Drug interactions
Insulin detemir + Prednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin detemir 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 induces insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which can exceed the coverage of a fixed basal insulin dose. Insulin needs usually rise during steroid courses and fall afterward.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin detemir 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 detemir belongs to Endocrine; Prednisolone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism through glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance and increased hepatic glucose production.
What to do
Check glucose frequently and titrate insulin detemir upward, adding prandial insulin if needed. Reduce doses on steroid taper.
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 detemir
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin detemir with Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin detemir 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 induces insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which can exceed the coverage of a fixed basal insulin dose. Insulin needs usually rise during steroid courses and fall afterward.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin detemir 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: Check glucose frequently and titrate insulin detemir upward, adding prandial insulin if needed. Reduce doses on steroid taper.
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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