bmj.com Parmar 328 (7444): 883

[Guest guest]

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7444/883?ecoll

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for this article. Now I have a question for the group... well those

dealing with diabetes. Has anyone noticed that when you are taking antibiotics

for any reason, your BS readings are much lower - hypoglycemic to be exact?

Alice

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7444/883?ecoll

[Guest guest]

>...Has anyone noticed that when you are taking antibiotics for any

> reason, your BS readings are much lower - hypoglycemic to be exact?

> Alice

I thought this was really interesting, as I have a lot of sensitivity

to antibiotics. There is some literature that says sulfonamide

antibiotics can be related to hypoglycemia:

http://216.239.39.104/search?

q=cache:mZTFHd1V26oJ:www.medscape.com/viewarticle/405785_3+%

22side+effect%22+hypoglycemia+antibiotics&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&client=REAL-

tb

http://216.239.39.104/search?

q=cache:ApmTMjNXg2IJ:www.medicinenet.com/insulin/page2.htm+%

22side+effect%22+hypoglycemia+antibiotics&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&client=REAL-

tb

If the links don't work, look for the following Google search:

" side effect " hypoglycemia antibiotics

and you should find it and similar articles.

Here's a quote from Medicinenet.com on insulin:

" DRUG INTERACTIONS: Several drugs augment the action of insulin and

may lower blood glucose to a dangerous level (hypoglycemia). To

prevent hypoglycemia when these drugs are used, the dose of insulin

may need to be reduced. Such drugs include alcohol, MAO inhibitors

like phenelzine (Nardil), beta-blockers like propranolol (Inderal),

salicylates like aspirin (Bayer) or salsalate (Disalcid), and

anabolic steroids like methyltestosterone (Android).

There are other drugs that augment the blood glucose-lowering effect

of insulin, but they are less likely to interact with insulin or have

less of an effect. Such drugs include tetracycline antibiotics like

doxycycline (Vibramycin), guanethidine (Ismelin), oral hypoglycemic

drugs like glyburide (Diabeta), sulfa antibiotics like sulfadiazine,

and ACE inhibitors like captopril (Capoten).

There also are drugs that decrease the effect of insulin.

Interactions are less likely and/or less serious. These drugs include

diltiazem (Cardizem), niacin, corticosteroids like prednisone,

estrogens, oral contraceptives, thyroid hormones like levothyroxine

(Synthroid), isoniazid, epinephrine, thiazide diuretics like

hydrochlorothiazide, and furosemide (Lasix). "

Since insulin is also produced in the body, I suspect there may be

some effect for diabetics who don't take insulin.

Take care,

RH