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Drug interactions

Metformin + Thioridazine

Severity: Moderate

Metformin and Thioridazine: 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

Phenothiazines can raise blood glucose and impair glycemic control, which may offset the effect of metformin. Glucose may rise while both drugs are given and may fall again if the phenothiazine is stopped.

What this interaction means in plain words

Metformin and Thioridazine 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.

Metformin belongs to Endocrine; Thioridazine belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Low

Why it happens

Pharmacodynamic antagonism, as phenothiazines can cause hyperglycemia and reduce insulin sensitivity.

What to do

Monitor blood glucose and HbA1c when thioridazine is started, changed or stopped, and adjust the metformin dose if needed.

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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Metformin with Thioridazine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Metformin and Thioridazine 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. Phenothiazines can raise blood glucose and impair glycemic control, which may offset the effect of metformin. Glucose may rise while both drugs are given and may fall again if the phenothiazine is stopped.

How serious is the interaction between Metformin and Thioridazine?

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 and HbA1c when thioridazine is started, changed or stopped, and adjust the metformin dose if needed.

What other medicines interact with Thioridazine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Thioridazine with, for example, Abiraterone, Adagrasib, Amiodarone. The full list is on the Thioridazine page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

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