Anti-infectives and the risk of severe hypoglycemia in users of glipizide or glyburide

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Aug;88(2):214-22. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2010.74. Epub 2010 Jun 30.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether orally administered anti-infectives increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia in users of glipizide or glyburide. We performed two case-control studies and two case-crossover studies using US Medicaid data. All the anti-infectives examined were associated with an elevated risk of severe hypoglycemia. Using cephalexin as the reference category, in glipizide users, statistically significant associations were found with co-trimoxazole (odds ratio (OR) = 3.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.83-5.37); clarithromycin (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.69-4.98); fluconazole (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.23-5.23); and levofloxacin (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.35-3.25). In glyburide users, with cephalexin as the reference, statistically significant associations were found with clarithromycin (OR = 5.02; 95% CI: 3.35-7.54); levofloxacin (OR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.73-4.62); co-trimoxazole (OR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.59-4.52); fluconazole (OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.04-4.68); and ciprofloxacin (OR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.23-3.52). In conclusion, exposure to all studied anti-infective agents were associated with subsequent severe hypoglycemia. Using cephalexin as the reference, drug-drug interactions were evident with ciprofloxacin (in glyburide users only), clarithromycin, co-trimoxazole, fluconazole, and levofloxacin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antifungal Agents / adverse effects
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / metabolism
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Drug Interactions
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Fluconazole / adverse effects
  • Glipizide / adverse effects*
  • Glyburide / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / chemically induced*
  • Hypoglycemia / epidemiology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / adverse effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Blood Glucose
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Fluconazole
  • CYP2C9 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • Glyburide
  • Glipizide