Repaglinide (Eurepa, Rrapilin), Nateglinide (Glintae, Natelide)
These drugs release insulin in response to meals and therefore regulate post-meal hyperglycemia (rise in blood glucose after meals) in adults. These should be avoided in liver disease. Repaglinide is ingested 10-30 minutes before meals. Side effects are mild headache, dyspepsia, joint pain, or weight gain. It can be given with other drugs. Usual dose of repaglinide is 0.25 mg to 0.50 mg before meals. Maximum 16 mg per day. Nateglinide is used in a dose of60 to 120 mg thrice a day before meals. Like pioglitazone it may increase blood cholesterol also.
Acarbose (Diabose 50 mg)
It inhibits enzyme which is present in small intestine. The enzyme normally breaks complex sugar of food into glucose. Therefore excessive rise in blood glucose does not occur after meals. Since it is not absorbed adverse effects are minimum (gases and loose stools).
Combined Drug Therapy
Since antidiabetic drugs lower blood glucose by independent and differing mechanisms, t~ese drugs are sometimes combined for better effect if one drug given alone fails to control the dIabetic state. Thus in secondary sulfonylurea failures, biguanides can be added. The following combinations are readily available:
The drugs given below have also been marketed for better control the diabetic’s blood sugar: Guargum (Carbotard, Diat-AIM) and Glucomannan (Dietmann) slow carbohydrate absorption by forming a get in gastro-intestinal tract. It reduces sudden rise in blood glucose after food intake. One sachet of glucomannan (1.2 g) or guargum (4 g) is to be taken before each meals. It can be taken with water, soup, or milk. Chromium picolinate (CAP CP 200, 400) increases insulin action on tissue as it acts as a co-factor for insulin action. It is used in doses of 200 ug to 500 ug per day.
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