Drug interactions
Insulin degludec / insulin aspart + Prednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin degludec / insulin aspart 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. Patients with diabetes often need higher insulin doses during corticosteroid therapy, and doses may need to fall again after tapering.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin degludec / insulin aspart 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.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and peripheral insulin resistance, opposing insulin's glucose-lowering action.
What to do
Monitor glucose more often when starting prednisolone and titrate insulin, especially the aspart component, as needed. Reduce insulin 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
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin degludec / insulin aspart with Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin degludec / insulin aspart 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. Patients with diabetes often need higher insulin doses during corticosteroid therapy, and doses may need to fall again after tapering.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin degludec / insulin aspart 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: Monitor glucose more often when starting prednisolone and titrate insulin, especially the aspart component, as needed. Reduce insulin 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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