Drug Interactions to Be Aware Of

Adding a GLP‑1 agent can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or Endocrinologist may need to adjust your insulin or sulfonylurea dose when starting a GLP-1. Always coordinate with diabetes care team and never adjust your doses on your own.

GLP‑1 medications slow down how quickly food and medications move through your stomach. For most oral medicines, this doesn’t usually cause major problems. However, some drugs—especially those where timing or exact levels are very important, like warfarin, certain antibiotics, or some pain medicines—can be affected, particularly when starting tirzepatide. It’s important to take these medications as prescribed and to monitor their effects or levels as your healthcare provider recommends.

Tirzepatide can lower exposure to oral hormonal contraceptives during initiation and for 4 weeks after each dose increase. Advise switching to a non-oral method or adding a barrier method during these windows. Non-oral hormonal contraceptives are not affected. Semaglutide does not carry the same instruction.

Most common medications—like proton-pump inhibitors, statins, antidepressants (SSRIs), and blood pressure medicines—don’t need dose changes just because you start a GLP‑1. However, for medicines where the exact dose is very important, your doctor may want to monitor you more closely when you begin or increase your GLP‑1.

Always let your healthcare team know if you notice any unexpected changes in how your other medications are working.

Prior to any surgical procedure, inform your surgeon and anesthesiologist that you are taking a GLP‑1 medication. This information is important for safe perioperative management.