Metformin and Supplements

 A recent study suggested that the supplement goldenseal interferes with the ability of metformin to control blood glucose levels.

I doubt that a lot of people are using goldenseal, but this study illustrates a general problem: Everything can interact with something else. That means not just drugs and supplements or drugs and other drugs, but drugs and foods or drugs and exercise and probably even drugs and your mental state.

For this reason, whenever you try something new, you should add only one new thing at a time, so if there is an effect, you know it's due to that new thing. If there's no apparent change in anything you can then try something else.

Vermont participates in the HomeMeds program for older adults, and although I hate to admit I'm an older adult, I took part. A nurse came to my house (this was before covid-19) and took a list of all my drugs and supplements. She then took the list to a pharmacist, who made sure there were no bad interactions. The pharmacist didn't see any.

I'm sure you can do the same yourself by making a list and taking it to a pharmacist, or running it through an online site like this. Of course if you're taking a bunch of obscure herbs, the online site might not include them. A pharmacist might be able to research them if willing to take the time.

The important thing is to be alert for any changes in your health when you try something new, even a new vegetable you just found at the grocery store.

Everything can interact with everything else. Sometimes the result is good and sometimes it's not so good. Most interactions are trivial. We just need to notice the major ones.