Drug interactions
Glimepiride + Rifampin
Severity: Moderate
Glimepiride and Rifampin: 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
Rifampin induces glimepiride metabolism and can lower its levels, reducing glycemic control. Hyperglycemia may emerge within days to weeks and reverse after rifampin is stopped.
What this interaction means in plain words
Glimepiride and Rifampin 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
Induction of CYP2C9 (and other enzymes) by rifampin increases glimepiride clearance.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose and increase the glimepiride dose as needed during rifampin therapy; reduce it again when rifampin is 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 Glimepiride
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Glimepiride with Rifampin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glimepiride and Rifampin 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. Rifampin induces glimepiride metabolism and can lower its levels, reducing glycemic control. Hyperglycemia may emerge within days to weeks and reverse after rifampin is stopped.
How serious is the interaction between Glimepiride and Rifampin?
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 and increase the glimepiride dose as needed during rifampin therapy; reduce it again when rifampin is stopped.
What other medicines interact with Glimepiride?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glimepiride with, for example, Fluconazole, Insulin degludec-liraglutide, Insulin glargine-lixisenatide. The full list is on the Glimepiride page.
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