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- $Unique_ID{BRK03083}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{chlorpropamide}
- $Subject{Diabinese Pfizer Oral antidiabetic chlorpropamid diabetes mellitus
- adulthood non-insulin-dependent maturity-onset Type II insulin pancreas}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Diabinese*0308301.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- chlorpropamide
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- chlorpropamide (various manufacturers)
- Diabinese (Pfizer)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Oral antidiabetic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- chlorpropamide
-
- DOSAGE FORM
-
- Tablets (100 mg and 250 mg)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Store at room temperature in a tightly closed container.
-
- USES
-
- Chlorpropamide is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus that
- appears in adulthood and cannot be managed by control of diet alone. This
- type of diabetes is known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes (sometimes called
- maturity-onset or Type II diabetes). Chlorpropamide lowers blood sugar by
- increasing the release of insulin from the pancreas.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- In order for this medication to work correctly, it must be taken as your
- doctor has directed. It is best to take this medicine at the same time each
- day in order to maintain a constant blood sugar level. It is important,
- therefore, to try not to miss any doses of this medication. If you do miss a
- dose, take it as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next dose.
- In that case, do not take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular
- dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose. Tell your doctor if you feel
- any side effects from missing a dose of this drug.
- Diabetics who are taking oral antidiabetic medication may need to be
- switched to insulin if they develop diabetic coma, have a severe infection,
- are scheduled for major surgery, or become pregnant.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Diarrhea, headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach
- discomfort, stomach pain, or vomiting. These side effects usually disappear
- during treatment, as your body adjusts to the medication.
- Chlorpropamide may increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Use caution
- during exposure to the sun. You may want to wear protective clothing and
- sunglasses. Use an effective sunscreen, and avoid exposure to sunlamps.
-
- Major.
-
- If any side effects are persistent or particularly bothersome, it is
- important to notify your doctor. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR
- DOCTOR about dark urine, fatigue, itching of the skin, light-colored stools,
- sore throat and fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellowing of the eyes
- or skin.
- Chlorpropamide can also cause retention of body water, which in turn can
- lead to drowsiness; muscle cramps; seizures; swelling or puffiness of the
- face, hands, or ankles; and tiredness or weakness. IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL
- YOUR DOCTOR if you notice any of these side effects.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Chlorpropamide interacts with a number of medications:
- 1. Chloramphenicol, fenfluramine, guanethidine, insulin, miconazole,
- monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, oxyphenbutazone, oxytetracycline,
- phenylbutazone, probenecid, aspirin or other salicylates, sulfinpyrazone, or
- sulfonamide antibiotics, when combined with chlorpropamide, can lower blood
- sugar levels--sometimes to dangerously low levels.
- 2. Thyroid hormones, dextrothyroxine, epinephrine, phenytoin, thiazide
- diuretics (water pills), or cortisone-like medications (such as dexamethasone,
- hydrocortisone, and prednisone), when combined with chlorpropamide, can
- actually increase blood sugar levels.
- 3. Rifampin can decrease the blood levels of chlorpropamide, which can
- lead to a decrease in its effectiveness.
- 4. Antidiabetic medications can increase the effects of anticoagulants
- (blood thinners, such as warfarin), which can lead to bleeding complications.
- 5. Beta-blocking medications (acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, carteolol,
- esmolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol,
- and timolol), combined with chlorpropamide, can result in either high or low
- blood sugar levels. Beta blockers can also mask the symptoms of low blood
- sugar, which can be dangerous.
- 6. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication
- (unless otherwise directed by your doctor). Some patients who take this
- medicine suffer nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach pain, pounding headache,
- sweating, or redness of the face and skin when they drink alcohol. Also,
- large amounts of alcohol can lower blood sugar to dangerously low levels.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any of those listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * It is important to tell your doctor if you have ever had unusual or
- allergic reactions to this medicine or to any sulfa medication (sulfonamide
- antibiotics, acetazolamide, diuretics {water pills}, or other oral
- antidiabetics).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had kidney
- disease, liver disease, severe infection, or thyroid disease.
- * Follow the special diet that your doctor gave you. This is an
- essential part of controlling your blood sugar and is necessary in order for
- this medicine to work properly.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine.
- * Test for sugar in your urine as directed by your doctor. It is a
- convenient way to determine whether or not your diabetes is being controlled
- by this medicine.
- * Eat or drink something containing sugar right away if you experience
- any symptoms of low blood sugar (such as anxiety, chills, cold sweats, cool or
- pale skin, drowsiness, excessive hunger, headache, nausea, nervousness, rapid
- heartbeat, shakiness, or unusual tiredness or weakness). It is important that
- your family and friends know the symptoms of low blood sugar and what to do if
- they observe any of these symptoms in you.
- * Even if the symptoms of low blood sugar are corrected by eating or
- drinking sugar, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible
- after experiencing them. The blood-sugar-lowering effects of this medicine
- can last for hours, and the symptoms may return during this period. Good
- sources of sugar are orange juice, corn syrup, honey, sugar cubes, and table
- sugar. You are at greatest risk of developing low blood sugar if you skip or
- delay meals, exercise more than usual, cannot eat because of nausea or
- vomiting, or drink large amounts of alcohol.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Since extensive
- studies have not yet been conducted, it is not known whether this medication
- can cause problems when administered to a pregnant woman. Cautious use of
- this medication is thus warranted. It is also important to tell your doctor
- if you are currently breast-feeding an infant. It has been determined that
- this medicine passes into breast milk. For this reason this product is not
- recommended for use by a woman who is breast-feeding.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-