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Medicines for Other Conditions That May Lower Blood Sugar Level as a Side Effect

Topic Overview

Some medicines for other conditions can lower your blood sugar level or can interfere with whether you develop symptoms of low blood sugar. This is a concern when you have diabetes. Talk with your doctor before taking any new medicine.

Medicines that can lower your blood sugar level include:

  • Medicines to reduce fever and relieve pain, such as salicylate medicines like aspirin.
  • Medicines to treat some types of mental disorders, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
  • Quinine sulfate.
  • Pentamidine, such as NebuPent and Pentam 300.

Some medicines can interfere with whether you develop symptoms of low blood sugar, leading to your blood sugar level dropping very low before you are aware of it. These medicines include heart medicines (beta-blockers) such as propranolol (for example, Inderal), nadolol (for example, Corgard), and metoprolol (for example, Lopressor).

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology
Last Revised September 22, 2010

Last Revised: September 22, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology

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