Daonil 5mg (Glibenclamide)

Daonil general information

What is Daonil used for?

Daonil tablets 5mg are an oral diabetes medication used to control blood sugar levels in people with mild to moderate type-2 diabetes mellitus (also called non insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity onset diabetes) who are unable to achieve adequate glycaemic control (normal blood sugar levels) with diet and exercise alone. Daonil tablets 5mg can be used alone as monotherapy, in conjunction with diet and exercise, or in combination with other antihyperglycaemic medication (lowers blood sugar), like metformin, when a single drug does not provide adequate glycaemic control. If Daonil tablets 5mg become less effective, they can be given together with insulin. Diabetes increases the risk of serious health complications, including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage). Maintaining glycaemic control with Daonil tablets 5mg reduces the risk of developing these vascular complications.

How does Daonil work?

Daonil tablets 5mg contain glibenclamide, an oral antihyperglycaemic medication belonging to the sulphonylurea group of drugs. Glibenclamide in Daonil tablets 5mg controls blood glucose (sugar) primarily by acting directly on the beta cells, which are the insulin-producing cells of pancreatic islet tissue, to increase their sensitivity to glucose and to stimulate the cells to produce and release more insulin. Insulin is normally produced in response to food and increased blood glucose levels and it controls postprandial (after eating) blood glucose levels (glycaemic control). In diabetes, resistance to insulin results in loss of glycaemic control. Glibenclamide in Daonil tablets 5mg helps the body to produce sufficient insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels after a meal as well as between meals and is effective for up to 24 hours. It is thought that as well as acting as an insulin secretagogue (stimulates insulin secretion) glibenclamide in Daonil tablets 5mg also acts on insulin-responsive cells in the liver, muscle and fat cells to increase the number of receptors, which means that insulin control of glucose production by the liver and uptake of insulin into peripheral tissues for energy and storage, is more efficient.

What does Daonil contain?

Daonil tablets 5mg contain the active ingredient glibenclamide, an oral antihyperglycaemic used to lower blood sugar levels. They also contain lactose, maize starch, talc, colloidal silica, magnesium stearate.

Treating type 2 diabetes with Daonil

Daonil tablets 5mg contain glibenclamide, an oral antihyperglycaemic medication, used to control blood sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes mellitus (also called non insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity onset diabetes) who are unable to achieve adequate glycaemic control (normal blood sugar levels) with diet and exercise alone. Glibenclamide in Daonil tablets 5mg controls blood glucose (sugar) primarily by acting directly on the insulin-producing beta cells of pancreatic islet tissue, to stimulate the cells to produce more insulin. Insulin is normally produced in response to food and increased blood glucose levels, and it controls postprandial (after eating) blood glucose levels (glycaemic control). In diabetes, resistance to insulin results in loss of glycaemic control. Daonil tablets 5mg help the body to produce sufficient insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels after a meal as well as between meals and is effective for up to 24 hours. It is also thought that as well as stimulating insulin secretion, glibenclamide in Daonil tablets 5mg also acts on insulin-responsive cells in the liver, muscle and fat cells to increase the number of receptors, which means that insulin control of glucose production by the liver and insulin uptake into peripheral tissues for energy and storage, is more efficient. Maintaining glycaemic control with Daonil tablets 5mg reduces risk of serious health complications associated with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

What are the side effects of Daonil?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Daonil tablets 5mg include: gastrointestinal complaints like nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach or abdominal pain; allergic skin reactions like, redness (erythema), itching (pruritus), hives (urticaria); dizziness, drowsiness, headache, visual disturbances, confusion, malaise and tremor, which are usually transient and may be signs of hypoglycaemia. A more serious side effect of taking Daonil tablets 5mg is severe hypoglycaemia (very low blood glucose), as glibenclamide continues to work between meals to reduce blood sugar levels, so it is important to eat regularly; also certain other conditions like liver or kidney problems, or taking other medications like beta blockers, can make you more susceptible to hypoglycaemia. Other symptoms of hypoglycaemia include headache, hunger, restlessness, loss of consciousness, which can result in coma.

What is hypoglycaemia (hypo)

Having a hypo is an unpleasant episode experienced by diabetics and refers to extreme hypoglycaemia or very low blood glucose. Glibenclamide in Daonil tablets 5mg continue to work between meals to reduce blood sugar levels and therefore if glucose levels fall too low, by missing a meal or waiting too long between eating, severe hypoglycaemia, which is very low blood glucose, can be the result. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include headache, hunger, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, sensory disturbances, delirium, loss of consciousness, which can result in shallow respiration, bradycardia (slow heart beat) and coma.

When should Daonil not be used?

You should not use Daonil tablets 5mg if you:

• are allergic to Glibenclamide or any ingredients in Daonil
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney, liver or thyroid disease
• have type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes or suffer from diabetic coma or diabetic ketoacidosis
• have G6PD deficiency as you may be at risk of haemolytic anaemia
• are malnourished or have adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, as this may increase risk of hypoglycaemia
• are taking medicines that interact with Daonil, including: the antifungals miconazole and fluconazole, non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID) like phenylbutazone, salicylate analgesicis like aspirin, beta-blockers like propranolol for high blood pressure and certain heart conditions, clonidine for high blood pressure, ACE Inhibitors like benezapril for high blood pressure, cimetidine for peptic ulcers, monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression, probenecid for gout, the anticoagulant warfarin, the antibiotic chloramphenicol, sulphonamide antibiotics, corticosteroids for inflammation, bronchodilators like salbutamol, thiazides and other diuretics, thyroid hormones, oestrogens and progestogens for oral contraceptives and HRT, phenytoin for epilepsy, nicotinic acid for high cholesterol, calcium channel blocking drugs like verapamil for angina, isoniazid for tuberculosis

What medications interact with Daonil?

Several medications interact with Daonil and should either not be taken while you are taking Daonil or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that affect Daonil and cause hypoglaemia (low blood sugar) by increasing its glucose-lowering effect: the antifungals miconazole and fluconazole, non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID) like phenylbutazone, salicylate analgesics like aspirin, beta-blockers like propranolol for high blood pressure and certain heart conditions, ACE Inhibitors like benezapril for high blood pressure, cimetidine for peptic ulcers, monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression, probenecid for gout, the anticoagulant warfarin, the antibiotic chloramphenicol, sulphonamide antibiotics, bronchodilators like salbutamol, clonidine for high blood pressure
• Drugs that affect Daonil and cause hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) by reducing its glucose-lowering effect: Danazol for hormone treatment, the antipsychotic chlorpromazine, corticosteroids for inflammation, bronchodilators like salbutamol, thiazides and other diuretics, thyroid hormones, oestrogens and progestogens for oral contraceptives and HRT, phenytoin for epilepsy, nicotinic acid for high cholesterol, calcium channel blocking drugs like verapamil for angina, isoniazid for tuberculosis, clonidine for high blood pressure

How should Daonil be taken?

You should take your Daonil tablets 5mg swallowed whole with a glass of water just before breakfast of if you only have a light breakfast, then take your Daonil tablets just before your midday meal. It is important that you do not skip a meal while taking Daonil tablets 5mg. The dose you take depends on how well you respond and your doctor may increase your dose until your blood glucose has reached normal levels and remains controlled. You should continue to take your Daonil tablets 5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, as they with help maintain your blood sugar levels but will not cure your diabetes.

How long should you take Daonil?

You should continue to take your Daonil tablets 5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, as they with help maintain your blood sugar levels but will not cure your diabetes.

Missed dose of Daonil

If you miss a dose of Daonil tablets 5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Daonil be stored?

You should store your Daonil tablets 5mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.