Indications
Glitisol® is indicated for the treatment of diabetes in non-insulin dependent patients who do not respond adequately to dietary measures alone.
Dosage
The usual daily dose of Glitisol® is one tablet orally, taken with or immediately with breakfast or the first time main meal. Elderly or debilitated patients should receive one half a tablet daily. When adequate control is a achieved, the daily dose of one tablet may be continued. If adequate control is not achieved, the dose can be continued. If adequate control is not achieved, the dose can be adjusted by increments of one half or one tablet at weekly intervals. The total daily dose should not exceed 3 tablets daily. The total daily dose should be given as a single dose at breakfast, or with the first main meal.
Patients receiving other antidiabetic drugs with the same mode of action may be shifted to Glitisol® treatment without any break in therapy. Treatment is started with one tablet daily and adjusted by increments of one half to one tablet daily and adjusted by increments of one half to one tablet until adequate control is achieved.
Patients not responding to other antidiabetics should receive the equivalent dose of Glitisol® without exceeding an initial dose may be increased stepwise to 3 tablets.
Change-over from biguanides to Glitisol® may be achieved by starting treatment with one half a tablet daily and adjusted by increment with one half a tablet daily and adjusted by increments of 2.5mg until adequate control is achieved.
Glitisol® may be combined with biguanides. Some patients, especially those on low dose of insulin may be transferred from insulin to Glitisol® treatment. Glitisol® is not suitable for use in children.
Side-Effects
Glitisol® is relatively free from side-effects, except in rare cases where gastro-intestinal disturbances, skin rashes, reversible leukopenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported.
Precautions
Elderly or debilitated patients may be more liable to hypoglycaemia. The possible danger of hypoglycaemia should be born in mind when dicoumarol, MAO inhibitors, beta blockers, sulphonamides, phenylbutazone, chloramphenicol, cyclophonamides and salicylates are administered simultaneously with Glitisol®. The hypoglycaemic effect of Glitisol® is antagonised by adrenaline, oral contraceptives, thiazide diuretics and corticosteroids.
Contra-indications
Glitisol® should not be administered to patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, or those with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, rental, hepatic or adrenocortical dysfunction, or in cases of unusual stress, such as surgical operations or during pregnancy, when insulin is preferable.