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| Pronunciation |
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 (tole
BYOO ta
mide) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Orinase®;
Tol-Tab® |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Apo-Tolbutamide® (Canada); Artosin
(Mexico); Diaval (Mexico); Mobenol® (Canada); Novo-Butamide®
(Canada); Rastinon (Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antidiabetic Agent (Sulfonylurea) |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to another sulfonylureas, tolbutamide, or any
other part of the medicine.
- If you have type 1 diabetes or a history of diabetic ketoacidosis.
- If you are pregnant.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients who
have adult-onset diabetes.
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| How does it work? |
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- Tolbutamide increases insulin secretion from the pancreas (organ that
produces insulin) and may make tissues more sensitive to insulin. You get more
control with less insulin.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take in the morning with breakfast or as divided doses with meals.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible (within 2-3 hours).
- If later than 2-3 hours, skip the missed one and return to your
regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Wear disease medical alert identification for diabetes.
- If you are 80 years of age or older, you may be more sensitive to low
blood sugars.
- Keep hard candies, liquid glucose, or milk on hand for low blood
sugars.
- Do not drive if blood sugar has been low. There is a greater risk of
an accident.
- Avoid alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Low blood sugar. This can cause anger, shaking, rapid heartbeats,
confusion, sweating. Can be life-threatening if not treated with hard candies,
liquid glucose, milk.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may
help.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare provider. Call if glucose
is less than 80 mg/dL or if greater than 250 mg/dL. Bring results to follow-up
visits.
- Watch for low blood sugar. This can cause anger, shaking, rapid
heartbeats, confusion, sweating.
- Watch for high blood sugar. Causes many trips to the bathroom, thirst,
and weight loss.
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
- Have a yearly eye exam and visit to the foot
doctor.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Any signs or symptoms of infection. This may include a fever greater
than 99 degrees, chills, sore throat, cough, increased sputum or change in
color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, anal itching or
pain.
- Low blood sugar or very high blood sugar.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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