Clinical Pharmacology of Oral Antidiabetic Agents

Treatment with Oral Hypoglycemic AgentsThe main justifications for clinical use of oral hypoglycemic agents are that they are taken by mouth once or twice a day, making them more convenient and acceptable to the patient than insulin, that they are effective in lowering the blood glucose, and that they are safe. The first is self-evident, but the other two reasons for use deserve close examination.Efficacy in Lowering Blood GlucoseBoth the sulfonylureas and the biguanides acutely lower blood glucose. The more important consideration is whether or not the glucose-lowering effect is maintained during prolonged use. In other words, . . .