Drug interactions
Glimepiride + Prednisone
Severity: Moderate
Glimepiride and Prednisone: 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
Prednisone raises blood glucose and can offset the glucose-lowering effect of glimepiride. Patients with diabetes may develop hyperglycemia, particularly with higher doses or longer courses of steroid. Dose requirements may fall again when the steroid is tapered, with risk of hypoglycemia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Glimepiride and Prednisone 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; Prednisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance and increased hepatic gluconeogenesis oppose sulfonylurea effects.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more often during steroid therapy and increase antidiabetic therapy as needed. Reduce doses again when prednisone is tapered or stopped.
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 Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
Other interactions of Glimepiride
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Glimepiride with Prednisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glimepiride and Prednisone 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. Prednisone raises blood glucose and can offset the glucose-lowering effect of glimepiride. Patients with diabetes may develop hyperglycemia, particularly with higher doses or longer courses of steroid. Dose requirements may fall again when the steroid is tapered, with risk of hypoglycemia.
How serious is the interaction between Glimepiride and Prednisone?
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 more often during steroid therapy and increase antidiabetic therapy as needed. Reduce doses again when prednisone is tapered or stopped.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
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