Drug interactions
Insulin glargine + Salicylates
Severity: Moderate
Insulin glargine and Salicylates: 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
Large doses of salicylates can lower blood glucose and may enhance insulin's effect, raising the risk of hypoglycemia. This is mainly relevant at anti-inflammatory dose levels rather than low-dose use.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin glargine and Salicylates 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
High-dose salicylates increase insulin secretion and peripheral glucose uptake and may reduce hepatic glucose output, adding to insulin action.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more frequently when high-dose salicylate therapy is started, and lower the insulin dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
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 glargine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin glargine with Salicylates?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin glargine and Salicylates 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. Large doses of salicylates can lower blood glucose and may enhance insulin's effect, raising the risk of hypoglycemia. This is mainly relevant at anti-inflammatory dose levels rather than low-dose use.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin glargine and Salicylates?
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 more frequently when high-dose salicylate therapy is started, and lower the insulin dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Insulin glargine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin glargine with, for example, Alogliptin-pioglitazone, Ethanol, Glimepiride-pioglitazone. The full list is on the Insulin glargine page.
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