Drug interactions
Methylprednisolone + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Methylprednisolone and Tolbutamide: 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
Glucocorticoids raise blood glucose and can reduce the effect of tolbutamide. Hypoglycemia may emerge when steroids are tapered if the dose was increased.
What this interaction means in plain words
Methylprednisolone and Tolbutamide 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.
Methylprednisolone belongs to Endocrine; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism via steroid-induced insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose when starting, changing or stopping methylprednisolone and adjust tolbutamide dosing 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?
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Other interactions of Methylprednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Methylprednisolone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Methylprednisolone + Rubella vaccine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Methylprednisolone with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Methylprednisolone and Tolbutamide 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. Glucocorticoids raise blood glucose and can reduce the effect of tolbutamide. Hypoglycemia may emerge when steroids are tapered if the dose was increased.
How serious is the interaction between Methylprednisolone and Tolbutamide?
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 when starting, changing or stopping methylprednisolone and adjust tolbutamide dosing as needed.
What other medicines interact with Methylprednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methylprednisolone 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 Methylprednisolone page.
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