glibenclamide at a glance
Medicine class
Sulphonylurea blood-glucose-lowering treatment.
Licensed role
Neonatal diabetes in newborns, infants and children.
Administration
Ready-to-use oral suspension given directly into the mouth with the supplied syringe; the bottle does not need shaking.
Key risk
Hypoglycaemia, which can occasionally be severe or prolonged.
What is glibenclamide used for?
The selected oral suspension is licensed for neonatal diabetes mellitus in newborns, infants and children.
It may be effective when neonatal diabetes is caused by mutations affecting the beta-cell ATP-sensitive potassium channel.
It is also licensed in chromosome 6q24-related transient neonatal diabetes mellitus.
Treatment should be started and supervised by a clinician experienced in very-early-onset diabetes.
How does glibenclamide work?
Glibenclamide closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic beta cells. This triggers insulin release and lowers blood glucose; it is particularly relevant when neonatal diabetes results from genetic disruption of these channels.
glibenclamide preparations and strengths
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 0.6 mg/mL, 6 mg/mL
How to take glibenclamide
Follow the specialist’s prescription exactly and check that the correct product and supplied syringe are being used.
Give the ready-to-use suspension directly into the child’s mouth using only the syringe supplied with the pack.
The bottle does not need shaking.
Administer slowly against the inside of the cheek and ensure the child has swallowed before laying them down.
Avoid administration through a feeding tube unless the specialist provides alternative instructions.
Rinse the syringe thoroughly with water and dry it after use.
glibenclamide side effects
Common or expected effects
- Hypoglycaemia
- Temporary diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain, vomiting or indigestion
- Tooth discolouration
- Blurred or filmy vision
- Skin rash
- Temporary changes in white blood cells or liver-enzyme tests
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe or prolonged hypoglycaemia, including confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness
- Serious allergic reaction with breathing difficulty, low blood pressure or shock
- Severe blistering or peeling skin reactions
- Unusual bruising, bleeding, fever or infections that may indicate a blood-cell disorder
glibenclamide in pregnancy
This paediatric suspension is not intended as routine treatment during pregnancy. The product information states that glibenclamide should not be used in pregnancy and recommends insulin for glucose control. Anyone who becomes pregnant while taking glibenclamide should seek prompt specialist review rather than stopping diabetes treatment without advice, because uncontrolled blood glucose is also harmful.
glibenclamide while breastfeeding
The product information reports limited data in which glibenclamide was not detected in breast milk, but advises monitoring a fully breastfed infant’s glucose. NHS SPS considers insulin or metformin preferable because evidence for other antidiabetic treatments is limited; specialist advice is appropriate.
glibenclamide interactions
Many medicines can strengthen or weaken glibenclamide’s effect. Check new prescriptions, over-the-counter products and supplements with the specialist or pharmacist.
Bosentan
Concurrent use is contraindicated because of liver-enzyme abnormalities and loss of glucose control.
Insulin and other glucose-lowering treatments
Combined effects can increase the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Miconazole, clarithromycin, quinolones or co-trimoxazole
These anti-infectives may increase the glucose-lowering effect and cause hypoglycaemia.
Common questions about glibenclamide
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is glibenclamide the same as Amglidia?
Amglidia is a brand of glibenclamide oral suspension developed for children with neonatal diabetes.
What type of diabetes is glibenclamide oral suspension licensed to treat?
The selected UK product is licensed for neonatal diabetes mellitus in newborns, infants and children.
Why does glibenclamide work in some genetic forms of neonatal diabetes?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.