Comments for Consumers
This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.
Australian Prescriber Vol. 24 No. 4 2001
Drug interactions in diabetes
Sugar diabetes is a common problem. Many patients with diabetes have to take tablets to control the amount of glucose in their blood. These tablets reduce the amount of glucose in the blood, but other medications can alter their effects.
Medicines which increase the blood glucose will reduce the effect of the diabetes tablets. Medicines which decrease the blood glucose will increase the effect of the diabetes tablets. This may make the blood glucose fall so low that the patient goes into a coma.
Other medicines can stop the body breaking down the diabetes tablets. This can also cause the blood glucose to fall.
Some of the medicines which interfere with diabetes tablets can be bought without a prescription. People with diabetes need to ask their doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take a new medicine or herb.
