Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Insulin degludec-insulin aspart
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Insulin degludec-insulin aspart: 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 raises blood glucose and induces insulin resistance, so it can reduce the glucose-lowering effect of insulin. Patients may need higher insulin doses while on the corticosteroid, and the doses may need to be reduced again when it is stopped.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Insulin degludec-insulin aspart 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.
Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine; Insulin degludec-insulin aspart belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and reduce peripheral insulin sensitivity, opposing insulin action (pharmacodynamic antagonism).
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more often when starting, changing or stopping the corticosteroid and titrate insulin accordingly. Reduce insulin again when the steroid is tapered to avoid hypoglycemia.
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 Hydrocortisone and Insulin degludec-insulin aspart, 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 Insulin degludec-insulin aspart
- Chlorpropamide + Insulin degludec-insulin aspart Major
- Clozapine + Insulin degludec-insulin aspart Major
- Diazoxide + Insulin degludec-insulin aspart Major
- Ethanol + Insulin degludec-insulin aspart Major
- Insulin degludec-insulin aspart + Mecasermin Major
- Insulin degludec-insulin aspart + Pioglitazone Major
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 Hydrocortisone with Insulin degludec-insulin aspart?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Insulin degludec-insulin aspart 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 raises blood glucose and induces insulin resistance, so it can reduce the glucose-lowering effect of insulin. Patients may need higher insulin doses while on the corticosteroid, and the doses may need to be reduced again when it is stopped.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Insulin degludec-insulin aspart?
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 when starting, changing or stopping the corticosteroid and titrate insulin accordingly. Reduce insulin again when the steroid is tapered to avoid hypoglycemia.
What other medicines interact with Insulin degludec-insulin aspart?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin degludec-insulin aspart with, for example, Chlorpropamide, Clozapine, Diazoxide. The full list is on the Insulin degludec-insulin aspart 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.
