Apidra Drug Interactions

Apidra can interact with several other medications, such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and certain antibiotics. Some of these Apidra drug interactions can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels. If you are taking any of these types of medications with Apidra, your healthcare provider may recommend that you monitor your blood sugar levels more closely for a while to see if you need to adjust your Apidra dosage.

 

Apidra Drug Interactions: An Overview

 Apidra® (insulin glulisine) can potentially interact with numerous other medicines, too many to list. Some interactions (which are not discussed in this article) may increase blood sugar levels, which is not healthy, but is usually not dangerous in the short term. Other Apidra drug interactions can result in dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Some of the medicines that may cause dangerously low blood sugar when combined with Apidra include:
 
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), such as:
 
 
  • Beta blockers, such as:
 
 
 
 
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as:
 
 
  • Octreotide (Sandostatin®)
  • Oral diabetes medications
  • Propoxyphene (Darvon®, Darvocet®)
  • Reserpine
  • Salicylates, such as:
 
    • Aspirin (Ecotrin®, Bayer®, Anacin®)
    • Choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate®)
    • Diflunisal (Dolobid®)
    • Salsalate (Salflex®, Disalcid®, Amigesic®)
 
  • Sulfonamide antibiotics ("sulfa drugs"), such as:
 
    • Sulfadiazine
    • Sulfadoxine (Fansidar®)
    • Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim®, Septra®)
    • Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin®).
 
(Apidra Drug Interactions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;