Other Brands/Names

Condiabet, Daonil, Diacella, Euglucon, Glidanil, Gluconic, Gluconin, Glucovance, Glulo, Glyamid, Renabetic, Harmida, Latibet, Libronil, Merzanil, Minkosa, Padonil, Prodiabet, Trodeb, Vorbet

How It Works

Glibenclamide is a sulfonylurea that targets insulin-producing cells in the pancreas to help lower blood sugar. By stimulating these cells, more insulin is released into the bloodstream and the body’s response to insulin improves. It also helps reduce glucose production by the liver, which supports better control of high blood sugar in people with diabetes.

Indications

Used to reduce blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. For best results, this medicine must be combined with regular physical activity and a balanced diet as part of an overall diabetes management plan.

Contraindication

Do not use this medicine in patients with any of the following:

• History of allergy or hypersensitivity to sulfonylurea antidiabetic medicines
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous emergency in which the body produces excess ketones.
• Severe infections.
• Post-operative states or serious injuries.
• Severe kidney or liver impairment.
• Age over 70 years.
• Pregnant women.
• Current therapy with bosentan (used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension).

Side Effects

A key risk is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may present with:

• Weakness
• Cold sweats
• Trembling hands
• Rapid heartbeat
• Hunger
• Dizziness
• Tingling in the hands and feet

People taking this medicine should keep a consistent meal schedule and avoid skipping meals. Take glibenclamide with, or immediately after, food. Weight gain can also occur.

Types

Tablets: 2.5 mg and 5 mg.

Dosage

Start with 2.5–5 mg once daily with breakfast. The dose may be increased by 2.5 mg at weekly intervals based on blood sugar response. The maximum total daily dose is 20 mg.

Safety

Pregnancy category C: animal studies have shown fetal adverse effects, and adequate, well-controlled data in humans are lacking. Because insulin is the recommended first-line therapy for diabetes during pregnancy, oral antidiabetic medicines should be switched to insulin injections as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.

Drug Interactions

• Risk of hypoglycemia may increase when used with:
  
  • Antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and co-trimoxazole
  • Certain antidepressants (TCA and MAOI classes)
  • Antihypertensives, including ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril) and beta-blockers (e.g., bisoprolol)
• Effectiveness may be reduced by:
  
  • The antituberculosis drug rifampin
  • Barbiturate anticonvulsants
  • Oral contraceptive pills
• Blood levels of glibenclamide may rise with the antifungals miconazole and fluconazole.
• This medicine may also alter the effect of the blood thinner warfarin.

Looking for more information about other drugs? Click here!