Drug interactions
Mestranol + Pioglitazone
Severity: Moderate
Mestranol 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
Pioglitazone labeling notes that coadministration with an ethinyl estradiol-containing oral contraceptive lowered exposure to the estrogen and progestin. Mestranol is a prodrug of ethinyl estradiol, so contraceptive efficacy could be reduced.
What this interaction means in plain words
Mestranol 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.
Why it happens
Mechanism unclear; possibly induction of CYP3A4-mediated estrogen metabolism by pioglitazone.
What to do
Advise an additional non-hormonal contraceptive method or consider an alternative contraceptive in women taking pioglitazone.
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 Pioglitazone
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Mestranol with Pioglitazone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Mestranol 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. Pioglitazone labeling notes that coadministration with an ethinyl estradiol-containing oral contraceptive lowered exposure to the estrogen and progestin. Mestranol is a prodrug of ethinyl estradiol, so contraceptive efficacy could be reduced.
How serious is the interaction between Mestranol 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: Advise an additional non-hormonal contraceptive method or consider an alternative contraceptive in women taking pioglitazone.
What other medicines interact with Pioglitazone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pioglitazone with, for example, Insulin aspart-insulin aspart protamine, Insulin aspart, Insulin degludec-insulin aspart. The full list is on the Pioglitazone page.
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