Drug interactions
Acetylsalicylic acid + Insulin degludec / insulin aspart
Severity: Moderate
Acetylsalicylic acid and Insulin degludec / insulin aspart: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Salicylates at high doses can lower blood glucose and enhance insulin action, increasing hypoglycemia risk. Low-dose aspirin has little effect on glycemia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Acetylsalicylic acid and Insulin degludec / insulin aspart can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
High-dose salicylates increase insulin secretion and peripheral glucose uptake, adding to insulin's hypoglycemic effect.
What to do
With regular analgesic or anti-inflammatory doses of aspirin, monitor blood glucose more often and reduce the insulin dose if hypoglycemia occurs. No adjustment is generally needed for low-dose aspirin.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Acetylsalicylic acid
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Abciximab + Acetylsalicylic acid Major
- Acemetacin + Acetylsalicylic acid Major
- Acetazolamide + Acetylsalicylic acid Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Alteplase Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Acetylsalicylic acid with Insulin degludec / insulin aspart?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Acetylsalicylic acid and Insulin degludec / insulin aspart can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Salicylates at high doses can lower blood glucose and enhance insulin action, increasing hypoglycemia risk. Low-dose aspirin has little effect on glycemia.
How serious is the interaction between Acetylsalicylic acid and Insulin degludec / insulin aspart?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: With regular analgesic or anti-inflammatory doses of aspirin, monitor blood glucose more often and reduce the insulin dose if hypoglycemia occurs. No adjustment is generally needed for low-dose aspirin.
What other medicines interact with Acetylsalicylic acid?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Acetylsalicylic acid with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Abciximab. The full list is on the Acetylsalicylic acid page.
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