Initiation of glucose-lowering drugs reduces the anticoagulant effect of warfarin-But not through altered drug metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2023 Aug;89(8):2529-2541. doi: 10.1111/bcp.15725. Epub 2023 Apr 14.

Abstract

Aims: Drug metabolism might be altered in patients with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to evaluate if initiation of glucose-lowering drugs impacts warfarin efficacy and drug metabolism.

Methods: First, we conducted a register-based self-controlled cohort study on Danish and Scottish warfarin users. Warfarin efficacy (international normalized ratio [INR]) was compared before and after initiation of glucose-lowering drugs. Second, we conducted a clinical pharmacokinetic trial comprising treatment-naïve type 2 diabetes patients. Patients ingested probe drugs for drug-metabolizing enzymes (the Basel Cocktail) before initiating glucose-lowering treatment, and after 3 and 12 weeks of treatment. Drug metabolism, glycaemic control, and inflammation were assessed on each visit.

Results: In the Danish and Scottish cohorts (n = 982 and n = 44, respectively), initiating glucose-lowering drugs reduced warfarin efficacy. INR decreased from 2.47 to 2.21 in the Danish cohort (mean difference -0.26; 95% CI -0.35; -0.17) and from 2.33 to 2.13 in the Scottish cohort (-0.21; 95% CI -0.52; 0.11) after initiation of glucose-lowering treatment. This impact on INR was more pronounced among individuals with stronger effects of glucose-lowering treatment. In the clinical pharmacokinetic trial (n = 10), initiating metformin did not affect drug metabolism after 3 weeks (geometric mean ratio of CYP3A metabolic ratio: 1.12 [95% CI: 0.95; 1.32]) or 12 weeks of metformin treatment. Glycaemic control improved during treatment, while inflammation remained low and unchanged during treatment.

Conclusions: In conclusion, initiation of glucose-lowering drugs among chronic warfarin users seems associated with a reduction in INR, particularly among individuals with a large decrease in HbA1c . This effect seems unrelated to CYP enzyme activity and warfarin drug metabolism.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04504045.

Keywords: drug-drug interaction; glucose-lowering drugs; metformin; pharmacokinetics; translational research; type 2 diabetes; warfarin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Glucose
  • Humans
  • International Normalized Ratio
  • Metformin* / therapeutic use
  • Warfarin

Substances

  • Warfarin
  • Glucose
  • Metformin
  • Anticoagulants

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04504045