Skip to Content
UW Health SMPH

Medicines for Other Conditions That May Lower Blood Sugar Level as a Side Effect

Topic Overview Back to top

Some medicines for other conditions can lower your blood sugar level. Other medicines can hide the symptoms of low blood sugar. This is a concern when you have diabetes. Talk with your doctor before taking any new medicine.

Examples include:

  • Medicine to reduce fever and relieve pain, such as salicylate medicines such as aspirin.
  • Medicine to treat some types of mental disorders, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.
  • Medicine to treat high blood pressure, including some calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil) and some beta-blockers (such as atenolol, bisoprolol, and metoprolol).
  • Medicine to treat malaria, such as quinine.
  • Medicine to treat some forms of pneumonia, such as pentamidine.

Credits Back to top

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Jennifer Hone, MD - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Last Revised September 26, 2012

Last Revised: September 26, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Jennifer Hone, MD - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

To learn more visit Healthwise.org

© 1995-2013 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.