Glyco Harmony Side Effects: Interactions and Cautions

No safety study of Glyco Harmony as a finished product has been published. So this page looks at each ingredient and what public health sources say about it.

Most ingredients sit in a 200 mg blend with no single amounts. By label order, each is at most a small share of each 1 ml serving. Small amounts lower the risk, but they do not remove it.

The table sums up each issue. The sections below explain them in plain words. The full ingredient list is on the Supplement Facts page.

On its own, a large drop is not expected. The concern is adding it to insulin or diabetes pills. Gymnema and Panax ginseng may add to the effect of glucose-lowering drugs (LiverTox, Gymnema) (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng).

This risk is theoretical at the small amounts the label order allows. It is still worth taking seriously, because low blood sugar can come on fast.

Signs of low blood sugar include feeling shaky, sweaty or dizzy. You may feel suddenly hungry, cranky or confused, get a fast heartbeat or a headache, or see blurry.

Guarana seed extract is third in the blend, and guarana contains caffeine. The label does not say how much caffeine a dropper gives.

The FDA says most adults can have up to 400 mg of caffeine a day. Too much can cause jitters, a fast heartbeat and poor sleep (FDA, caffeine).

If you are sensitive to caffeine, take the drops in the morning. Count coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks as part of your daily total.

It might. Grapefruit can block an enzyme called CYP3A4. That can raise blood levels of some statins, some blood pressure drugs and other medicines (FDA, grapefruit and drugs).

Grapefruit fruit extract is eleventh in the blend, so the amount is small. It is not published, though, so no one can say it is too small to matter.

If your medicine label warns against grapefruit, show your pharmacist the drops before you start.

The blend lists monoammonium glycyrrhizinate. It is a form of glycyrrhizin, the active compound in licorice root.

Glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. NCCIH notes that even small amounts can cause problems for people with high blood pressure or heart or kidney conditions (NCCIH, Licorice Root).

By label order it is at most about 11 mg per dropper. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease, ask your doctor before starting.

Trouble sleeping is the most common side effect of Asian ginseng. It may also affect blood clotting and interact with diabetes drugs (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng).

If you take a blood thinner such as warfarin, tell your doctor before you start. Also mention the drops before any surgery or dental procedure.

Rarely. Liver injury has been reported with gymnema (LiverTox, Gymnema). It has also been reported with green tea extract, mainly in pill form (NCCIH, Green Tea).

These are rare case reports, not a common effect. The amounts in each dropper are small. Still, know the signs, and stop if they appear.

Some people notice mild stomach upset with herbal blends. Sugar alcohols like xylitol can loosen stools in larger amounts.

The taste comes from lemon extract, stevia, citric acid and natural flavors mixed with herbs. The blend also lists capsicum, so a slight warm note is possible.

Taking the drops with food may help. Starting with 1 dropper a day, the lower end of the label range, lets you see how you feel. The how to use page covers timing.

The label says pregnant or nursing mothers, children under 18 and anyone with a known medical condition should consult a physician first. The ingredient notes above add a few more groups. The who it is for page covers fit in more detail.