Diazoxide

dye-az-OX-ide

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Proglycem

Available Dosage Forms:

• Capsule


• Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Glucose Regulation, Antihypoglycemic

Chemical Class: Thiazide Related

Uses For diazoxide

Diazoxide when taken by mouth is used in the treatment of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It works by preventing release of insulin from the pancreas.

Diazoxide is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using diazoxide

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For diazoxide, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to diazoxide or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Infants are more likely to retain (keep) body water because of diazoxide. In some infants, this may lead to certain types of heart problems. Also, a few children who received diazoxide for prolonged periods (longer than 4 years) developed changes in their facial structure.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been tested in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of oral diazoxide in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking diazoxide, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using diazoxide with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Dofetilide

Using diazoxide with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Fosphenytoin


• Glipizide


• Trichlormethiazide

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of diazoxide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (chest pain)

• Gout—Diazoxide may make this condition worse

• Heart attack (recent)

• Heart or blood vessel disease

• Kidney disease—The effects of diazoxide may last longer because the kidney may not be able to get the medicine out of the bloodstream as it normally would

• Liver disease

• Stroke (recent)

Proper Use of diazoxide

Take diazoxide only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it than your doctor ordered, and take it at the same time each day.

Follow carefully the special diet your doctor gave you. This is an important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly.

Test for sugar in your urine or blood with a diabetic urine or blood test kit as directed by your doctor. This is a convenient way to make sure your condition is being controlled, and it provides an early warning when it is not. Your doctor may also want you to test your urine for acetone.

Dosing

The dose of diazoxide will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of diazoxide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules or suspension):
  
  • For treating hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):
    
    • Adults, teenagers, and children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, the usual dose is 1 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.45 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours. Then, your doctor may increase your dose to 3 to 8 mg per kg (1.4 to 3.6 mg per pound) of body weight a day. This dose may be divided into two or three doses.
    
    
    • Newborn babies and infants—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, the usual dose is 3.3 mg per kg (1.5 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours. Then, your doctor may increase the dose to 8 to 15 mg per kg (3.6 to 6.8 mg per pound) of body weight a day. This dose may be divided into two or three doses.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of diazoxide, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions While Using diazoxide

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks of treatment, to make sure that diazoxide is working properly.

Before you have any kind of surgery, dental treatment, or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are using diazoxide.

Do not take any other medicine, unless prescribed or approved by your doctor, since some may interfere with diazoxide's effects. This especially includes over-the-counter (OTC) or nonprescription medicine such as that for colds, cough, asthma, hay fever, or appetite control.

Check with your doctor right away if symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) occur. These symptoms usually include:

• Drowsiness


• Flushed, dry skin


• Fruit-like breath odor


• Increased urination


• Loss of appetite (continuing)


• Unusual thirst

These symptoms may occur if the dose of the medicine is too high, or if you have a fever or infection or are experiencing unusual stress.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible also if these symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occur:

• Anxiety


• Chills


• Cold sweats


• Cool pale skin


• Drowsiness


• Excessive hunger


• Fast pulse


• Headache


• Nausea


• Nervousness


• Shakiness


• Unusual tiredness or weakness

Symptoms of both low blood sugar and high blood sugar must be corrected before they progress to a more serious condition. In either situation, you should check with your doctor immediately.

diazoxide Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Stop taking diazoxide and get emergency help immediately if any of the following effects occur:

Rare

• Chest pain caused by exercise or activity


• confusion


• numbness of the hands


• shortness of breath (unexplained)

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Decreased urination


• swelling of feet or lower legs


• weight gain (rapid)

Less common

• Fast heartbeat

Rare

• Fever


• skin rash


• stiffness of arms or legs


• trembling and shaking of hands and fingers


• unusual bleeding or bruising

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Changes in ability to taste


• constipation


• increased hair growth on forehead, back, arms, and legs


• loss of appetite


• nausea and vomiting


• stomach pain

diazoxide may cause a temporary increase in hair growth in some people when it is used for a long time. After treatment with diazoxide has ended, normal hair growth should return.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: diazoxide side effects (in more detail)

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More diazoxide resources

• Diazoxide Side Effects (in more detail)
• Diazoxide Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Diazoxide Drug Interactions
• Diazoxide Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Diazoxide - Add your own review/rating

• diazoxide Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Diazoxide Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Diazoxide Suspension MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Hyperstat Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Proglycem Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare diazoxide with other medications

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