Drug interactions
Glimepiride-pioglitazone + Hydrocortisone
Severity: Moderate
Glimepiride-pioglitazone and Hydrocortisone: 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
Systemic hydrocortisone increases hepatic glucose output and insulin resistance, working against glimepiride and pioglitazone. Hyperglycemia may require temporary dose increases during steroid treatment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Glimepiride-pioglitazone and Hydrocortisone 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-pioglitazone belongs to Endocrine; Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis opposing antidiabetic effect; minor CYP3A4 induction may lower pioglitazone levels.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose frequently during systemic steroid use and adjust antidiabetic doses; lower them again when the steroid 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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Glimepiride-pioglitazone and Hydrocortisone, 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 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Glimepiride-pioglitazone
Other interactions of Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Glimepiride-pioglitazone with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glimepiride-pioglitazone and Hydrocortisone 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. Systemic hydrocortisone increases hepatic glucose output and insulin resistance, working against glimepiride and pioglitazone. Hyperglycemia may require temporary dose increases during steroid treatment.
How serious is the interaction between Glimepiride-pioglitazone and Hydrocortisone?
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 frequently during systemic steroid use and adjust antidiabetic doses; lower them again when the steroid is stopped.
What other medicines interact with Glimepiride-pioglitazone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glimepiride-pioglitazone with, for example, Fluconazole, Gemfibrozil, Insulin aspart. The full list is on the Glimepiride-pioglitazone 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.
