Drug interactions
Insulin glulisine + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Insulin glulisine and Tolbutamide: 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
Tolbutamide with insulin gives additive glucose lowering and a greater risk of hypoglycemia, especially with irregular meals.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin glulisine and Tolbutamide 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 glulisine belongs to Endocrine; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive effect of exogenous insulin and sulfonylurea-stimulated endogenous insulin secretion.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose and reduce the tolbutamide or 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 glulisine
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin glulisine with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin glulisine and Tolbutamide 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. Tolbutamide with insulin gives additive glucose lowering and a greater risk of hypoglycemia, especially with irregular meals.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin glulisine and Tolbutamide?
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 and reduce the tolbutamide or insulin dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Insulin glulisine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin glulisine with, for example, Alogliptin-pioglitazone, Ethanol, Pentamidine. The full list is on the Insulin glulisine page.
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