Drug interactions
Insulin regular human + Metformin-pioglitazone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin regular human and Metformin-pioglitazone: 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
Regular human insulin with metformin and pioglitazone has additive glucose-lowering effects and a higher risk of hypoglycemia. Insulin and pioglitazone together can also increase edema and precipitate heart failure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin regular human and Metformin-pioglitazone 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
Additive glucose-lowering pharmacodynamic effects, with insulin and thiazolidinedione both contributing to fluid retention.
What to do
Monitor glucose and decrease the insulin dose when needed to avoid hypoglycemia. Monitor for edema, weight gain and heart failure symptoms.
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 Metformin-pioglitazone
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin regular human with Metformin-pioglitazone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin regular human and Metformin-pioglitazone 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. Regular human insulin with metformin and pioglitazone has additive glucose-lowering effects and a higher risk of hypoglycemia. Insulin and pioglitazone together can also increase edema and precipitate heart failure.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin regular human and Metformin-pioglitazone?
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 and decrease the insulin dose when needed to avoid hypoglycemia. Monitor for edema, weight gain and heart failure symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Metformin-pioglitazone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Metformin-pioglitazone with, for example, Contrast media, Diatrizoate meglumine / diatrizoate, Diatrizoate. The full list is on the Metformin-pioglitazone page.
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