Drug interactions
Glimepiride + Prednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Glimepiride and Prednisolone: 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
Prednisolone causes hyperglycemia through insulin resistance and increased hepatic glucose production, weakening glycemic control with glimepiride. Postprandial glucose is especially affected.
What this interaction means in plain words
Glimepiride and Prednisolone 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.
Glimepiride belongs to Endocrine; Prednisolone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism by glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis.
What to do
Increase glucose monitoring during steroid therapy and adjust the glimepiride dose or add insulin as needed. Reduce antidiabetic doses as the steroid is withdrawn.
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 Prednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Prednisolone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
Other interactions of Glimepiride
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Glimepiride with Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glimepiride and Prednisolone 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. Prednisolone causes hyperglycemia through insulin resistance and increased hepatic glucose production, weakening glycemic control with glimepiride. Postprandial glucose is especially affected.
How serious is the interaction between Glimepiride and Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Increase glucose monitoring during steroid therapy and adjust the glimepiride dose or add insulin as needed. Reduce antidiabetic doses as the steroid is withdrawn.
What other medicines interact with Prednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisolone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Prednisolone page.
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