Humulin N Drug Interactions

A number of medications, including beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, can interact negatively with Humulin N. Drug interactions could cause high blood sugar (which is usually not dangerous immediately) or dangerously low blood sugar (which can become life-threatening very quickly). To help prevent drug interactions with Humulin N, you should notify your healthcare provider any time you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

 

An Overview of Humulin N Drug Interactions

There are numerous different Humulin® N (NPH
 insulin) drug interactions, too many to list completely in this article. Some of these interactions (which are not discussed in this article) may increase blood sugar levels, which is unhealthy but is usually not dangerous right away (although extremely high blood sugar can become quite serious if left untreated). Other Humulin N drug interactions can result in dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), which can become life-threatening quite quickly. Some of the medicines that may cause dangerously low blood sugar levels when combined with Humulin N include:
 
  • ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), such as:

 

 

  • Beta blocker medications, including (but not limited to):

 

 

 

 

  • 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®)

 

  • Sulfonamides ("sulfa drugs"), such as:

 

    • Sulfadiazine
    • Sulfadoxine (Fansidar®)
    • Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim®, Septra®)
    • Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin®).

 

(Humulin N 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;