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Commonly Prescribed Oral Diabetic Medications

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia

Medications That Can Affect Blood Glucose Levels

 

It is very important that diabetics maintain fasting blood sugar levels of less than 126 mg%.  Diabetics must maintain a glycosolated hemoglobin (HBA1C) of less than 7.2% in order to reduce the complications associated with diabetes.  The best way to accomplish this is with diet and exercise.  If this doesn't work, there are many drugs available. 

Commonly Prescribed Oral Diabetic Medications

updated 6/6/00

Actos (pioglitizone, Eli Lilly )- once a day insulin sensitizer From Lilly
Prescribing Info
|medline search| Patient Info

Avandia (rosiglitazone. Smithkline Beacham) - once a day or twice a day insulin sensitizer From Smithkline
Prescribing Info |medline search | Patient Information

Amaryl (glimepiride, Aventis)-Once-a-day Sulfonylurea
Prescribing Info |medline search | Patient Information

Glipizide  Sulfonlyurea; Generic; Brand Name = Glucotrol, Pfizer;
Prescribing Info  |medlinesearch | Patient Information

Glucophage (metformin, Bristol Meyer Squibb) - Biguanide from Bristol Meyers Squibb
Prescribing Info | medline search | Patient Information 

Glucotrol XL( glipizide extended release, Pfizer)
Prescribing Info |medline search | Patient Information

Glyburide (Micronase; Upjohn, Glynase; Upjohn, Diabeta; Aventis)
Prescribing Info |medline search | Information for Patients

Glyset (miglitol, Pharmacia & Upjohn)
Prescribing Info | medline search | Patient Information

Prandin (repaglinide, NOVO)
Prescribing Info (PDF Adobe Req) |medline search | Patient Information

Precose (acarbose, Bayer)
Prescribing Info
(PDF Adobe Req) |medline search| Patient Information

Rezulin (troglitazone, Parke Davis)
Prescribing Info |medline search | Patient Information
Note: Not available in USA - Voluntarily withdrawn from market

Glucovance (Metformin/Glyburide, Bristol Myers Squibb)                                                 Prescribing Info

Glucophage XR(Metformin)                                                                                                                        Prescribing Info (PDF Adobe Req)

 

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia

Follow the links to the DrugDB entries for these drugs where you will find more information such as DrugFAQs (Frequently-Asked Questions about drugs).

 

Medications That Can Affect Blood Glucose Levels

You may take other prescription or over-the-counter medications. It's important to know how these medications act inside your body and how they interact with each other. Some medications may lower or raise your blood glucose level or interfere with how your body uses diabetes pills (see chart below).

Be sure to follow all instructions for taking your medications. Make sure all members of you health care team know what medications you are taking. Try to use a single pharmacy for all your prescriptions. That way, all your medications can be listed on one record. Test your blood glucose to see whether a new medication affects your blood glucose level. If you find that a medication you are taking greatly upsets your blood glucose control, ask you diabetes care provider or pharmacist about it.

 

Generic Name Brand Name Effect on Blood Glucose Level Interacts With Diabetes Pills? Common Uses
Alcohol Ingredient in many medications Lowers Yes Carry active ingredient in drug into metabolism
Aspirin Many brand names May lower if taken in large doses Yes Treat general pain or fever; treat arthritis
Beta-blockers Inderal, Sectral, Tenormin, Lopressor, Visken, Blocadren May mask low blood glucose Yes Treat high blood pressure, angina, unsteady heartbeat, overactive thyroid, and other ailments
Chloramphenicol Chloromycetin Lowers* Yes Treat bacterial infections
Clofibrate Atromid-S Lowers* Yes Treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Diazoxide Hyperstat, Proglycem Raises Yes Treat low blood glucose caused by tumors in pancreas; sometimes used to treat high blood pressure
Diuretics Diuril, HydroDIURIL, Edecrin, Esidrix, Diamox, Lasix, Hygroton Raises Yes Relieve fluid buildup by increasing amount of water in urine
Epinephrine Epinephrine Raises Yes Revive heartbeat; treat severe allergic reactions
Ephinephrine - like drugs (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine phenylephrine) Many cold, flu, and allergy medicines Raises Yes Treat runny noses, flu, allergies, colds
Estrogens, birth control pills Many brand names May raise No Prevent pregnancy; lessen the effects of menopause
Lithium carbonate Eskalith, Lithonate Raises No Treat manic depression
Methyldopa Aldomet Lowers* Yes Treat high blood pressure
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors Parnate, Nardil Lowers Yes Treat severe depression
Nicotinic acid, niacin Nicolar, Nicobid Raises No Treat nutrient deficiency; treat high cholesterol levels
Phenobarbital Many brand names Raises* Yes Sedate; treat epilepsy
Phentermine Several brand names Raises Yes Suppress appetite
Phenylbutazone Butazolidin Lowers* Yes Treat arthritis
Phenylpropanolamine Acutrim, Dexatrim Raises Yes Suppress appetite
Phenytoin Dilantin Raises Yes Treat epilepsy and other nervous system disorders
Rifampin Rifadin Raises* Yes Treat tuberculosis
Steroids (prednisone, cortisone, dexamethasone) Steraspred, Deltasone, Cortone, Decadron Raises Yes Reduce inflammation, redness, and swelling
Sulfa drugs Gantrisin, Septra, Bactrim Lowers* Yes Treat bacterial infections
Tyroid preparations Armour, S-P-T Raises No Treat lessened or absent thyroid functions
* These drugs raise and lower blood glucose only when used in combination with diabetes pills.
 

Information in the above chart from the book Your Healthy Guide - Type 2 Diabetes, 2nd Edition available from the American Diabetes Association.

 

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