Introduction
Gluconil is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. It belongs to a group of medicines called sulfonylureas and helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This helps to prevent serious complications of diabetes like kidney damage and blindness.
Gluconil may be used by itself or along with other medicines. It should be taken with food. Take it regularly at the same time each day to get the most benefit. Your doctor will decide what dose is best for you and this may change from time to time according to how it is working.
Keep taking this medicine, even if you feel well or your blood sugar levels are controlled. If you stop it without consulting your doctor, your blood sugar levels could rise and put you at risk of kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems and loss of limbs. Remember that it is only part of a treatment program that should also include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight reduction as advised by your doctor. Your lifestyle plays a big part in controlling diabetes.
The most common side effects of taking this medicine include nausea, headache, and dizziness. It can also sometimes cause low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia). Make sure you recognize the signs of having low blood glucose levels, such as sweating, dizziness, headache, and shaking and know how to deal with it. To prevent this, it's important to have regular meals and always carry a fast-acting source of glucose such as sugary food or fruit juice with you. Drinking alcohol can also increase your risk of low blood sugar levels and should be avoided. Some people may find that they put on weight with this medicine.
You should not take it if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus, if you have diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of acid in your blood), or if you have severe kidney or liver disease. Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had heart disease, thyroid disease or some hormonal conditions. It may not be suitable. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also consult their doctor before taking it. Your blood sugar levels should be checked regularly and your doctor may also advise blood tests to monitor your blood cell counts and liver function.
Side effects of Gluconil
Common
- Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level)
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
How to use Gluconil
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Gluconil is to be taken with food.
How Gluconil works
Gluconil is an antidiabetic medication. It works by increasing the amount of insulin released by the pancreas in order to lower blood glucose.
What if you forget to take Gluconil?
You should skip a dose of Gluconil if a meal is skipped, and add a dose of medicine if you eat an extra meal.
Administration
Should be taken with food. Take w/ breakfast or the 1st main meal of the day.
Adult Dose
Oral
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Adult: Initially, 2.5-5 mg daily, may increase wkly by increments of 2.5-15 mg daily. Doses >10 mg daily should be given in 2 divided doses. Max: 20 mg daily.
Elderly: Initially, 1.25 mg daily.
Hepatic impairment: Severe: Contraindicated.
Child Dose
Safety and efficacy not established
Renal Dose
Renal impairment: Severe: Contraindicated.
Contraindication
Severe or life-threatening hyperglycaemia, severe liver or renal failure, type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis with or without coma, patients with severe infection or trauma.
Mode of Action
Glibenclamide lowers blood glucose concentration principally by stimulating secretion of endogenous insulin from the pancreatic beta-cells. Hypoglycaemic action associated w/ short-term therapy appears to include reduction of basal hepatic glucose production and enhancement of peripheral insulin action at target sites.
Precaution
Elderly; malnourished; mild to moderate renal and hepatic disorders. Impaired alertness. Avoid alcohol. Careful monitoring of blood-glucose concentration. Adrenocortical insufficiency. Changes in diet or prolonged exercise may also provoke hypoglycaemia. Increased risk of hypoglcaemia due to its long half-life. Avoid in severe hepatic impairment. Pregnancy, lactation.
Lactation: Not known if crosses into breast milk; avoid use in nursing women
Side Effect
Hypoglycaemia; cholestatic jaundice; agranulocytosis; aplastic anaemia; haemolytic anaemia. Blood dyscrasias (reversible), liver dysfunction, GI symptoms, allergic skin reactions.
Potentially Fatal: Prolonged hypoglycaemia seen in elderly or debilitated patients with hepatic or renal diseases.
Interaction
Serum levels may be reduced by colesevelam. May increase hypoglycaemic effect w/ MAOIs, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin), probenecid, NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, fluoxetine, disopyramide, clarithromycin, salicylates, sulfonamides, beta-blockers. Increased serum levels w/ antifungal antibiotics (e.g. miconazole, fluconazole). May decrease hypoglycaemic effect w/ nonthiazide (e.g. furosemide) and thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid agents, oestrogens, OC, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetic agents, rifampicin, Ca channel blockers, isoniazid.
Potentially Fatal: May increase hepatotoxic effect of bosentan.