Drug interactions
Gemfibrozil + Glimepiride
Severity: Moderate
Gemfibrozil and Glimepiride: 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
Gemfibrozil may enhance the glucose-lowering effect of glimepiride and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Glimepiride is cleared partly by CYP2C9, and gemfibrozil and its glucuronide can inhibit this pathway. Patients with low albumin or reduced renal function may be more susceptible.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gemfibrozil and Glimepiride 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.
Gemfibrozil belongs to Cardiovascular; Glimepiride belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Possible inhibition of CYP2C9-mediated sulfonylurea metabolism and displacement from protein binding, with additive glucose lowering.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose when gemfibrozil is started or stopped in a patient taking glimepiride. Reduce the glimepiride dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Gemfibrozil and Glimepiride, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Gemfibrozil
- Daprodustat + Gemfibrozil Contraindicated
- Elagolix + Gemfibrozil Contraindicated
- Gemfibrozil + Mavacamten Contraindicated
- Gemfibrozil + Metformin-repaglinide Contraindicated
- Gemfibrozil + Ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir and dasabuvir Contraindicated
- Gemfibrozil + Repaglinide Contraindicated
Other interactions of Glimepiride
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gemfibrozil with Glimepiride?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Gemfibrozil and Glimepiride 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. Gemfibrozil may enhance the glucose-lowering effect of glimepiride and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Glimepiride is cleared partly by CYP2C9, and gemfibrozil and its glucuronide can inhibit this pathway. Patients with low albumin or reduced renal function may be more susceptible.
How serious is the interaction between Gemfibrozil and Glimepiride?
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 gemfibrozil is started or stopped in a patient taking glimepiride. Reduce the glimepiride dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Gemfibrozil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gemfibrozil with, for example, Daprodustat, Elagolix, Mavacamten. The full list is on the Gemfibrozil page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
