Drug interactions
Metformin-pioglitazone + Olanzapine
Severity: Moderate
Metformin-pioglitazone and Olanzapine: 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
Olanzapine is associated with weight gain, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which can counteract the effects of metformin-pioglitazone. Diabetic control may deteriorate, and weight gain may also be increased with pioglitazone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Metformin-pioglitazone and Olanzapine 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-pioglitazone belongs to Endocrine; Olanzapine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Olanzapine causes metabolic effects including increased insulin resistance and weight gain, opposing antidiabetic therapy.
What to do
Monitor fasting glucose, HbA1c and weight regularly, and intensify antidiabetic therapy as 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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Metformin-pioglitazone and Olanzapine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Metformin-pioglitazone
Other interactions of Olanzapine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Metformin-pioglitazone with Olanzapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Metformin-pioglitazone and Olanzapine 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. Olanzapine is associated with weight gain, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, which can counteract the effects of metformin-pioglitazone. Diabetic control may deteriorate, and weight gain may also be increased with pioglitazone.
How serious is the interaction between Metformin-pioglitazone and Olanzapine?
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 fasting glucose, HbA1c and weight regularly, and intensify antidiabetic therapy as needed.
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.
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.
