Drug interactions
Mecasermin + Pioglitazone
Severity: Moderate
Mecasermin and 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
Mecasermin is recombinant IGF-1 and lowers blood glucose, sometimes causing significant hypoglycemia. Combined with pioglitazone, which improves insulin sensitivity, glucose lowering may be enhanced, although pioglitazone alone rarely causes hypoglycemia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Mecasermin and 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.
Mecasermin belongs to Endocrine; Pioglitazone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic glucose-lowering effect through insulin-like activity of IGF-1 plus insulin sensitization.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more frequently when starting or adjusting either drug, and give mecasermin with or shortly after a meal or snack. Reduce the antidiabetic 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 Mecasermin
Other interactions of Pioglitazone
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Mecasermin with Pioglitazone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Mecasermin and 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. Mecasermin is recombinant IGF-1 and lowers blood glucose, sometimes causing significant hypoglycemia. Combined with pioglitazone, which improves insulin sensitivity, glucose lowering may be enhanced, although pioglitazone alone rarely causes hypoglycemia.
How serious is the interaction between Mecasermin and 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 blood glucose more frequently when starting or adjusting either drug, and give mecasermin with or shortly after a meal or snack. Reduce the antidiabetic dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Mecasermin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mecasermin with, for example, Gliclazide, Glyburide-metformin, Insulin degludec-insulin aspart. The full list is on the Mecasermin page.
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