Does Insulin Glargine Interact with Lithium?
CDI records a moderate classification for Insulin Glargine and Lithium. The stored summary is: May increase or decrease blood glucose lowering effect; dosage adjustment and increased glucose monitoring may be required. The mechanism involves variable effect on glucose metabolism. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Moderate
- Insulin Glargine Class
- Insulin Analog
- Management
- Monitor for effects
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Variable effect on glucose metabolism
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Insulin Glargine and your doctor is considering prescribing Lithium (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider