Novolin 70/30 Drug Interactions

When certain medications are taken with Novolin 70/30, drug interactions may occur that could result in dangerously low blood sugar levels. Some of these medications include beta blockers, sulfonamide antibiotics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In order to reduce your risk of potentially serious interactions with Novolin 70/30, tell your healthcare provider any time you start, stop, or change the dose of any medication.

Novolin 70/30 Interactions: An Overview

 Insulin medications, including Novolin® 70/30 (NPH insulin/regular insulin), can potentially interact with numerous different medications. Some interactions may increase blood sugar levels, which is not healthy but is usually not immediately dangerous. Typically, most people will notice higher blood sugar when testing and will adjust their insulin dosage as recommended by their healthcare provider long before these interactions become dangerous. These drug interactions are not discussed in this article.
 
However, other Novolin 70/30 drug interactions can result in dangerously low blood sugar levels (known medically as hypoglycemia). These interactions can potentially be dangerous (even fatal) rather quickly, even if you check your blood sugar regularly. Some of the medicines that may cause dangerously low blood sugar when combined with Novolin 70/30 include:
 
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), 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®).
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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