Drug interactions
Bexarotene + Pioglitazone
Severity: Moderate
Bexarotene and Pioglitazone: 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
Bexarotene may enhance the effects of insulin-sensitizing drugs and could raise the risk of hypoglycemia. This is predicted from mechanism rather than well documented with pioglitazone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bexarotene and Pioglitazone 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.
Bexarotene belongs to Oncology; Pioglitazone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Bexarotene, an RXR agonist, may potentiate PPAR-gamma-mediated insulin sensitization, producing additive glucose lowering.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose when bexarotene is started or stopped. Reduce the antidiabetic dose if hypoglycemia develops.
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 Pioglitazone
Other interactions of Bexarotene
- Bexarotene + Gemfibrozil Major
- Bexarotene + Lorlatinib Major
- Alogliptin-pioglitazone + Bexarotene Moderate
- Amobarbital + Bexarotene Moderate
- Aprepitant + Bexarotene Moderate
- Axitinib + Bexarotene Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bexarotene with Pioglitazone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Bexarotene and Pioglitazone 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. Bexarotene may enhance the effects of insulin-sensitizing drugs and could raise the risk of hypoglycemia. This is predicted from mechanism rather than well documented with pioglitazone.
How serious is the interaction between Bexarotene and Pioglitazone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose when bexarotene is started or stopped. Reduce the antidiabetic dose if hypoglycemia develops.
What other medicines interact with Pioglitazone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pioglitazone with, for example, Insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine, Insulin aspart, Insulin degludec-insulin aspart. The full list is on the Pioglitazone page.
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