Can You Take Ashwagandha And Metformin? Find Out Here!

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Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is a versatile ayurvedic medicine for various health issues. Metformin, on the other hand, is a prescribed medicine that treats diabetes. While they both lower blood sugar levels, knowing whether you can take Ashwagandha and Metformin is important.

Ashwagandha; this Indian ginseng rarely interacts with other medications. Meanwhile, Metformin interacts with herbal medicine like ginseng and psyllium. Some reports state that the combination of both causes hypoglycemia. But there is no clear evidence of that. Indeed, Ashwagandha doesn’t cure diabetes or high blood sugar levels but can manage these conditions. Metformin equally does the same, but comparatively, it is more effective. However, you can take them both, but you have to maintain certain things.

Keep reading if you want to know more about these medications’ combinations, benefits, and side effects. Also, we will tell you what cautions you should maintain to avoid the drawbacks.

How Does Ashwagandha Interact With Metformin in The Body?

Ashwagandha and Metformin rarely interact with each other. But excessive doses can affect people who have health issues. Sudden consumption of these two may also affect if the patient doesn’t take them in limited doses. You may notice changes if you take this herbal herb and antibiotic medicine. For your convenience, we have divided it into various sections, including gender and age.

Ashwagandha and metformin interactions by gender

Common medications and interactions between ashwagandha and metformin:

Female	Male
AggressionAlopeciaAmnesiaArthralgiaDiarrheaFood poisoningFrequent bowel movementsGastroenteritis viralGlycosylated hemoglobin increasedHyperhidrosis	Fatiguereduced healinga bone acheDepressionDizzinessDrug not workingAn earacheHeadacheloss of lustNausea

Ashwagandha and metformin interactions by age

Here we have presented a table below to let you know the Common medications and interactions between ashwagandha and metformin by age,:

Age	Interactions
50-59	Impaired healing Myalgia Visual impairment Alopecia Asthenia Depression Fatigue Loss of libido Suicidal ideation
60+	Aggression Amnesia Pain Pollakiuria Tremor Viral infection Balance disorder Drug ineffective Food poisoning Gastroenteritis viral

Common conditions people have:

Anxiety and stress: 2 individuals, 14.29%
Multiple Myeloma (plasma cell cancer): 2 individuals, 14.29%

Headache: 2 persons, 14.29%, have migraines.
Two people (14.29%) had hyperlipidaemia (excess lipids in the blood).
Two persons, or 14.29%, have carcinoid tumours.

Prostatomegaly (prostate enlargement): 1 person, 7.14%
Polycythaemia Vera, a blood condition where the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of red blood cells: 1 person, 7.14%
Pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (Pituitary-Dependent Cushing’s Syndrome): 1 individual, 7.14%

One participant had high blood pressure (7.14%).
One person (7.14%) has gastroesophageal reflux disease, where stomach contents flow backwards into the esophagus.

Read More: Does Ashwagandha Have Caffeine?

Can Ashwagandha Affect Blood Sugar Levels When Taken with Metformin?

Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. However, Ashwagandha controls insulin secretion and absorbs glucose from the bloodstream. Thus, it lowers blood sugar levels. It also improves insulin sensitivity, which results in better glucose control.

On the contrary, Metformin also allows the body to secrete insulin more effectively. That results in lower blood sugar levels. As both medications work to lower sugar levels, taking them together may cause an overdose. Due to overdose, blood sugar levels become too low. That leads to slurred speech, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. Some studies state that it may lead to hypoglycemia, which is not strongly proven yet. But it’s better to avoid people who have difficulty controlling sugar levels.

Can Ashwagandha and Metformin Be Taken Together for Anxiety And Depression?

Ashwagandha and Metformin both lower the secretion of cortisol hormone. As we said before, releasing the cortisol hormone increases anxiety and stress. Also, the HPA axis depends on the amount of cortisol.

The HPA axis is a network representing the interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. It plays an important role in the body’s response to stress. Intake of them both control cortisol secretion. So when the cortisol hormone is under control, the HPA axis is also less responsive to increased stress and anxiety. This is how you can take them to fight against anxiety and depression.

Also Read: Does Ashwagandha Interfere with Birth Control?

Can Ashwagandha And Metformin Be Taken Together for Fertility?

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicated plant used to treat infertility. It improves sperm quality in men. Moreover, it improves the balance of female hormones and follicle growth. Not only that, it increases sexual function in women.

Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. But women with PCOS use this as a medicine too. Technically it’s not a medicine to treat infertility. But it works as a hormone-balancing medicine to help resume the ovulation process.

According to NIHs, Metformin is effective as a treatment for anovulatory infertility of women with PCOS. Besides, it keeps insulin production in the body and improves its effectiveness. It sensitizes insulin receptors to the available insulin and induces ovulation.

Can Ashwagandha And Metformin Be Taken Together for PCOS?

A woman with PCOS has several health issues, including a complicated menstrual cycle, higher cortisol levels, anxiety, sleeping difficulties, inhibited metabolic syndrome, mood swings, and imbalanced blood sugar levels.

Ashwagandha reduces cortisol levels, reduces anxiety, controls mood swings, and helps with better sleep.

On the other hand, Metformin reduces the risk of developing type two diabetes, regulates the menstrual cycle, and lowers insulin levels.

You can use this prescribed medicine to treat PCOS and add the herb with these medications to get a better result.

Can Ashwagandha And Metformin Be Taken Together for Weight Loss?

Intake of Ashwagandha lowers the cortisol level, which causes reduced body fat and craving to eat. It’s true that herbal supplements can contribute to weight loss. In the case of Metformin, it’s a treatment for losing weight in type two diabetes.

However, this medication can’t help with cutting some weight alone. Besides, it can’t work solely for weight loss purposes. Nevertheless, together they can be good for weight loss. Still, taking them together has no significant beneficial effect.

Is Taking Ashwagandha And Metformin Together During Pregnancy or While Breastfeeding Safe?

Ashwagandha is classified as lactation category c. That means it’s compatible with breast milk. This herb is also used to increase breast milk as an ayurvedic treatment. In pregnancy, a high amount of the herb causes abortion. But consuming a teaspoon every day is considered to be ok.

On the other hand, Metformin is completely safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A pregnant woman or breastfeeding woman takes this medication through insulin or as a tablet. In fact, it may pass into breast milk in tiny amounts. And there is also no evidence that Metformin has any side effects on pregnant women and breastfeeding infants.

Overall, it’s better to avoid the herb during pregnancy. But it’s ok to take Ashwagandha and Metformin simultaneously for breastfeeding women.

Potential Side Effects

In general, herbs and antibiotics such as Metformin and Ashwagandha rarely interact. But there are specific side effects of taking them together. Here are some potential side effects to keep in mind,

Lower blood sugar: Herbs and antibiotics tend to lower blood sugar levels. Taking both of them together causes a critical situation.

Gastrointestinal symptoms: Both medications cause symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or stomach upset.

Allergic reactions: people may face allergic reactions intaking both medications. Symptoms may include rash, itching, or difficulty breathing. Certain people who already have a history of allergies mostly suffer from these.

Other medicine interactions: Ashwagandha and Metformin can interact with other medications, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. As both are extremely beneficial for diabetes, patients should be careful not to overdose if they take any other diabetes medicine. Due to this risks with type 2 diabetes increase. Again, over-the-counter medications often cause gastric problems since both medications cause gas formation.

Individual factors: Individual factors, such as age, overall health, and other medications being taken, can influence the potential side effects and interactions of Ashwagandha and Metformin.

Again, women with liver dysfunction, excessive alcohol intake, or severe illness should not take Metformin.

Precautions

Precautions before taking Ashwagandha and Metformin are a must. First thing first, start taking them with a low dose. The Gastrointestinal side effects can be reduced by starting with a low dose. After that, you can gradually increase the dose as necessary. Make sure whether you have an allergy or not.

However, as you know, both medications hardly interact with each other; therefore, you need to take fewer safety precautions.

Another thing you have to keep in mind is that taking Ashwagandha and Metformin in the long term has several side effects. These medications become harmful for pregnant, breastfeeding women. It also affects people with thyroid conditions and autoimmune disorders. So stop taking these for a long time, like 3-6 months, as it may be more hazardous than beneficial.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the recommended dosage of Ashwagandha when taking Metformin

The standard dose of taking Ashwagandha is 300 mg twice a day. That means 600 mg of this per day is ok. On the other hand, according to FDA, the maximum dose of Metformin is 2000 to 2500 mg. When taking the highest dose of this prescribed medication, consume a lesser amount of herbal medication than regular to avoid the side effects.

Who should avoid taking Ashwagandha and Metformin together?

Individuals with specific health conditions like kidney disease, liver disease, or thyroid disorders need to use caution when combining Ashwagandha and Metformin. These conditions affect how the body responds to medications and supplements.

How long should a break be taken after consuming Ashwagandha for six consecutive months?

You can take a break of 2-4 weeks every 6-8 weeks after consuming Ashwagandha and Metformin for six consecutive months. This break avoids the side effects of continuous consumption. However, it is important to note that the optimal dosage and duration of the consumption of the medication vary depending on the type of Ashwagandha, how it’s prepared, the person’s size, state of health, digestive health, and health goals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is a low risk of a serious interaction between Ashwagandha and Metformin. So, can you take Ashwagandha and Metformin? You can. The key factors are to consume these medications initially at lower doses. And take a break of 2-6 weeks after 3-6 consecutive months of taking herbal and prescribed medicine. Above all, the most important fact is to talk to your healthcare specialist if you can take the medications together.