Skin problems with Glyclazide

[frankS]

I am a Type 2 diabetic and have been taking Glyclazide for nearly 20 years. Initially I had skin itching problems but over the last two years I have developed what has been diagnosed as Discoid Eczema. Additionally my arms, in particular, are now very easily bruised.

I strongly suspect that the root cause is the Glyclazide medication. I am on maximum dosage of 4 x 80mg daily plus sitagliptin so I am possibly near the end of the road for oral medication. The sitagliptin came along just in time to replace Avandia which was acusing me to be severly anaemic. My GP is reluctant to believe these skin problems are caused by the medication but I am increasingly certain.

What can be done to check that the Glyclazide is the cause of the skin problems? What alternative oral medication is likely to work for me? The only other one I tried a long time ago was metformin and it did not like me.

 

[cugila]

Gliclazide - Sulphonylureas can occasionally cause a disturbance in liver function, which may rarely lead to cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis and hepatic failure. Hypersensitivity reactions can occur, usually in the first 6–8 weeks of therapy, they consist mainly of allergic skin reactions which progress rarely to erythema multiforme and exfoliative dermatitis, fever and jaundice; photosensitivity has rarely been reported with chlorpropamide and glipizide. Blood disorders are also rare but may include leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, haemolytic anaemia, and aplastic anaemia.

I think in the circumstances you have mentioned my advice to you would be to go back to your GP and if he cannot suggest something else, then ask for a referral to a specialist. You should not have to tolerate this problem at all.

Ken.