title: Emergency management of oral hypoglycemic drug toxicity.
abstract: There are several classes of oral diabetes medications available in the United States, including sulfonylureas, meglitinides, biguanides, glitazones, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. These different classes have various mechanisms of action, giving each class a unique potential for toxicity that necessitates a distinct approach to evaluation, treatment, and disposition of each class of drug. The practicing emergency physician must have an understanding of these differences to safely care for patients exposed to these medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. rowdena@einstein.edu
authors.forename: Adam K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rowden
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fasano
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005947:Glucose / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; D005947:Glucose