Skip to content

Drug interactions

Glyburide-metformin + Phenobarbital

Severity: Moderate

Glyburide-metformin and Phenobarbital: 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

Phenobarbital induces hepatic enzymes and may lower glyburide concentrations, reducing glycemic control. Hypoglycemia can occur when the inducer is stopped.

What this interaction means in plain words

Glyburide-metformin and Phenobarbital 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.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Induction of CYP2C9 and other enzymes increases glyburide metabolism.

What to do

Monitor blood glucose when starting or stopping phenobarbital and adjust the glyburide dose 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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Glyburide-metformin and Phenobarbital, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Glyburide-metformin with Phenobarbital?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Glyburide-metformin and Phenobarbital 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. Phenobarbital induces hepatic enzymes and may lower glyburide concentrations, reducing glycemic control. Hypoglycemia can occur when the inducer is stopped.

How serious is the interaction between Glyburide-metformin and Phenobarbital?

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 when starting or stopping phenobarbital and adjust the glyburide dose as needed.

What other medicines interact with Glyburide-metformin?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Glyburide-metformin with, for example, Bosentan, Cholic acid, Clarithromycin. The full list is on the Glyburide-metformin 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.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in