Index
It is a type of medicine called Sulfonylurea.
It is used to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Who uses it?
Type 2 Diabetes patients (non-insulin-dependent), when the diet has not been able to control the sugar level in the blood completely.
How does Glibenclamide work?
People with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes) have a deficiency of a hormone called insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is the principal hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar levels.
It usually causes the body’s cells to eliminate excess sugar from the blood. In type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced inefficiently in response to increases in blood sugar, for example, after a meal.
The body’s cells also become resistant to the action of the insulin that is produced, which means that blood sugar levels can become too high.
Glibenclamide works mainly by stimulating the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. These cells are called beta cells. Glibenclamide causes beta cells to produce more insulin. This helps lower the amount of sugar in the blood of people with type 2 diabetes.
Glibenclamide is a first-line option for treating type 2 diabetes in people who are not overweight or can not take metformin. It is used when diet and exercise fail to control blood sugar levels.
It can also be combined with other anti-diabetic medications to control blood sugar better.
How Glibenclamide should be taken
Glibenclamide tablets should generally be taken with, or immediately after, breakfast or the first main meal.
Warning!
Your doctor may ask you to check your blood sugar level from time to time while taking this medication. Be sure to talk about how to do it and how often with your GP, pharmacist, or diabetes specialist.
Low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ) can occasionally occur as a side effect of this medication.
For this reason, it is essential that you know the symptoms of hypoglycemia (these may include cold sweats, pale and cold skin, tremors, feeling anxious, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, excessive hunger, temporary changes in vision, headache or nausea) and what to do if you experience these symptoms.
Discuss this with your GP, pharmacist, or diabetes specialist.
Suppose you get an infection or are under particular stress. You should notify your doctor because when the body is under pressure, this medication may be less effective in controlling your blood sugar level. Your doctor may need to replace your insulin treatment in these cases temporarily.
You should also consult your doctor about your diabetes treatment if you had surgery under general anesthesia or if you become pregnant. In these situations, blood sugar is usually controlled with insulin.
This type of medication can occasionally cause liver problems. For this reason, you should consult your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking this medication so that you can control your liver: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained yellowed or yellowish urine, eyes or skin (jaundice)
Use with caution in:
- Older adults.
- Decreased renal function.
- Decreased liver function.
It should not be used in:
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent).
- Diabetic cetoacidosis.
- Eat diabetic or precoma.
- Severely decreased liver function.
- Severely diminished renal function.
- Serious problems with the production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands.
- The pregnancy.
- Breast-feeding.
- Hereditary blood disorders are called porphyrias.
This medication should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have already experienced the allergy.
If you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Glibenclamide in Pregnancy and Lactation
This medication should not typically be used during pregnancy. Diabetes mellitus is usually controlled with insulin during pregnancy, as it provides more stable control of blood sugar.
If you become pregnant while taking this medication or are planning a pregnancy, you should look for medicines with your doctor’s advice.
This medicine can pass into breast milk. As this may cause low blood sugar levels in the infant, breastfeeding mothers should not use this medication.
Discuss this with your doctor.
Side effects
The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medication:
- Bowel disorders include diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
- Low blood glucose level (hypoglycemia).
- Temporary visual disturbances at the beginning of treatment.
- Weight gain.
- Allergic rashes on the skin
- Disturbances in liver function.
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
- Scaly jaundice.
- Disturbances in the average number of blood cells in the blood.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
Many medications can affect blood sugar levels. It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are taking, including those you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you begin treatment with this medication.
Do not use this medication in combination with bosentan.
The following medications may increase the blood sugar-lowering effect of this medication and therefore increase the likelihood of your blood sugar falling too low (hypoglycemia):
- ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, for example, Captopril (these can cause unpredictable drops in blood sugar).
- Anabolic steroids, for example, testosterone, nandrolone, stanozolol, chloramphenicol, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, and co-trimoxazole disopyramide fenfluramine.
- Antidepressants, for example, phenelzine, miconazole, octreotide, and phenylbutazone dose of salicylates, aspirin (small amounts to relieve pain usually do not have this effect).
- Beta-blockers, for example, propranolol (including eye drops containing beta-blockers), may mask some of the signs of low blood sugar levels, such as increased tremors and prolonged episodes of low blood sugar levels impairing recovery. Up to normal glucose levels.
The warning symptoms of hypoglycemia can also be masked by clonidine.
The following medications can increase blood glucose levels. If you start treatment with any of these, your doctor may need to increase your dose of Glibenclamide:
- Some antipsychotic drugs, for example, chlorpromazine and olanzapine ketosteroids.
- Hydrocortisone, prednisolone, danazol and diuretics, especially thiazide diuretics.
- Bendroflumethiazide Lithium, isoniazid estrogen, and progesterone, such as those containing oral contraceptive protease inhibitors.
- Ritonavirsomatropina (human growth hormone).
- Rifampicin may reduce the blood level of this medication. If you are prescribed rifampicin, you may need to increase your dose of this medication to control your blood sugar level. This medication may increase the blood-thinning effect of Warfarin.
