Drug interactions
Cortisone + Insulin glargine
Severity: Moderate
Cortisone and Insulin glargine: 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
Cortisone is a glucocorticoid that raises blood glucose, so it can weaken the glucose-lowering effect of insulin glargine. Patients with diabetes may need higher insulin doses while on systemic corticosteroids.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cortisone and Insulin glargine 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
Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and peripheral insulin resistance, opposing insulin action.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more often when starting, changing or stopping cortisone, and titrate the insulin glargine dose accordingly. Reduce insulin as the corticosteroid is tapered to avoid hypoglycemia.
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 Insulin glargine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cortisone with Insulin glargine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cortisone and Insulin glargine 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. Cortisone is a glucocorticoid that raises blood glucose, so it can weaken the glucose-lowering effect of insulin glargine. Patients with diabetes may need higher insulin doses while on systemic corticosteroids.
How serious is the interaction between Cortisone and Insulin glargine?
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 more often when starting, changing or stopping cortisone, and titrate the insulin glargine dose accordingly. Reduce insulin as the corticosteroid is tapered to avoid hypoglycemia.
What other medicines interact with Insulin glargine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin glargine with, for example, Alogliptin-pioglitazone, Ethanol, Glimepiride-pioglitazone. The full list is on the Insulin glargine page.
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