Drug interactions
Clozapine + Insulin degludec
Severity: Moderate
Clozapine and Insulin degludec: 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
Clozapine commonly causes weight gain, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which can reduce the effectiveness of insulin therapy. Patients with diabetes who start or continue clozapine may need higher insulin doses and can lose glycemic control.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clozapine and Insulin degludec 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.
Clozapine belongs to Central Nervous System; Insulin degludec belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Clozapine induces insulin resistance and metabolic effects that oppose the glucose-lowering action of insulin (pharmacodynamic antagonism).
What to do
Monitor blood glucose and HbA1c more often when clozapine is started, changed or stopped, and titrate insulin degludec accordingly. Reduce insulin if clozapine is withdrawn because of hypoglycemia risk.
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 Clozapine
- Clozapine + Deferiprone Contraindicated
- Clozapine + Irinotecan Contraindicated
- Clozapine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Clozapine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Acalabrutinib + Clozapine Major
- Adagrasib + Clozapine Major
Other interactions of Insulin degludec
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clozapine with Insulin degludec?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clozapine and Insulin degludec 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. Clozapine commonly causes weight gain, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which can reduce the effectiveness of insulin therapy. Patients with diabetes who start or continue clozapine may need higher insulin doses and can lose glycemic control.
How serious is the interaction between Clozapine and Insulin degludec?
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 and HbA1c more often when clozapine is started, changed or stopped, and titrate insulin degludec accordingly. Reduce insulin if clozapine is withdrawn because of hypoglycemia risk.
What other medicines interact with Clozapine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clozapine with, for example, Deferiprone, Irinotecan, Pimozide. The full list is on the Clozapine page.
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