Psychoactive drug interactions with pharmacotherapy for diabetes

Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder increasingly encountered in patients requiring treatment with psychoactive drugs. The pharmacotherapy options for diabetes have expanded in recent years and now include 14 oral hypoglycemic drugs from 5 pharmacologic classes, as well as insulin. The diversity of drugs raises the need for clinicians to be aware of potential drug interactions. Fortunately, few drug interactions of major clinical significance involving psychoactive drugs with oral hypoglycemics have been described in the medical literature. The newer drugs for treatment of type 2 diabetes are discussed, and considerations are given for avoiding or minimizing drug interactions when prescribing psychoactive drugs to patients with diabetes.