Drug Interaction Report

Alcohol may affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink. You should avoid using alcohol if your diabetes is not well controlled or if you have high triglycerides, neuropathy (nerve damage), or pancreatitis. Moderate alcohol consumption generally does not affect blood glucose levels if your diabetes is under control. However, it may be best to limit alcohol intake to one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men (1 drink = 5 oz wine, 12 oz beer, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits) in conjunction with your normal meal plan. Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach or following exercise, as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Food can affect the absorption of aliskiren from the intestine. Therefore, you should take aliskiren at the same time each day exactly as prescribed by your doctor. You may take aliskiren with or without food, but take it the same way every time. This will help keep blood levels and effects of the medication steady. You should avoid drinking orange, apple, or grapefruit juice as much as possible during treatment with aliskiren. Studies have shown that drinking these juices regularly or within a short period before or after a dose of aliskiren can interfere with the absorption of the medication.