Drug interactions
Pioglitazone + Primidone
Severity: Moderate
Pioglitazone and Primidone: 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
Primidone, partly metabolized to phenobarbital, induces hepatic enzymes and may lower pioglitazone exposure. Glycemic control may deteriorate during long-term use.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pioglitazone and Primidone 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 belongs to Endocrine; Primidone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Enzyme induction (CYP3A4/CYP2C8) increases pioglitazone clearance.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose and HbA1c when primidone is started or stopped. Increase the pioglitazone dose if control worsens.
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 Pioglitazone and Primidone, 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 Pioglitazone
Other interactions of Primidone
- Lorlatinib + Primidone Contraindicated
- Lurasidone + Primidone Contraindicated
- Primidone + Ranolazine Contraindicated
- Primidone + Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir Contraindicated
- Primidone + Voriconazole Contraindicated
- Abiraterone + Primidone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pioglitazone with Primidone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pioglitazone and Primidone 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. Primidone, partly metabolized to phenobarbital, induces hepatic enzymes and may lower pioglitazone exposure. Glycemic control may deteriorate during long-term use.
How serious is the interaction between Pioglitazone and Primidone?
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 primidone is started or stopped. Increase the pioglitazone dose if control worsens.
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.
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.
