Drugs Flashcards
How do sulphonylurea’s work?
They act on the K+ATP channel. They block this and therefore the beta cell is permanently depolarised and insulin secretion is stimulated.
What can sulphonylurea’s help with?
They tend to stop symptoms such as polyuria and polydispia.
How are sulphonylureas taken?
Orally.
Side effects of sulphonylureas
Main risk is hypoglycaemia due to insulin being constantly stimulated to be secreted.
Also risk of cardiac events.
Which drugs impede the effectiveness of sulphonylureas?
Thiazide diuretics and corticosteroids.
Which drugs give an additive effect to sulphonylureas
Biguanides.
Name some sulphonylureas
Tolbutamide, choropropamide, glibenclamide
Describe some effects of biguanides?
Reduces absorption of glucose from the gut.
Facilitates non-insulin dependent movement of glucose into the cells.
Inhibits gluconeogenesis
Enhances anaerobic glycolysis.
What sort of patient would use a biguanide?
An overweight patient because they can help you to lose weight.
Side effects of biguanides?
Lactic acidosis.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and a metallic taste in the mouth.
When should you avoid giving biguanides?
Renal failure Cirrhosis Alcoholism Chronic lung disease Cardiac failure Mitochondrial myopathy Any serious illness.
Give an example of a biguanide
Metformin
Name a drug that decreases insulin resistance? And how does it do this?
Glitozones (also called thiazolidinediones)
They bind to receptors within the cell nucleus and change gene expression.
Side effects of glitazones
Fluid retention
Weight gain
In the long term- fracture risk
How do GLP-1 analogues work
They mimic the actions of glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
