If You're Taking Glyburide, You May Want to Talk to Your Doctor About Trying Something Else
On the Side
In my family practice, I see a lot of folks with Type 2 diabetes. I try to help them control their blood sugar through diet and exercise, but that just doesn't work for everyone. For some folks, diabetes medications are necessary. There are a lot of different drugs out there to choose from, and that makes it easier to avoid one that causes some very serious problems. One diabetes medication I won't prescribe is glyburide -- and if you're taking it, you may want to talk to your doctor about trying something else.
Here's why: glyburide (sold under a variety of brand names, including DiaBeta and Micronase) can increase your risk of death from cardiovascular causes more than other diabetes treatments. On top of that, it's just not what I'd call a good drug. Glyburide works by forcing your pancreas to make more insulin than it normally would, and that can speed up your diabetes progression to all out insulin dependence.
All that extra insulin can bring on hypoglycemia -- dangerously low blood sugar. In fact, that's one of glyburide's most common side effects, and it can be a deadly one. As if that's not troubling enough, this medication interacts with a whole host of regular over-the-counter remedies. Some of the more common medicines that can interact with glyburide include aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, ibuprofen, naproxen, diuretics, cold and allergy remedies...the list goes on.
Glyburide isn't the only medication that comes with dangerous side effects. Many prescription drugs, even some usually safe over-the-counter drugs, can cause serious problems. But sometimes medications come with unexpected good side effects. I'll tell you about one of those below.
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Old School Mediciation Shows New Benefit
There are almost as many blood pressure medications out there as there are flavors of ice cream, and one of my top picks keeps standing the test of time, and then some.
Thiazide diuretics have been used for years to lower high blood pressure, with lots of success and a good safety record. Plus, now we know that this golden oldie comes with another important protective benefit. It can reduce your risk of hip fracture -- a big concern among my older patients. That's because this kind of drug cuts down on calcium loss, which in turn lowers your chances of hip fracture. The benefit works even better in folks over 80, who face some of the highest fracture risk. And the protection keeps on for up to four months after you stop taking the medication.
So here we have a proven medication that does just what it's supposed to (lower your blood pressure) and offers an extra bonus to boot. Even better, it comes pretty cheap -- much less expensive than the newer blood pressure management drugs.
But sometimes even the tried and true (and cheap) can end up hurting some people. Like one widely used over-the-counter remedy that people often forget is a very powerful drug. I'll tell you more about one very real danger of this household staple below.
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Low-Dose Aspirin Bad for Kidneys
Lots of folks take low-dose aspirin regularly, whether for pain management or heart health. Most people think of aspirin almost like band-aids -- it's always around, and it can't hurt you. But studies show that even low-dose aspirin can have a very serious side effect for older adults, like reduced kidney function.
In one particular study, doctors looked at nursing home patients who took 100 mg of aspirin every day for two weeks. At the end of that two weeks, kidney function dropped by 40 percent. Even worse, three weeks after they stopped taking the aspirin, half of patients still had at least a 20 percent reduction in kidney function.
This study serves as a good reminder that aspirin is a powerful drug, and can bring on very serious side effects. Like all other medications, you should only use it for a good reason -- one that outweighs the risks.
Until next time,
Dr. Alan Inglis
House Calls
