Abstract
A patient who took a chlorpropamide overdose was treated for several hours with concentrated glucose solutions, with little success in maintaining adequate serum glucose concentrations. Intravenous diazoxide administration was begun with the hope of decreasing pancreatic insulin release. After diazoxide was begun, glucose requirements decreased dramatically, and serum glucose was supranormal for most of the period of diazoxide administration. The case was complicated by the fact that the patient had taken three agents that can cause hypoglycemia—chlorpropamide, alcohol, and aspirin. Drug interactions potentiating the hypoglycemic effect of the chlorpropamide were also possible.
Glucose infusion is the mainstay of therapy for a sulfonylurea overdose. However, glucose acts as a further stimulus of insulin release from a sulfonylurea-primed pancreas. Administration of concentrated glucose solutions is technically difficult because of damage to veins. Metabolic consequences of high rates of glucose infusion to hyperinsulinemic patients include hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia.
Diazoxide appeared to decrease the glucose requirement in this patient, as it did in three other reported cases. Diazoxide is approved for certain hypoglycemic, hyperinsulinemic conditions. Sulfonylurea overdose represents a hypoglycemic, hyperinsulinemic condition; diazoxide appears to be an effective treatment.
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