Drug interactions
Insulin glargine + Olanzapine
Severity: Moderate
Insulin glargine and Olanzapine: 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
Olanzapine may impair glucose tolerance and cause insulin resistance, reducing the glucose-lowering effect of insulin glargine. Patients can need higher basal insulin doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin glargine and Olanzapine 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 glargine belongs to Endocrine; Olanzapine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Olanzapine induces insulin resistance and metabolic disturbance, opposing insulin action.
What to do
Monitor glucose more often when olanzapine is started or changed, and titrate insulin glargine to need. Check HbA1c and weight periodically.
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 Olanzapine
Other interactions of Insulin glargine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin glargine with Olanzapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin glargine and Olanzapine 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. Olanzapine may impair glucose tolerance and cause insulin resistance, reducing the glucose-lowering effect of insulin glargine. Patients can need higher basal insulin doses.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin glargine and Olanzapine?
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 olanzapine is started or changed, and titrate insulin glargine to need. Check HbA1c and weight periodically.
What other medicines interact with Olanzapine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Olanzapine with, for example, Amisulpride, Amoxapine, Apomorphine. The full list is on the Olanzapine page.
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