UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Toxicology

Title: Octreotide for sulfonylurea overdose- updated

Keywords: Octreotide, sulfonylurea, glucose, insulin (PubMed Search)

Posted: 3/1/2012 by Ellen Lemkin, MD, PharmD
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  • Sulfonyurea overdose is associated with hypoglycemia, which may be delayed and prolonged.
  • Treatment with dextrose results in hyperglycemia, which potentiates insulin release from the pancreas, resulting in recurrent hypoglycemia.
  • Octreotide mimics somatostatin, which suppresses the secretion of glucagon and insulin, among others.
  • Octreotide binds with somatostatin receptors, closing calcium channels, preventing the influx of calcium and subsequent insulin release.
  • The dose is 100 mcg SUBCUTANEOUSLY, repeated every 8 hours as needed.

References

Dougherty PP, Klein-Schwartz  W. J. Med Toxicol 2010;6:199-206.