Drug interactions
Glipizide-metformin + Niacin
Severity: Moderate
Glipizide-metformin and Niacin: 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
Niacin, especially at lipid-lowering doses, can raise blood glucose and worsen glycemic control in diabetes. Antidiabetic doses may need to be increased.
What this interaction means in plain words
Glipizide-metformin and Niacin 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.
Glipizide-metformin belongs to Endocrine; Niacin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Niacin induces insulin resistance and increases hepatic glucose output, opposing antidiabetic drugs.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose and HbA1c after starting niacin or changing its dose, and adjust glipizide or metformin as needed.
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 Glipizide-metformin
Other interactions of Niacin
- Alogliptin-metformin + Niacin Moderate
- Atorvastatin + Niacin Moderate
- Canagliflozin-metformin + Niacin Moderate
- Cholestyramine + Niacin Moderate
- Colestipol + Niacin Moderate
- Dapagliflozin-metformin + Niacin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Glipizide-metformin with Niacin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glipizide-metformin and Niacin 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. Niacin, especially at lipid-lowering doses, can raise blood glucose and worsen glycemic control in diabetes. Antidiabetic doses may need to be increased.
How serious is the interaction between Glipizide-metformin and Niacin?
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 HbA1c after starting niacin or changing its dose, and adjust glipizide or metformin as needed.
What other medicines interact with Glipizide-metformin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glipizide-metformin with, for example, Contrast media, Diatrizoate meglumine / diatrizoate, Diatrizoate. The full list is on the Glipizide-metformin page.
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