MIGLITOL
| MIGLITOL (mig'li-tol) Glyset Classifications: hormone; antidiabetic agent; alpha-glucosidase inhibitor; Therapeutic: antidiabetic; alpha-glucosidase inhibitor Prototype: Acarbose Pregnancy Category: B |
Availability
25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg tablets
Action
Enzyme inhibition of intestinal glucosidases that delays the formation of glucose from saccharides in the small intestine. Miglitol does not enhance insulin secretion.
Therapeutic Effect
It delays the digestion of carbohydrates, lowers the postprandial hyperglycemia, and reduces the levels of glysylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in type 2 diabetics.
Uses
Adjunct to diet for control of type 2 diabetes; may be used alone or with a sulfonylurea.
Contraindications
Diabetic ketoacidosis; digestive or absorptive disorders; history of or partial intestinal obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease; hypersensitivity to miglitol; lactation.
Cautious Use
Hypersensitivity to acarbose; creatinine clearance above 2 mg/dL; concomitant use with sulfonylurea; high stress conditions (i.e., surgery, trauma, etc.); pregnancy (category B). Safety and efficacy in children <18 y unknown.
Route & Dosage
| Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis Adult: PO 25 mg t.i.d. at the start of each meal, may increase after 4–8 wk to 50 mg t.i.d. (max: 100 mg t.i.d.) |
Administration
Oral- Give drug with first bite of each of the three main meals.
- Store at 15°–30° C (59°–86° F).
Adverse Effects (≥1%)
GI: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence. Skin: Rash. Metabolic: Hypoglycemia.Interactions
Drug: Miglitol may reduce bioavailability of propranolol, ranitidine; charcoal, pancreatin, amylase, pancrelipase may decrease effectiveness of miglitol. Herbal: Garlic, ginseng may potentiate hypoglycemic effects.Pharmacokinetics
Absorption: 25 mg dose is completely absorbed, amount absorbed decreases with increasing dose to where 100 mg dose is 50–70% absorbed. Peak: 2–3 h. Distribution: Minimal protein binding (<4%). Metabolism: Not metabolized. Elimination: Half-life 2 h; 95% excreted unchanged in urine, lower doses should be used in patients with renal impairment.Nursing Implications
Assessment & Drug Effects
- Monitor for therapeutic effectiveness: Indicated by improved blood glucose levels and decreased HbA1C.
- Monitor for S&S of hypoglycemia when used in combination with sulfonylureas, insulin, other hypoglycemia agents.
- Lab tests: Monitor HbA1C q3mo.
- Treat hypolgycemia with oral glucose (dextrose); miglitol interferes with the breakdown of sucrose (table sugar).
Patient & Family Education
- Keep a source of oral glucose available to treat low blood sugar; miglitol prevents digestive breakdown of table sugar.
- Abdominal discomfort, flatulence, and diarrhea tend to diminish with continued therapy.
Common adverse effects in italic, life-threatening effects underlined; generic names in bold; classifications in SMALL CAPS; 
Canadian drug name; 
Prototype drug