Drug interactions
Empagliflozin + Insulin detemir
Severity: Moderate
Empagliflozin and Insulin detemir: 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
Empagliflozin lowers glucose independently of insulin, so adding it to insulin detemir increases the risk of hypoglycemia. The combination is commonly used, but insulin doses often need to be reduced when the SGLT2 inhibitor is started.
What this interaction means in plain words
Empagliflozin and Insulin detemir 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.
Empagliflozin belongs to Endocrine; Insulin detemir belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive glucose lowering through insulin action plus SGLT2-mediated urinary glucose excretion.
What to do
Consider lowering the insulin detemir dose when starting empagliflozin and monitor blood glucose closely. Also counsel on ketoacidosis symptoms, particularly if insulin doses are reduced substantially.
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 detemir
Other interactions of Empagliflozin
- Amiloride + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Azilsartan-chlorthalidone + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Bendroflumethiazide + Empagliflozin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Empagliflozin with Insulin detemir?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Empagliflozin and Insulin detemir 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. Empagliflozin lowers glucose independently of insulin, so adding it to insulin detemir increases the risk of hypoglycemia. The combination is commonly used, but insulin doses often need to be reduced when the SGLT2 inhibitor is started.
How serious is the interaction between Empagliflozin and Insulin detemir?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Consider lowering the insulin detemir dose when starting empagliflozin and monitor blood glucose closely. Also counsel on ketoacidosis symptoms, particularly if insulin doses are reduced substantially.
What other medicines interact with Insulin detemir?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin detemir with, for example, Alogliptin-pioglitazone, Ethanol, Glimepiride-pioglitazone. The full list is on the Insulin detemir page.
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