Drug interactions
Insulin detemir + Prednisone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin detemir and Prednisone: 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
Prednisone raises blood glucose and can reduce the effect of insulin detemir. Insulin needs often rise during steroid therapy and fall after it is reduced or stopped.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin detemir and Prednisone 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; Prednisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance and increased hepatic gluconeogenesis oppose insulin action.
What to do
Monitor glucose frequently and titrate insulin upward during steroid therapy. Reduce insulin as prednisone 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 Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
Other interactions of Insulin detemir
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin detemir with Prednisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin detemir and Prednisone 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. Prednisone raises blood glucose and can reduce the effect of insulin detemir. Insulin needs often rise during steroid therapy and fall after it is reduced or stopped.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin detemir and Prednisone?
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 frequently and titrate insulin upward during steroid therapy. Reduce insulin as prednisone is tapered to avoid hypoglycemia.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
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