Abstract

A REVIEW ON DRUG INDUCED HYPOGLYCEMIA

Sai Lakshmi Lahari N.*, Yamini Krishna K., Harshitha B., Nithish V., Kishore Babu DR. M. and Thirumala Naik DR. K.

ABSTRACT

Hypoglycemia is manifested as drug-induced serum glucose alteration ranging from mild to moderate to severe symptoms which appear either acutely or constantly. Depending on the severity, symptoms include seizures, irritability, neurological deficits, coma, and even neuronal death. If untreated, hypoglycemia can even lead to death. As people age, the number of comorbidities and medications increase over time, which results in exposing themselves to an increased risk for possible drug interactions or cumulative adverse effects which may result in symptomatic or asymptomatic hypoglycemia. A variety of medications have been associated with hypoglycemia, some of those medications include antidiabetic drugs and non-antidiabetic drugs like antibiotics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, alcohol, and salicylates. Anti-diabetic drugs while given in monotherapy have little risk for hypoglycemia, when given in combination with insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, increased risk of hypoglycemia is seen because of addictive effects. The mechanism of non-antidiabetics medications by which they induce hypoglycemia are discussed in the study. CONCLUSION: This study helps in reviewing the mechanisms by which the use of antidiabetic and non-antidiabetic drugs induce hypoglycemia. Furthermore, overviewing these mechanisms predicts the drug interactions that cause hypoglycemia and aid in providing rational therapy.

Keywords: Hypoglycemia, antidiabetic drugs, non-antidiabetic drugs, drug-induced hypoglycemia.