Drug interactions
Cholic acid + Pioglitazone
Severity: Moderate
Cholic acid 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
Pioglitazone may inhibit the bile salt export pump, which can promote accumulation of bile salts in hepatocytes when given with cholic acid. This could contribute to liver injury, and pioglitazone itself carries hepatic warnings.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cholic acid 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.
Cholic acid belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Pioglitazone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Inhibition of the hepatic bile salt export pump (BSEP) reduces biliary bile acid elimination.
What to do
If combined, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin regularly and stop or reassess therapy if liver injury 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 Cholic acid
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cholic acid with Pioglitazone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cholic acid 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. Pioglitazone may inhibit the bile salt export pump, which can promote accumulation of bile salts in hepatocytes when given with cholic acid. This could contribute to liver injury, and pioglitazone itself carries hepatic warnings.
How serious is the interaction between Cholic acid 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: If combined, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin regularly and stop or reassess therapy if liver injury 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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