Pharmacokinetics and pharmacological properties of two galenical preparations of glibenclamide, HB419 and HB420, in non insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacological properties of a new micronized preparation of glibenclamide (HB420, 3.5 mg/tablet) were compared to those of the classical formulation (HB419, 5 mg/tablet) in non insulin-dependent diabetics. In a double-blind cross-over randomized acute study, blood glucose, plasma insulin, C-peptide and glibenclamide levels were determined in 10 patients after a standardized breakfast taken 15 min following the ingestion of 1.1 +/- 0.2 tablets of HB419 or HB420. Plasma glibenclamide levels rose faster, the peak value was higher (637 +/- 154 versus 411 +/- 76 nmol/l, p less than 0.05) and the area under the curve from 0 to 240 min was 35% greater (p less than 0.05) on HB420 than on HB419. Nevertheless, the post-breakfast hormonal and metabolic changes were similar with both preparations. In a single-blind cross-over chronic study, 12 patients were treated during 3 successive 6 to 8-week periods--HB419, HB420, HB419--with glibenclamide at a dose of 1.8 +/- 0.3 tablets/day. While fasting blood glucose concentrations remained unchanged throughout the study, postprandial levels decreased from 10.9 +/- 0.8 mmol/l during the HB419 pre-period to 9.2 +/- 0.6 mmol/l during HB420 (p less than 0.02) and rose again up to 10.4 +/- 0.8 mmol/l during the last HB419 period (p less than 0.05). Similarly HbA1c decreased slightly from 7.4 +/- 0.3 to 7.2 +/- 0.4% (NS) and increased again up to 7.8 +/- 0.4% (p less than 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)