Drug interactions
Insulin degludec + Saxagliptin
Severity: Moderate
Insulin degludec and Saxagliptin: 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
Saxagliptin enhances incretin activity and lowers glucose in a glucose-dependent way, and combined use with insulin can increase hypoglycemia. The combination is used clinically but may need an insulin dose reduction.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin degludec and Saxagliptin 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; Saxagliptin belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive glucose lowering from DPP-4 inhibition (increased incretin levels) combined with exogenous insulin.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose and consider lowering the insulin dose when saxagliptin is started.
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 Insulin degludec
Other interactions of Saxagliptin
- Albiglutide + Saxagliptin Moderate
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Saxagliptin Moderate
- Aripiprazole + Saxagliptin Moderate
- Asenapine + Saxagliptin Moderate
- Atazanavir + Saxagliptin Moderate
- Benazepril + Saxagliptin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin degludec with Saxagliptin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin degludec and Saxagliptin 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. Saxagliptin enhances incretin activity and lowers glucose in a glucose-dependent way, and combined use with insulin can increase hypoglycemia. The combination is used clinically but may need an insulin dose reduction.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin degludec and Saxagliptin?
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 consider lowering the insulin dose when saxagliptin is started.
What other medicines interact with Insulin degludec?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin degludec with, for example, Alogliptin-pioglitazone, Ethanol, Glimepiride-pioglitazone. The full list is on the Insulin degludec page.
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