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. 2010 Mar 30;6(2):199–206. doi: 10.1007/s13181-010-0064-z

Octreotide’s Role in the Management of Sulfonylurea-Induced Hypoglycemia

Patrick P Dougherty 1,2,✉, Wendy Klein-Schwartz 1
PMCID: PMC3550273  PMID: 20352540

Abstract

The objective is to evaluate the evidence regarding octreotide's efficacy as a treatment for sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia. A search of PubMed for articles published from 1965 to 2008 using combinations of the terms octreotide, antidote, sulfonylurea, overdose, poisoning, and toxicity was performed. References from identified articles were reviewed for additional sources. Animal studies, case reports, case series, and randomized controlled trials were evaluated. An animal model of sulfonylurea overdose demonstrates that octreotide reduces the number of refractory sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemic episodes. Published case reports describe the use of octreotide to prevent recurrent hypoglycemia after sulfonylurea overdose. A retrospective case series demonstrates that administration of octreotide decreases the need for supplemental dextrose boluses as well as hypoglycemic events. Two prospective, controlled trials determined that octreotide and supplemental dextrose increase blood glucose concentrations with fewer hypoglycemic events. Based on animal and human data, there is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of octreotide with supplemental dextrose for the treatment of sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia.

Keywords: Octreotide, Sulfonylurea, Overdose, Poisoning, Antidote

Full Text

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Shannon Tucker’s contribution to designing the figure.

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest including, but not limited to, consulting fees, paid expert testimony, employment, grants, honoraria, patents, royalties, stock, or other financial or material gain that may involve the subject matter of this manuscript.

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