The Link Between Glucovance and Hypoglycemia
Glucovance® (
glyburide and metformin) does have an effect on blood sugar levels. For some people, the medication can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low (a condition called hypoglycemia).
How Commonly Does Hypoglycemia Occur With Glucovance?
During clinical studies, hypoglycemia occurred in up to 37.
7 percent of people taking Glucovance. This is most likely due to the
glyburide component. Glyburide causes the
pancreas to make more
insulin, and too much insulin can cause hypoglycemia.
Metformin, the other component, does not usually cause hypoglycemia by itself.
It is important to note that in these trials, no one required medical attention or medication to treat their hypoglycemia. They were able to manage the condition on their own.
Hypoglycemia symptoms can vary, depending on a number of factors, including how low the blood sugar levels are. Some examples of early symptoms of low blood sugar include:
- Sweating
- Shakiness
- Extreme hunger
- Dizziness
- Cold sweats
- Blurry vision.
More severe symptoms include:
- Changes in behavior, such as irritability
- Loss of coordination
- Difficulty speaking
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Loss of life.
If you are taking Glucovance and hypoglycemia symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider immediately or seek emergency medical care and stop taking the medicine. If your healthcare provider believes that hypoglycemia is causing your symptoms, he or she may recommend that you treat the problem immediately by eating or drinking something with sugar in it, such as:
- Orange juice
- Hard candy
- A tablespoon of honey
- A tablespoon of granulated sugar.
