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Drugs That Affect Blood Glucose

Diabetes drugs aren't the only medications that affect blood sugar. The following is a list of drugs that may cause highs and lows. Because of the constantly changing nature of the U.S. prescription and OTC drug marketplace, this list may not reflect the full range of drugs that may impact blood sugar levels.

GENERIC NAME (BRAND NAME)

Drugs That May Cause Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): A-C

Abacavir (Ziagen)

Abacavir + lamivudine,zidovudine (Trizivir)

Acetazolamide (Diamox)

Acitretin (Soriatane)

Albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil)

Albuterol + ipratropium (Combivent)

Ammonium chloride

Amphotericin B (Amphocin, Fungizone)

Amphotericin B lipid formulations (IV) (Abelcet)

Amprenavir (Agenerase)

Anidulafungin (Eraxis)

Aripiprazole (Abilify)

Arsenic trioxide (Trisenox)

Asenapine (Saphris)

Asparaginase (Elspar)

Atenolol + chlorthalidone (Tenoretic)

Atovaquone (Mepron)

Baclofen (Lioresal)

Betamethasone (topical) (Alphatrex, Betatrex, Beta-Val, Diprolene, Diprolene AF, Diprolene Lotion, Luxiq, Maxivate)

Betamethasone +clotrimazole (Lotrisone (topical))

Betaxolol Betoptic (eyedrops), (KERLONE (oral))

Bexarotene (Targretin)

Bicalutamide (Casodex)

Benazepril + hydrochlorothiazide (Lotension)

Bisoprolol + hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac)

Bumetanide (Bumex)

Caffeine (Caffeine in moderation may actually be beneficial in diabetes but in large amounts can raise blood sugar.)

Candesartan + hydrochlorothiazide (Atacand HCT)

Captopril + hydrochlorothiazide (Capozide)

Carteolol (Cartrol (oral), Occupress (eyedrops))

Carvedilol (Coreg)

Chlorothiazide (Diuril)

Chlorthalidone (Chlorthalidone Tablets, Clorpres, Tenoretic, Thalitone)

Choline salicylate (Numerous tradenames of aspirin formulations; check label)

Choline salicylate + magnesium salicylate (CMT, Tricosal, Trilisate)