Drug interactions
Cortisone + Metformin
Severity: Moderate
Cortisone and Metformin: 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
Corticosteroids such as cortisone promote hyperglycemia and can reduce the glucose-lowering effect of metformin. Patients with diabetes may need more intensive therapy during steroid treatment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cortisone and Metformin 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 insulin resistance, opposing metformin's action.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose closely during corticosteroid therapy and increase the antidiabetic dose if needed. Reduce the dose again when the steroid is tapered or stopped.
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 Metformin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cortisone with Metformin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cortisone and Metformin 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. Corticosteroids such as cortisone promote hyperglycemia and can reduce the glucose-lowering effect of metformin. Patients with diabetes may need more intensive therapy during steroid treatment.
How serious is the interaction between Cortisone and Metformin?
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 closely during corticosteroid therapy and increase the antidiabetic dose if needed. Reduce the dose again when the steroid is tapered or stopped.
What other medicines interact with Metformin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Metformin with, for example, Contrast media, Diatrizoate meglumine / diatrizoate, Diatrizoate. The full list is on the Metformin page.
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