Sulfonylureas

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Information about Sulfonylureas

A class of medicines that lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to release more insulin. The sulfonylureas are a class of agents that lower blood sugar as a result of increasing release of insulin from the pancreas. The sulfonylureas are used for the therapy of mild-to-moderate type 2 diabetes in conjunction with diet, and can be used alone or in combination with metformin, thiazolidinediones or other hypoglycemic agents.

Liver toxicity of Sulfonylureas

The sulfonylureas have been associated with rare cases of idiosyncratic drug induced liver disease with somewhat similar pattern of onset, injury and outcome.

Mechanism of action of Sulfonylureas

While the sulfonylureas are derivatives of sulfonamides, they have no intrinsic antibacterial activity. They are believed to lower blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin release from pancreatic beta cells. However, their effects on blood glucose with chronic therapy are more complex, and the sulfonylureas may have extra-pancreatic actions that affect blood sugar, reducing hepatic clearance of insulin or increasing insulin sensitivity. The sulfonylureas have little effect in type 1 diabetes, in which there is a deficiency in insulin producing pancreatic beta cells. The sulfonylureas are widely used and are generally considered a first line of medication therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Types of Sulfonylureas

The sulfonylureas are divided into first and second generation agents, based upon their relative potency. All sulfonylureas share a similar structure, being substituted arylsulfonylureas. They differ on the basis of substitutions at the para positions at the two ends of the arylsulfonylurea molecule.

The first generation sulfonylureas include chlorpropamide, tolazamide and tolbutamide. These agents are now rarely used although still available in the United States.

The second generation sulfonylureas include gliclazide, glimepiride, glipizide and glyburide (known as glibenclamide outside of the United States) which are active in lower concentrations, are effective when taken once daily and have fewer of the troublesome dose related side effects of the first generation sulfonylureas, such as headache, nausea, anorexia, fatigue and paresthesias.

Side effects of Sulfonylureas

The sulfonylureas (particularly the first generation agents) can also cause alcohol intolerance (flushing) through inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase. The sulfonylureas are all labelled with a warning of increased risk of cardiovascular mortality with long term use.

Drug class for Sulfonylureas

Drug Class: Antidiabetic Agents

Drugs in the Subclass Sulfonylureas: ]]First Generation Sulfonylureas]], Second Generation Sulfonylureas

Antidiabetics

•  Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
  • Acarbose
  • Miglitol
• Incretin-Based Drugs
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) Inhibitors
    • Alogliptin
    • Linagliptin
    • Saxagliptin
    • Sitagliptin
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Analogues
    • Albiglutide
    • Dulaglutide
    • Exenatide
    • Liraglutide
    • Lixisenatide
•  Insulin
• Metformin
• Metiglinide Analogues
  • Nateglinide
  • Repaglinide
• Pramlintide
• Sodium Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) Inhibitors
  • Canagliflozin
  • Dapagliflozin
  • Empagliflozin
• Sulfonylureas
  • First Generation Sulfonylureas
    • Acetohexamide
    • Chlorpropamide
    • Tolazamide
    • Tolbutamide
  • Second Generation Sulfonylureas
    • Gliclazide
    • Glimepiride
    • Glipizide
    • Glyburide (Glibenclamide)
• Thiazolidinediones
  • Pioglitazone
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Troglitazone

• Dailymed label info on Sulfonylureas
• FDA Sulfonylureas

Sulfonylureas Resources
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