diazoxide at a glance
Medicine class
ATP-sensitive potassium-channel opener that suppresses insulin release
Licensed use
Intractable hypoglycaemia with severe symptoms
Form
Prescription-only, sugar-coated oral tablet
Important practical issue
Can retain salt and water, so weight, swelling and cardiovascular symptoms require attention
What is diazoxide used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for intractable hypoglycaemia with severe symptoms, including cases associated with:
Certain persistent hypoglycaemias beginning in infancy
Leucine-sensitive hypoglycaemia
Inoperable insulin-producing pancreatic tumours
Non-pancreatic tumours causing hypoglycaemia
Glycogen-storage disease
Hypoglycaemia of unknown cause
How does diazoxide work?
Diazoxide opens ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic beta cells. This reduces calcium-dependent insulin release and allows blood glucose to rise. It can also affect vascular potassium channels and promote salt and water retention.
diazoxide preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 50 mg
How to take diazoxide
Take the tablets by mouth exactly as directed on the dispensing label. Do not change or stop treatment without speaking to the specialist managing the hypoglycaemia.
The tablets are sugar coated and contain lactose and sucrose.
Ask a pharmacist or prescriber if the label is unclear.
Kidney impairment may require individualised adjustment by the prescriber.
diazoxide side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, particularly early in treatment
- Increased body-hair growth during prolonged treatment
- Fluid retention, swelling or weight gain
- Headache, dizziness or stomach upset
Get urgent medical advice
- Fainting, collapse or marked low blood pressure
- Breathlessness, chest discomfort, swelling or difficulty breathing when lying down
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Marked thirst or excessive urination suggesting excessive hyperglycaemia
- Unusual bleeding, bruising, fever or sore throat suggesting blood-cell changes
- Tremor, severe stiffness, difficulty moving or abnormal eye movements
- Abdominal swelling, vomiting, poor feeding, bloody stools or lethargy in a newborn or infant
diazoxide in pregnancy
Use during pregnancy is restricted to situations where the mother's underlying condition is considered life-threatening. Prolonged exposure has been associated with hair loss in the newborn. Anyone pregnant or planning pregnancy should promptly discuss treatment with the specialist prescriber and not stop it without advice.
diazoxide while breastfeeding
The selected UK product should not be used while breastfeeding because safety during lactation has not been established. Specialist advice is needed about feeding and alternative management.
diazoxide interactions
Tell the prescriber and pharmacist about all medicines being used. Important documented interactions include:
Oral diuretics
May strengthen blood-pressure lowering and glucose elevation; fluid balance and potassium may need review.
Antihypertensive medicines
May increase blood-pressure lowering, raising the risk of dizziness or hypotension.
Anticoagulants such as warfarin
Their effect may increase, so anticoagulation may require closer assessment.
Phenytoin
Diazoxide may reduce phenytoin levels or effect; blood-level monitoring may be required.
Common questions about diazoxide
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is diazoxide a form of insulin?
No. It reduces insulin release from pancreatic beta cells and therefore raises blood glucose.
Why is diazoxide used for low blood sugar?
It can control persistent hypoglycaemia caused by excessive insulin release when surgery or another specific treatment is unsuitable.
Can diazoxide cause excessive hair growth?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.