TOP 5 APPROVED DRUGS IN DIABETES

Diabetes

                   It is a condition characterized by high level of blood glucose. It develops when a body cannot produce or efficiently utilize a hormone  ‘INSULINE’ that helps to remove excess glucose from blood.

Introduction:

                      In past 5 years , number of drug therapies for diabetes has increased substantially with many more exciting developments in pipeline. Insulin has been available since 1920s and sulfonylureas became widely used in 1950s. Several new drugs are now introduced including.

Thiazolidinediones, metformin, alpha glucosidase  inhibitors & repaglinide

Insuline

               This hormone is currently the drug of choice for patient with type 1&2 diabetes. Human insulin is derived form recombinant DNA techniques which involves mass production form specially engineered bacteria (Hunulin) or yeast (Novolin). Insuline is a protein, it can not be taken orally without being destroyed by enzymes In stomach and intestine .

FDA – Apporoved Diabetes Drugs:

 Sulfonylureas are drugs that increases release of insulin form pancreas. A new agent called REPAGLINIDE has recently became available, it also works by causing insulin to be released form pancreas. Both class of drugs can cause hypoglycemia & weight gain, as would be expected of any drug that increases insulin.

1-    Sulfonylureas

                                                                                           

Brand Name                                                         Generic  Name

Amaryl                                                                          Glimepride

Dia Beta                                                                        Glyburide

Diabinese                                                                      Chlorpromide

Dymelor                                                                        Acetohexamide

Glucotrol                                                                       Glipizide

Glucotrol XL                                                                 Glipizide

Glynase pres Tab                                                           Glyburide

Micronase                                                                      Glyburide

Orinase                                                                          Tolbutamide

Tolinase                                                                         Tolazamide

2-    Meglitinide

                                                                                        

Brand Name                                                            Generic Name

Glucopahge  Prandin                                                     Meirepaglinide

Some drugs are insulin sensitizers instead of causing more insulin to be released they act on fat, muscles and liver to allow body’s own insulin to work more efficiently. Among these drugs ‘Metformin (glucophage) a member of biguanide, was the first to hit the market. Most recently several drugs of ‘thiazolidinedione ‘ class have been introduced  including, troglitazone , rasiglitazone  (Avandia) & proglitazone (Actop). Troglitazone was subsequently pulled from market because of few cases of liver toxicity.

3- Biguanides

 Brand Name                                                                Generic Name

Glucophage                                                                            Metformin

4- Thiazolidinediones

                                         

Brand Name                                                       Generic Name

Avandid                                                                   Rosiglitazone maleate

Actos.                                                                      Piaglitazone hydrochloride

There are new agents that act to reduce the amount of sugar absorbed by intestine after a meal. These drugs called alphaglucosidase inhibitors can actually be used in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Two versions are currently in market including

Acarbose (precose)
miglitol ( glyset).

5- Alpha- Glucosidase  Inhibitors

                                                                            

Brand Name                                                                 Generic Name

Glyset                                                                                     Miglitol

Precose                                                                                  Acarbose