Apidra Drug Interactions

Some medicines cause changes in the blood sugar level (decrease, increase or both depending on the situation). In each case, it may be necessary to adjust the insulin dose to avoid blood sugar levels that are either too low or too high. Be careful when starting or stopping another medicine.
Tell the doctor or pharmacist if the patient is taking, has recently taken or might take any other medicines. Before taking a medicine, ask the doctor if it can affect the blood sugar level and what action, if any, needs to be taken.
Medicines that may cause the blood sugar level to fall (hypoglycaemia) include: All other medicines to treat diabetes; angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (used to treat certain heart conditions or high blood pressure); disopyramide (used to treat certain heart conditions); fluoxetine (used to treat depression); fibrates (used to lower high levels of blood lipids); monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (used to treat depression); pentoxifylline, propoxyphene, salicylates (such as aspirin, used to relieve pain and lower fever); sulfonamide antibiotics.
Medicines that may cause the blood sugar level to rise (hyperglycaemia) include: Corticosteroids (such as "cortisone" used to treat inflammation); danazol (medicine acting on ovulation); diazoxide (used to treat high blood pressure); diuretics (used to treat high blood pressure or excessive fluid retention); glucagon (pancreas hormone used to treat severe hypoglycaemia); isoniazid (used to treat tuberculosis); oestrogens and progestogens (such as in the contraceptive pill used for birth control); phenothiazine derivatives (used to treat psychiatric disorders); somatropin (growth hormone); sympathomimetic medicines (such as epinephrine [adrenaline], salbutamol, terbutaline used to treat asthma); thyroid hormones (used to treat thyroid gland disorders); protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV); atypical antipsychotic medicines (such as olanzapine and clozapine).
The blood sugar level may either rise or fall if the patient takes: Beta-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure); clonidine (used to treat high blood pressure); lithium salts (used to treat psychiatric disorders).
Pentamidine (used to treat some infections caused by parasites) may cause hypoglycaemia which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycaemia.
Beta-blockers like other sympatholytic medicines (such as clonidine, guanethidine and reserpine) may weaken or suppress entirely the first warning symptoms which help recognise a hypoglycaemia.
If not sure whether the patient is taking one of those medicines, ask the doctor or pharmacist.
Apidra with alcohol: The blood sugar levels may either rise or fall with alcohol intake.