Drug interactions
Insulin inhaled + Prednisone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin inhaled 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 by increasing insulin resistance and hepatic glucose output, which can reduce the effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Insulin requirements may increase during steroid therapy and fall after it is stopped.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin inhaled 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.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids antagonize insulin action through peripheral insulin resistance and increased gluconeogenesis.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more frequently and adjust the mealtime inhaled insulin dose as needed. Lower the dose again when prednisone is tapered or stopped.
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
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin inhaled with Prednisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin inhaled 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 by increasing insulin resistance and hepatic glucose output, which can reduce the effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Insulin requirements may increase during steroid therapy and fall after it is stopped.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin inhaled 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 blood glucose more frequently and adjust the mealtime inhaled insulin dose as needed. Lower the dose again when prednisone is tapered or stopped.
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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