Side Effects of Glibenclamide

The World Health Organization reports that 162 million people wordlwide suffer from Type 2 diabetes, a disease where the cells become immune to insulin, causing elevated blood sugar levels. Untreated, Type 2 diabetes can cause a number of complications, including damage to the heart, blindness and circulatory problems. Fortunately, a number of treatments are available to help lower blood sugar levels, including a type of prescription medication known as sulphonylurea. A commonly prescribed sulphonylurea in countries like the United Kingdom and New Zealand is glibenclamide. Despite its effectiveness, glibenclamide is not for everyone as it presents several risks for side effects and complications in some patients.

Hypoglycemia

• One of the most common side effects of glibenclamide is low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Because of this, your doctor will recommend that you check your blood sugar levels frequently using a device known as glycometer. In order to avoid possible complications, such as loss of consciousness, you should also be aware of hypoglycemia's symptoms. These include drowsiness, confusion, an inability to perform routine tasks and visual changes, such as double or blurred vision. Your doctor will advise you on how best to handle and avoid instances of hypoglycemia while taking glibenclamide.

Other Side Effects

• Glibenclamide has the potential to cause a number of other unwanted, but not dangerous side effects. One of the most commonly experienced effects is weight gain, which can be mitigated through diet and exercise. gastrointestinal side effects of glibenclamide include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Some patients also experience blurred vision when they begin taking the medication, but this fades with acclimation to the drug. Others report neurological side effects, such as dizziness, headaches, drowsiness and changes in taste. It is also possible to develop allergic skin rashes or sensitivity to the sun while taking glibenclamide.

Drug Interactions

• There are some medications which produce unwanted side effects when used in conjunction with glibenclamide. Drugs such as ACE inhibitors, MAOI antidepressants, antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, frequent usage of aspirin and antifungals like fluconazole increase your risk of developing hypoglycemia while taking glibenclamide. Some medications like corticosteroids, lithium, antipsychotics and diuretics have the potential to increase your blood sugar levels. This often necessitates an increase in glibenclamide dosage that in turn increases your risk of developing side effects from the drug. When combined with blood thinners like warfarin, glibenclamide increases your risk of experiencing uncontrollable bleeding during surgery or following an injury.

Risks

• In addition to minor side effects and the risk of interactions, glibenclamide has the potential to cause serious medical complications. In some patients, the drug disrupts normal liver functioning, leading to a yellowing of the skin, known as jaundice or inflammation to your liver, known as hepatitis. Glibenclamide also infrequently affects the composition of blood, resulting in anemia or thromboctyopenia. These conditions cause fatigue and shortness of breath and easy or uncontrollable bleeding, respectively. Some patients also experience polyuria or increased production of urine while taking glibenclamide.

Considerations

• Glibenclamide can cause low birth weights and typically is avoided during pregnancy. Additionally, glibenclamide is usually not a treatment option for breastfeeding mothers and people over the age of 65. If you have a history of liver or kidney disease, blood disorders or disorders of the adrenal glands, your doctor will most likely not prescribe glibenclamide for you due to the drug's possible side effects. Drinking alcohol while taking glibenclamide increases your risk of developing hypoglycemia and should be avoided.