Drug interactions
Insulin degludec + Prednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin degludec and Prednisolone: 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
Prednisolone raises blood glucose and can reduce the effect of insulin degludec, leading to hyperglycemia. Insulin requirements often increase during steroid therapy and fall again after withdrawal.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin degludec and Prednisolone 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.
Insulin degludec belongs to Endocrine; Prednisolone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance, opposing insulin action.
What to do
Increase blood glucose monitoring and titrate insulin upward as needed during steroid therapy. Reduce the dose as 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?
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Other interactions of Prednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Prednisolone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
Other interactions of Insulin degludec
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin degludec with Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin degludec and Prednisolone 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. Prednisolone raises blood glucose and can reduce the effect of insulin degludec, leading to hyperglycemia. Insulin requirements often increase during steroid therapy and fall again after withdrawal.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin degludec and Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Increase blood glucose monitoring and titrate insulin upward as needed during steroid therapy. Reduce the dose as the steroid is tapered to avoid hypoglycemia.
What other medicines interact with Prednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisolone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Prednisolone page.
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