Drug interactions
Insulin degludec + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Insulin degludec and Tolbutamide: 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
Tolbutamide stimulates insulin secretion, and combining it with insulin can produce additive and sometimes severe hypoglycemia. Risk is higher with poor oral intake, advanced age or renal impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin degludec and Tolbutamide 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; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic effect of sulfonylurea-driven insulin secretion and exogenous insulin.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose closely and lower the sulfonylurea or insulin dose when combining them. Educate patients on recognizing and treating 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 Insulin degludec
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin degludec with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin degludec and Tolbutamide 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. Tolbutamide stimulates insulin secretion, and combining it with insulin can produce additive and sometimes severe hypoglycemia. Risk is higher with poor oral intake, advanced age or renal impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin degludec and Tolbutamide?
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 closely and lower the sulfonylurea or insulin dose when combining them. Educate patients on recognizing and treating hypoglycemia.
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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