Medical Encyclopedia

Like many other anti-diabetic drugs, Prandin is a medicine that requires careful observation when it is taken in combination with other medicines of different types. Potentially negative interactions result from the capacity of certain medications to increase the level of Prandin which is dangerous because it can bring about the condition of hypoglycemia, or, quite on the contrary, to decrease the level of Prandin which leads to the development of hyperglycemia. That is why it is highly recommended to be very careful and watchful when taking the following medicines together with Prandin.

The first group of medicines presenting a risk when taken together with Prandin is presented by beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are drugs that hamper the stimulatory effects of adrenaline on the beta receptors. Thus beta-blockers lead to slowing the pulse rate and reducing the workload of the heart. They help control abnormal heart rhythms, lower blood pressure, prevent angina pains and reduce the risk of a heart attack, especially if you have already had one. Taking into account the fact that many diabetics suffer from heart problems as a concomitant disease, they are often prescribed beta-blockers in the course of their treatment. Besides, among the conditions which are often treated with the help of beta-blockers are glaucoma, anxiety symptoms, overactive thyroid gland and migraine attacks.

If you suffer from any of these disorders and take beta-blocking agents, it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels closely and adjust your Prandin dose in order to avoid the risk of hypoglycemia development because a beta-blocker may hide some of the warning signs of low blood sugar. Beta-blockers can really block the regulatory response of your body that is supposed to prevent a dangerous hypoglycemic condition. For example, when you take a beta-blocker, your heart rate may not increase in response to a low blood sugar level. You will need to check your blood sugar levels carefully after you start taking a beta-blocker. If you have low blood sugar often, your diabetes specialist may want to change the dosages of Prandin.

What is more, some types of beta-blockers can also prolong recovery time from hypoglycemia.

Besides, the interaction of Prandin with beta-blockers may exert an unfavorable impact on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Yet, despite all the possible negative outcomes of this interaction, it should be highlighted that over a while beta-blockers have shown their capacity to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetics. That is why despite the afore-mentioned potential complications connected with hypoglycemia, under the condition of monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly and keeping them within the set norm allowing a diabetes sufferer to live quite a productive life, there is no harm in taking beta-blockers together with Prandin.