Severe hypoglycemia from clarithromycin-repaglinide drug interaction

Many drugs have been reported to interact with repaglinide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, resulting in hypoglycemia. However, to our knowledge, an interaction between clarithromycin and repaglinide in these patients has not been previously reported. We describe an 80-year-old man with end-stage renal disease and well-controlled type 2 diabetes (hemoglobin A1c < 7%) who was hospitalized for treatment of severe hypoglycemia. He had been receiving repaglinide 0.5 mg 3 times/day for the previous 2 years. Clarithromycin 500 mg twice/day had been started for Helicobacter pylori infection several days before admission. Within 48 hours of starting the drug, he developed severe hypoglycemia, which resolved with intravenous glucose administration. However, 48 hours later, the patient again experienced hypoglycemia and was unresponsive. Intravenous glucose administration again resolved the problem. Repaglinide was discontinued, and no further hypoglycemic episodes occurred. Clinicians should be aware of this possible clarithromycin-repaglinide interaction; in particular, in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who are taking repaglinide and begin clarithromycin therapy, blood glucose levels should be monitored closely for potential dosage adjustment of repaglinide.