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Orally active hypoglycemic substances and the rationale of their use
Author(s) -
Levine Rachmiel,
Berger Sheldon
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt196012227
Subject(s) - tolbutamide , medicine , oral hypoglycemic agents , chlorpropamide , diabetes mellitus , pharmacology , oral administration , intensive care medicine , orally active , traditional medicine , endocrinology , type 2 diabetes
The introduction of the orally active hypoglycemic agents has already had a profound effect on the therapy of diabetes. Unfortunately, despite a great deal of discussion in the literature, there is still much about these drugs which is uncertain and unsettled and, in general, information about their limitations is not so widely spread as claims for their utility. Although the modern era of interest in oral hypoglycemic agents began about 40 years ago with the association of this effect with the guanidines, it was first observed and confirmed more than 80 years ago as the result of salicylate therapy. Hypoglycemic effects have been noted after the oral administration of such unrelated materials as (1) sulfonamides and sulfonylureas (e.g., tolbutamide), (2) guanidines (e.g., synathalin A), (3) extracts of the akee plant (hypoglycin A and B), and (4) salicylates. It is also reasonable to suppose that more are on their way. The state of our knowledge of the modes of action of the several groups of orally active hypoglycemic agents based on clinical and experimental observations as well as their clinical uses, limitations, and dangers are discussed.