Chlorpropamide

Chlorpropamide is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Chlorpropamide belongs to a group of drugs called sulfonylureas, which help to lower blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin (a natural substance that is needed to break down sugar in the body). It also helps the body use insulin efficiently.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once a day in the morning with breakfast or the first meal of the day.

Common side effects of chlorpropamide include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Chlorpropamide can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how chlorpropamide affects you.

G6PD is an enzyme in your body that is responsible for helping red blood cells to work properly. Some patients are born with less of this enzyme in their bodies, leading to the destruction of red blood cells. Chlorpropamide can also lead to the destruction of red blood cells. When chlorpropamide is used in patients with G6PD deficiency, they have a higher chance of experiencing hemolytic anemia (a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen to your tissues).

G6PD testing may be done to determine whether you are at a higher risk of experiencing hemolytic anemia if you are to be treated with with chlorpropamide.

Chlorpropamide is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Chlorpropamide may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Diabinese

Serious side effects have been reported with chlorpropamide. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of chlorpropamide include the following:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• anorexia
• hunger

This is not a complete list of chlorpropamide side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• alcohol
• corticosteroids such as prednisone (Cortan, Deltasone, Orasone, Sterapred), budesonide (Entocort), dexamethasone (Decadron), triamcinolone (Kenacort, Aristocort), flunisolide (AeroBid, Aerospan), ciclesonide (Alvesco), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), fluticasone (Flovent), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol), fludrocortisone (Florinef), and hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), fluphenazine (Prolixin), perphenazine (Triavil), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• thyroid drugs such as levothyroxine, Synthroid, and Levothroid
• diuretics such as spironolactone (Aldactazide, Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), and metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
• aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as:
  • celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Flector, Voltaren, Zipsor and others)
  • etodolac (Lodine)
  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
  • indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin SR)
  • ketoprofen (Orudis, Actron, Oruvail)
  • ketorolac (Toradol)
  • meloxicam (Mobic)
  • nabumetone (Relafen)
  • naproxen (Naprosyn)
  • naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan)
  • oxaprozin (Daypro)
  • piroxicam (Feldene)
• sulfonamides such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra, Bactrim), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), dapsone (DDS), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Sumavel Dosepro), zonisamide (Zonegran), acetazolamide (Diamox), and celecoxib (Celebrex)
• chloramphenicol 
• probenecid (Benemid, Probalan)
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and rasagiline (Azilect)
• beta blockers such as metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor), carvedilol (Coreg), bisoprolol (Zebeta), betaxolol (Kerlone), nebivolol (Bystolic), and propranolol (Inderal)
• miconazole (Lotrimin, Monistat)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• nicotinic acid medications such as niacin (Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin) and vitamin B3
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), clevidipine (Cleviprex), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nisoldipine (Sular), Verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)
• isoniazid 
• birth control pills

This is not a complete list of chlorpropamide drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with chlorpropamide including the following:

• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of low blood sugar:
  • hunger
  • shakiness
  • dizziness
  • confusion
  • difficulty speaking
  • feeling anxious or weak
• loss of control of blood sugar. This may result in low blood sugar episodes, high blood sugar episodes, or both.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of low blood sugar:
    • hunger
    • shakiness
    • dizziness
    • confusion
    • difficulty speaking
    • feeling anxious or weak
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of high blood sugar:
    • coma
    • convulsions
    • confusion
    • increased thirst
    • fever
    • frequent urination
    • nausea
    • lethargy
    • weight loss
    • weakness
• anemia. This is a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have the following signs and symptoms of anemia:
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • coldness in the hands and feet
  • pale skin
  • chest pain

Chlorpropamide can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how chlorpropamide affects you.

Do not take chlorpropamide if you:

• are allergic to chlorpropamide or to any of its ingredients
• have Type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, with or without a coma. These conditions should be treated with insulin.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of chlorpropamide, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking chlorpropamide, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to chlorpropamide or to any of its ingredients
• have a sulfa allergy
• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• have Type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, with or without a coma. These conditions should be treated with insulin.
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Chlorpropamide falls into category C. No studies have been done in animals, and no well-controlled studies have been done in pregnant women. Chlorpropamide should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Chlorpropamide has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from chlorpropamide, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take chlorpropamide exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once a day in the morning with breakfast or the first meal of the day.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of chlorpropamide at the same time.

Take chlorpropamide exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The chlorpropamide dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your liver function
• your kidney function
• your age

The recommended dose range for chlorpropamide is 100 to 750 mg once daily, with breakfast or with the first meal of the day.

If you take too much chlorpropamide, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Store chlorpropamide at room temperature between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).

Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.