UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Octreotide for sulfonylurea overdose- updated

Category: Toxicology

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.

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