What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Insulin detemir and niacin
Insulin detemir's FDA label of October 9, 2024 names niacin in its drug interactions section; the niacin label PlainMeds reads does not name insulin detemir. The insulin detemir label: “Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of LEVEMIR Drugs: Atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines …”
Check it at the source: the insulin detemir FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 9, 2024); the niacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 14, 2023, Aurobindo Pharma Limited).
What does the insulin detemir label say about niacin?
Insulin detemir label, drug interactionsDrugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of LEVEMIR 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 LEVEMIR is co-administered with these drugs.
Source: FDA drug label (Levemir), A-S Medication Solutions, effective October 9, 2024 (SPL set 82192527-99aa-4b53-8ce9-9173668d309c), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the niacin label say about insulin detemir?
Niacin's label (effective February 14, 2023) does not name insulin detemir 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 detemir | 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) | n/a | $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