Drug interactions
Prednisone + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Prednisone 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
Prednisone can cause hyperglycemia and reduce the glucose-lowering effect of tolbutamide. Dose adjustments may be required during steroid therapy, with hypoglycemia risk on withdrawal.
What this interaction means in plain words
Prednisone 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.
Prednisone belongs to Endocrine; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance, opposing sulfonylurea action.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more often and adjust the tolbutamide dose or add other agents as needed. Lower the dose again as prednisone is tapered.
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 Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
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 Prednisone with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Prednisone 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. Prednisone can cause hyperglycemia and reduce the glucose-lowering effect of tolbutamide. Dose adjustments may be required during steroid therapy, with hypoglycemia risk on withdrawal.
How serious is the interaction between Prednisone 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 more often and adjust the tolbutamide dose or add other agents as needed. Lower the dose again as prednisone is tapered.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
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