Drug Interactions Newsletter

Volume 3, Issue 14, 04/12/2011

Question

How does the combination of itraconazole (Sporanox) and gemfibrozil (Lopid) cause a 19-fold increase in repaglinide (Prandin) plasma concentrations?

Answer

It is well known that patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus are at an increased risk for a number of different medical problems, of which infections and hyperlipidemia are common.  As such, these patients will likely require the use of many medications to treat these complications while also taking their combination of oral antidiabetic agents.  One such combination of potential concern that healthcare professionals should avoid is the coadministration of itraconazole (Sporanox) and gemfibrozil (Lopid) in a patient who is also taking antidiabetic medications that include the use of repaglinide (Prandin).   Itraconazole is used to treat fungal infections and gemfibrozil is used to treat hypertriglyceridemia, both of which are common problems that can occur in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  The concern for this combination of medications is due to the...

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