Medications for other conditions that may lower blood sugar level as a side effect

Some medications for other conditions can lower your blood sugar level or can interfere with whether you develop symptoms of low blood sugar. This is obviously a concern when you have diabetes. Talk with your doctor before taking any new medication.

Medications that can lower your blood sugar level include:

• Medications to reduce fever and relieve pain, such as salicylate medications like aspirin. Do not give aspirin to a person 20 years and younger because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome.
• Medications to treat some types of mental disorders, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
• Quinine sulfate.
• Pentamidine, such as NebuPent and Pentam 300.

Some medications can interfere with whether you develop symptoms of low blood sugar, leading to your blood sugar level dropping very low before you are aware of it. These medications include heart medications (beta-blockers) such as propranolol (for example, Inderal), nadolol (for example, Corgard), and metoprolol (for example, Lopressor).