study in patients with type 1 diabetes shows that consuming a tea made from fig leaves modestly reduces postprandial glucose levels and insulin requirements.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Insulin

Fig leaf may enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of insulin.
A small clinical study in patients with type 1 diabetes shows that consuming a tea made from fig leaves modestly reduces postprandial glucose levels and insulin requirements.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Photosensitizing Drugs

Theoretically, fig might increase the risk of photosensitivity when used in combination with photosensitizing drugs.
Many cases of photodermatitis from fig leaf have been reported. Some drugs that also cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), quinolones (Ciprofloxacin, others), sulfa drugs (Septra, Bactrim, others), and tetracycline.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Fig: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Fig (Ficus carica) is a common fruit that has long been used as a gentle food remedy for constipation, and its leaves are used traditionally for blood sugar and coughs. The fruit is a safe and nutritious food, but evidence for fig leaf supplements treating specific health conditions is limited. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated fig leaf products, especially if you have diabetes.

Scientific name: Ficus carica
Family: Moraceae
Part used: Fruit, leaves, and latex (sap)
Common forms: Fresh or dried fruit, leaf tea, leaf extract, syrup, capsules

People commonly use it for

Constipation and digestive health
Blood sugar support
Cough and sore throat
Skin conditions (topical sap)
Source of fiber and minerals

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallLikely safe

Fig fruit is a safe food for most people; concentrated leaf products are less studied.

PregnancyLikely Safe

When the fresh or dried fruit is used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety...

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingLikely Safe

When the fresh or dried fruit is used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety...

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Fig comes from Ficus carica, a small tree or large shrub in the mulberry family. It is native to the Mediterranean and Middle East and is now grown in many warm regions around the world.

People mainly eat figs as a fresh or dried fruit. The fruit is naturally sweet and is a good source of fiber, potassium, and other nutrients. Beyond food, the leaves, latex (a milky sap), and fruit have a long history in traditional medicine. Fig leaf tea and extracts are used in some cultures for digestion, blood sugar, and coughs, while the sap has been applied to the skin.

How it works

The fruit's effect on digestion comes mostly from its fiber and natural sugars, which add bulk and draw water into the gut to help move stool along.

Fig leaves and fruit contain plant compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. Laboratory and animal studies suggest these compounds may affect blood sugar, fight oxidation, and reduce inflammation. The milky latex contains enzymes and other substances that have been studied in test tubes for effects on skin growths.

It is important to know that many of these mechanisms come from laboratory or animal research, and what happens in a dish or a mouse does not always carry over to people.

Effectiveness

Does Fig work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 7 uses evaluated

7 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Fig, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 7 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Atopic dermatitis (eczema)