Sulfonylurea
Type II Diabetes Mellitus can be controlled by a number of medications that can be found in the market. Sulfonylurea is one of these medications used to control Type II Diabetes Melltius. Sulfonylurea is an anti-diabetic drug used in the stimulation of the beta cells in the pancreas to increase production of insulin and help the body in the utilization of the insulin. With this mechanism, the level of blood sugar can decrease by as much as up to 20%.
Chemist Marcel Janbon and his co-workers discovered sulfonylurea accidentally while studying about the sulfonamide antibiotics. From there, they observed that through sulfonylurea, hypoglycemia can be induced in their animal subjects. Since 1955, sulfonylureas are the original oral drugs used for Diabetes Mellitus.
Sulfonylurea is usually used in combination with other oral medications and insulin, and can also be used alone to control Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Sulfonylurea drugs do not replace insulin and are not suitable and recommended to patients with Type I Diabetes Mellitus. It should not also be given to persons with allergies in sulfonamide drugs.
Because sulfonylureas are made to lessen blood sugar, hypoglycemia can be generated on situations like after a vigorous exercise, after a missed meal, and with the use of two or more anti-diabetic drugs. In patients who have heart, kidney and gastrointestinal disease, hypoglycemia can also occur with the use of sulfonylurea.
Other adverse effects with the usage of sulfonylureas may include stomach upset, sensitivity to light, and abnormalities in the liver. With the use of Chlorpropamide, a patient may experience skin flushing after alcohol drinking that may lead to lesser blood salt or hyponatremia. Pregnant women with Diabetes Mellitus are also not advised to take sulfonylureas because its safety during pregnancy states is not yet established. Consultation on a doctor is necessary in these cases to change the medication being used.
Nowadays, the first generation sulfonylureas are the Acetohexamide, Carbutamide, Chlorpropamide, Tolazamide, and Tolbutamide. On the other hand, the second generation sulfonylureas includes Gliquidone, Gliclazide, Glipizide, Glibenclamide, and Glimepiride.
Sulfonylurea
Before, the original first generation sulfonylureas include Diabinese (Chlorpropamide), Tolinase (Tolazamide), and Orinase (Tolbutamide). It is said that these drugs work pretty well in decreasing the blood sugar levels. However, their activity can increase quickly leading to further lowered blood sugar levels. This happens because these drugs bind to proteins in the blood and can be displaced by other drugs that also bind to these same proteins.
It was found out that the sulfonylurea works best when they are taken at the same time everyday. In the case of Glucotrol (Glipizide)), a person should take it 30 minutes before eating. The other sulfonylureas should be taken at mealtime. Usually, oral hypoglycemic agents are taken in combination with other anti-diabetic drugs to improve the body’s control of glucose.
If a person misses a dose of the sulfonylurea medication, he can take the drug as long as it is only less than two hours from the dosage time. If the missed dose is more than two hours from the dosage time, it is better to contact a doctor. It is not advisable to take 2 doses at the next meal unless it was instructed to do so. Always note in a record book, any missed doses, the date, and time it happened.
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