Drug interactions
Insulin regular human + Prednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Insulin regular human and Prednisolone: 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
Prednisolone causes hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, reducing the effect of insulin. Dose requirements usually rise during steroid therapy and fall when it is withdrawn.
What this interaction means in plain words
Insulin regular human and Prednisolone 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 increase hepatic glucose output and peripheral insulin resistance, opposing insulin action.
What to do
Increase blood glucose monitoring and titrate insulin, especially mealtime doses, then reduce doses as steroids are tapered.
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 Prednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Prednisolone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Insulin regular human with Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Insulin regular human and Prednisolone 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. Prednisolone causes hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, reducing the effect of insulin. Dose requirements usually rise during steroid therapy and fall when it is withdrawn.
How serious is the interaction between Insulin regular human and Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Increase blood glucose monitoring and titrate insulin, especially mealtime doses, then reduce doses as steroids are tapered.
What other medicines interact with Prednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisolone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Prednisolone page.
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