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Orinase |
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What is Orinase and why is it prescribed? Orinase is an oral antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can usually be treated by dietary changes, exercise, and/or oral antidiabetic medications such as Orinase. Orinase controls diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to secrete more insulin and by helping insulin work better. Occasionally, type 2 diabetics must take insulin injections temporarily during stressful periods or times of illness. When diet, exercise, and an oral antidiabetic medication fail to reduce symptoms and/or blood sugar levels, a person with type 2 diabetes may require long-term insulin injections. Always remember that Orinase is an aid to, not a substitute for, good diet and exercise. Failure to follow a sound diet and exercise plan can lead to serious complications, such as dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. Remember, too, that Orinase is not an oral form of insulin, and cannot be used in place of insulin. How should you take Orinase? Follow your doctors directions for taking Orinase. In general, Orinase should be taken 30 minutes before a meal to achieve the best control over blood sugar levels. However, the exact dosing schedule, as well as the dosage amount, must be determined by your physician. Ask your doctor when it is best for you to take this medication. To help prevent low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) you should: Understand the symptoms of hypoglycemia, Know how exercise affects your blood sugar levels, Maintain an adequate diet, Keep a product containing quick-acting sugar with you at all times, and Limit alcohol intake. If you drink alcohol, it may cause breathlessness and facial flushing. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at the same time. Store Orinase at room temperature. Are there any Orinase side effects? Orinase side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Side effects from Orinase are rare and seldom require discontinuation of the medication. More common Orinase side effects may include bloating, heartburn, and nausea. Less common or rare Orinase side effects may include anemia and other blood disorders, blistering, changes in taste, headache, hepatic porphyria (a condition frequently characterized by sensitivity to light, stomach pain, and nerve damage, caused by excessive levels of a substance called porphyrin in the liver), hives, itching, redness of the skin, skin eruptions, and skin rash. Orinase, like all oral antidiabetics, may cause hypoglycemia. The risk of hypoglycemia can be increased by missed meals, alcohol, other medications, fever, trauma, infection, surgery, or excessive exercise. To avoid hypoglycemia, you should closely follow the dietary and exercise plan suggested by your physician. Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia may include cold sweat, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, headache, nausea, and nervousness. Symptoms of more severe hypoglycemia may include coma, pale skin, seizures, and shallow breathing. Contact your doctor immediately if these symptoms of severe low blood sugar occur. Ask your doctor what you should do if you experience mild hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia should be considered a medical emergency, and prompt medical attention is essential. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Orinase? If Orinase is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Orinase with Adrenal corticosteroids (such as prednisone/Deltasone and cortisone/Cortone), Airway-opening drugs (such as Proventil and Ventolin), Anabolic steroids (such as testosterone), Barbiturates (such as Amytal, Seconal, and phenobarbital), Beta blockers (such as Inderal and Tenormin), Blood-thinning drugs (such as Coumadin), Calcium channel blockers (such as Cardizem and Procardia), Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), Cimetidine (Tagamet), Clofibrate (Atromid-S), Colestipol (Colestid), Epinephrine (EpiPen), Estrogens (Premarin), Fluconazole (Diflucan), Furosemide (Lasix), Isoniazid (Nydrazid), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Major tranquilizers (such as Stelazine and Mellaril), MAO inhibitors (such as Nardil and Parnate), Methyldopa (Aldomet), Miconazole (Monistat), Niacin (Nicobid, Nicolar), Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (such as Advil, aspirin, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Voltaren), Oral contraceptives, Phenytoin (Dilantin), Probenecid (Benemid), Rifampin (Rifadin), Sulfa drugs (such as Bactrim and Septra), Thiazide and other diuretics (such as Diuril and HydroDIURIL), or Thyroid medications (such as Synthroid). Be cautious about drinking alcohol, since excessive alcohol can cause low blood sugar. Are there any special warnings about Orinase? It's possible that drugs such as Orinase may lead to more heart problems than diet treatment alone, or diet plus insulin. If you have a heart condition, you may want to discuss this with your doctor. If you are taking Orinase, you should check your blood or urine periodically for abnormal sugar (glucose) levels. It is important that you closely follow the diet and exercise plan recommended by your doctor. Even people with well-controlled diabetes may find that stress, illness, surgery, or fever results in a loss of control over their diabetes. In these cases, your physician may recommend that you temporarily stop taking Orinase and use injected insulin instead. In addition, the effectiveness of any oral antidiabetic, including Orinase, may decrease with time. This may occur because of either a diminished responsiveness to the medication or a worsening of the diabetes. Like other antidiabetic drugs, Orinase may produce severe low blood sugar if the dosage is wrong. While taking Orinase, you are particularly susceptible to episodes of low blood sugar if: You suffer from a kidney or liver problem; You have a lack of adrenal or pituitary hormone; or You are elderly, run-down, malnourished, hungry, exercising heavily, drinking alcohol, or using more than one glucose-lowering drug. |
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Information on this website is provided for educational purposes and should not replace discussions with your doctor. |
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