Drug interactions
Empagliflozin + Insulin glargine
Severity: Moderate
Empagliflozin 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
Empagliflozin lowers glucose independently of insulin, so adding it to insulin can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Reducing insulin dose is often needed. Both agents also carry a risk of ketoacidosis if insulin is reduced too far.
What this interaction means in plain words
Empagliflozin 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.
Empagliflozin belongs to Endocrine; Insulin glargine belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive glucose lowering through insulin-mediated glucose disposal plus SGLT2 inhibition causing urinary glucose excretion.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose when starting empagliflozin and consider a modest reduction in insulin dose. Avoid excessive insulin reduction and watch for ketoacidosis symptoms.
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
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 glargine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Empagliflozin 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. Empagliflozin lowers glucose independently of insulin, so adding it to insulin can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Reducing insulin dose is often needed. Both agents also carry a risk of ketoacidosis if insulin is reduced too far.
How serious is the interaction between Empagliflozin 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 when starting empagliflozin and consider a modest reduction in insulin dose. Avoid excessive insulin reduction and watch for ketoacidosis symptoms.
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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