What is diazoxide used for?

Diazoxide is used to manage symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that is caused by pancreas cancer, surgery, or other conditions. Diazoxide works by preventing release of insulin from the pancreas.

Is diazoxide a vasodilator?

Diazoxide is a direct rapid-acting vasodilator that decreases total peripheral resistance with a reflex increase in heart rate and cardiac output. The compensatory increase in cardiac output and heart rate can be blocked by concomitant beta blocker therapy.

Is diazoxide a thiazide?

Diazoxide (Proglycem) It is related to the thiazide class of drugs but has no diuretic action.

How is diazoxide administered?

Diazoxide is a non-diuretic antihypertensive agent. It is administered by rapid IV injection for emergency reduction of blood pressure in patients with malignant hypertension when prompt and urgent decrease in diastolic pressure is required.

Can diazoxide cause hair growth?

A later side effect is the increased growth of hair on the body including not only the head, but also on the face, arms, legs, and back. This is not a sexual type of hair (pubic hair or underarm hair), but rather an increase in the normal body hair found in all infants and children.

How long can you take diazoxide?

Diazoxide is usually taken every 8 to 12 hours. Take the medicine at the same time intervals each day. Diazoxide usually begins to work within 1 hour, and its effects can last up to 8 hours. Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and your urine may also need to be tested for ketones.

What are the side effects to diazoxide?

The main side effects are initially fluid retention (increased swelling of the feet, hands, and face), increased weight gain from excessive water being stored in the body and in small infants, this can cause heart failure due to fluid overload.

Is diazoxide safe?

Safety Announcement The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that a serious lung condition called pulmonary hypertension, which is high pressure in the blood vessels leading to the lungs, has been reported in infants and newborns treated with Proglycem (diazoxide) for low blood sugar.

Why is diazoxide used in insulinoma?

Diazoxide inhibits insulin secretion and increases blood glucose by opening potassium channels of β cells. This effect is reversible and is used in the treatment of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, including insulinoma.

How long does diazoxide last?

Diazoxide usually begins to work within 1 hour, and its effects can last up to 8 hours. Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and your urine may also need to be tested for ketones. Call your doctor at once if you have abnormal test results.

Does diazoxide make you sleepy?

This medication can cause sodium and water retention which can cause serious heart problems. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: swelling of arms/legs/hands/feet, unexplained weight gain, shortness of breath, unusual tiredness.

Is insulinoma curable?

Most patients with benign insulinomas can be cured with surgery, although other techniques for the management of insulinomas, including injection of octreotide, EUS-guided alcohol ablation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), or embolization of an insulinoma of the pancreas, have been described[55-61].

What is the mechanism of action of diazoxide?

Pharmacodynamics Diazoxide is a potassium channel activator. Its mechanism of action revolves around enhancing cell membrane permeability to potassium ions. This action consequently elicits the relaxation of local smooth muscles.

How is diazoxide used to treat low blood sugar?

Diazoxide raises blood sugar by slowing the release of insulin from the pancreas. Diazoxide is used to treat low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) caused by certain cancers or other conditions that can make the pancreas release too much insulin. diazoxide is for use in adults and children as young as infants.

How does diazoxide work in the smooth muscle?

Diazoxide is a potassium channel activator, which causes local relaxation in smooth muscle by increasing membrane permeability to potassium ions. This switches off voltage-gated calcium ion channels which inhibits the generation of an action potential.

What kind of vasodilator is diazoxide used for?

A benzothiadiazine derivative that is a peripheral vasodilator used for hypertensive emergencies. It lacks diuretic effect, apparently because it lacks a sulfonamide group. Used parentally to treat hypertensive emergencies. Also used to treat hypoglycemia secondary to insulinoma.