Biguanide

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Biguanide

Biguanide (pronunciation: bi-gwan-ide) is a class of medications used primarily for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Etymology

The term "biguanide" is derived from its chemical structure, which consists of two (bi-) guanidine groups.

Usage

Biguanides are primarily used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The most commonly prescribed biguanide is metformin. Biguanides work by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver, increasing the uptake of glucose by muscle and fat cells, and slowing the absorption of glucose from the gut.

Related Terms

  • Metformin: A biguanide medication commonly used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
  • Phenformin: A biguanide medication that was used in the treatment of diabetes but was withdrawn due to the risk of lactic acidosis.
  • Buformin: A biguanide medication that was used in the treatment of diabetes but was withdrawn due to the risk of lactic acidosis.
  • Guanidine: A compound that forms the basis of the biguanides.

Side Effects

Common side effects of biguanides include gastrointestinal upset, such as diarrhea and nausea. Rare but serious side effects include lactic acidosis, a condition in which lactic acid builds up in the bloodstream.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski