Table 1.
Currently available and novel therapies for management of the metabolic aspect of PCOS.
| Class | Drug example | Mechanism of action |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin sensitiser | ||
| Thiazolidinedione | Pioglitazone | Hepatic gluconeogenesis ⬇ |
| Insulin sensitivity ⬆ | ||
| Biguanide | Metformin | Hepatic gluconeogenesis ⬇ |
| Incretins | ||
| GLP-1, GIP & DPP-4 inhibitors, | Liraglutide, Sitagliptin | Appetite ⬇ |
| dual GLP-1/GIP-GLP-1/glucagon, | Gastric motility ⬇ | |
| triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon agonist | Insulin release ⬆ | |
| Glucagon release | ||
| Weight ⬇ | ||
| SGLT2 inhibitors | Empagliflozin | Urinary glucose excretion ⬆ |
| Weight ⬇ | ||
| Statins | Atorvastatin | Cholesterol synthesis ⬇ |
| Oxidative phosphorylation | Imeglemin | Hepatic gluconeogenesis ⬇ |
| Inhibitor | ||
| Weight loss agents | Rimonabant | Appetite ⬇ |
| Orlistat | Cholesterol synthesis ⬇ | |
| Sibutramine | Appetite ⬇ | |
| Myo-inositol | Inositol | Insulin sensitivity ⬇ |
Drugs illustrated above are just an example and not the full list. The full list can be found elsewhere.
DPP-4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4; GIP, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide-1; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome.