What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Insulin degludec and niacin
Insulin degludec's FDA label of July 1, 2022 names niacin in its drug interactions section; the niacin label PlainMeds reads does not name insulin degludec. The insulin degludec label: “… antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, and thyroid …”
Check it at the source: the insulin degludec FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 1, 2022, Novo Nordisk Pharma, Inc.); the niacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 14, 2023, Aurobindo Pharma Limited).
What does the insulin degludec label say about niacin?
Insulin degludec label, drug interactionsDrugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Insulin Degludec Drugs: Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Intervention: Dosage increases and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when Insulin Degludec is co-administered with these drugs.
Source: FDA drug label (Insulin Degludec), Novo Nordisk Pharma, Inc., effective July 1, 2022 (SPL set c1be283d-4b1d-4996-b2a7-4488dbff3037), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the niacin label say about insulin degludec?
Niacin's label (effective February 14, 2023) does not name insulin degludec in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Niacin), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective February 14, 2023 (SPL set 43233a21-3f90-4c69-bbeb-f50d5f2d35ae), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Insulin degludec | Niacin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High triglycerides |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $11.39 per mL 100 unit/mL pen | $0.193 per tablet 500 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once