Drug interactions
Prednisolone + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Prednisolone 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
Systemic prednisolone raises blood glucose and can offset the effect of tolbutamide, leading to loss of glycemic control. The effect is greatest with high doses or prolonged therapy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Prednisolone 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.
Prednisolone belongs to Endocrine; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism: glucocorticoids increase hepatic glucose output and insulin resistance.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose frequently during steroid therapy and increase the sulfonylurea dose or add insulin if needed. Reassess dosing and watch for hypoglycemia when steroids are withdrawn.
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 Prednisolone and Tolbutamide, 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 Prednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Prednisolone + Radium-223 dichloride 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 Prednisolone with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Prednisolone 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. Systemic prednisolone raises blood glucose and can offset the effect of tolbutamide, leading to loss of glycemic control. The effect is greatest with high doses or prolonged therapy.
How serious is the interaction between Prednisolone 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 frequently during steroid therapy and increase the sulfonylurea dose or add insulin if needed. Reassess dosing and watch for hypoglycemia when steroids are withdrawn.
What other medicines interact with Prednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisolone 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 Prednisolone 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.
