Drug interactions
Ethanol + Tolazamide
Severity: Moderate
Ethanol and Tolazamide: 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
Alcohol can cause unpredictable swings in blood glucose in patients taking sulfonylureas, with a risk of prolonged hypoglycemia, especially with fasting or heavy intake. Some patients also experience a disulfiram-like reaction with flushing, nausea and palpitations. This is generally manageable by avoidance rather than an absolute contraindication.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ethanol and Tolazamide 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
Alcohol inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and may inhibit acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, adding to the insulin secretagogue effect of the sulfonylurea.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid alcohol or limit it to small amounts taken with food. Teach recognition of hypoglycemia, which can be mistaken for intoxication.
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 Tolazamide
- Disopyramide + Tolazamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolazamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolazamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolazamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolazamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolazamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ethanol with Tolazamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ethanol and Tolazamide 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. Alcohol can cause unpredictable swings in blood glucose in patients taking sulfonylureas, with a risk of prolonged hypoglycemia, especially with fasting or heavy intake. Some patients also experience a disulfiram-like reaction with flushing, nausea and palpitations. This is generally manageable by avoidance rather than an absolute contraindication.
How serious is the interaction between Ethanol and Tolazamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid alcohol or limit it to small amounts taken with food. Teach recognition of hypoglycemia, which can be mistaken for intoxication.
What other medicines interact with Tolazamide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tolazamide with, for example, Disopyramide, Insulin degludec-liraglutide, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Tolazamide page.
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