Glyburide and Pregnancy

Glyburide is commonly prescribed for the treatment of diabetes. To be more specific, people suffering from type 2 diabetes, are advised to take this drug. The drug that is manufactured in tablet form has been effective to bring down high blood sugar levels. Surprisingly, glyburide is not useful to treat type 1 diabetes. Of course, glyburide alone will not help to reduce high sugar levels in the blood. A healthy diet paired with exercise is equally important to lower high blood sugar levels.

Glyburide and Pregnancy
Should pregnant women take glyburide? Can glyburide side effects have any impact on the developing baby. When pregnant rats were administered with glyburide, the drug could easily reach the uterus (womb). Once in the uterus, the drug could enter the placenta (a structure in the uterus that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby). Also, the concentration of glyburide in the maternal blood (mother's blood) was more or less same to glyburide level in the fetus (fetal tissue). When there is hardly any difference between glyburide level in the maternal blood and the fetus, it is a cause for concern. Also, in some cases, the babies of rats, developed bone problems.

This is not the case with other drugs. In most cases, the concentration of other drugs in the fetal tissue is very low and does not depend on its level in the maternal blood. So doctors won't mind prescribing these drugs. Unfortunately, this does not hold true with glyburide in animal studies. To be honest, doctors may not recommend glyburide during pregnancy, as its prescribed dosage can harm the unborn baby.

There are a number of pharmaceutical companies manufacturing glyburide. Every company has conducted a set of tests on animals. In some cases, the results were positive and the baby did not show any medical problems after birth. However, the fact that glyburide readily enters the placenta cannot be overlooked.

Glyburide Dosage
The doctor will decide glyburide doses, depending on how severe is the diabetes. In case, the patient is suffering from any health problem or is taking some medicines, then obviously the dosage will change. Generally, a diabetic person without any medical problem starts with a glyburide metformin dosage that may vary from 2.5 mg to 5 mg daily. However, those with liver or kidney disorders begin with a smaller dose (1.25 mg daily).

The Verdict
Animal studies do indicate that it would not be beneficial to take glyburide (diabeta) during pregnancy. As the baby's health is of prime importance, one simply has to think twice before giving this drug to any pregnant woman. There is not much evidence that can prove the safety of this medicine.

On the whole, in terms of safety, choosing glyburide drug during pregnancy for lowering blood sugar levels, would not be a good option. Lack of adequate studies, disqualifies glyburide from usage during pregnancy. However, contacting a health care provider is necessary to know whether glyburide and pregnancy go well together.