Glibenese

What is it?

A sulphonylurea drug produced in the form of scored, oblong, white tablets containing 5mg of glipizide and marked Y2.

Medical Uses

Type 11 diabetes.

Dosage

Adults, 5mg taken each day at breakfast at start, increasing, if required, by 2.5 to 5mg daily every few days, taken before eating breakfast or lunch. The maximum daily dose is 20mg and doses exceeding 15mg should be divided. Maintenance can be anywhere between 2.5mg to 20mg each day, depending upon individual need.

Special Care

Kidney failure, the elderly.

Avoid Use

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, juvenile, growth-onset or unstable brittle diabetes (all forms of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), severe liver or kidney disease, ketoacidosis, stress, infections, surgery, endocrine disorders.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Risk of hypoglycaemia with: sulfonamides, fibrates, fluconazole, aspirin, alcohol, chloramphenicol, MAOIs, NSAIDs, miconazole, oral anticoagulants, β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, probenecid, phenylbutazone, cimetidine. Risk of hyperglycaemia with: diuretics, progestogens, oestrogens, contraceptive pills, phenothiazines, derivatives of nicotinic acid, thyroid hormones, phenytoin, danazol, sympathomimetics, calcium antagonists, cnrticosteroids, isoniazid.

Known Side Effects

Allergic reactions including skin rash, hypoglycaemia, disturbance of vision, liver disorders, gastrointestinal effects, headache, abdominal pains, malaise, blood effects, trembling, dizziness, raised liver enzymes, confusion, drowsiness.