Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Tolinase

Descriptions

Tolazamide is used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by a type of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) called type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, your body does not work properly to store excess sugar and the sugar remains in your bloodstream. Chronic high blood sugar can lead to serious health problems in the future .

Proper diet is the first step in managing type 2 diabetes, but often medicines are needed to help your body. Tolazamide belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. It causes your pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream .

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of tolazamide in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of tolazamide in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver or kidney problems, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving tolazamide .

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Abiraterone Acetate
• Acarbose
• Alogliptin
• Aspirin
• Bexagliflozin
• Chloroquine
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone
• Ciprofloxacin
• Delafloxacin
• Desmopressin
• Disopyramide
• Dulaglutide
• Enoxacin
• Furosemide
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Grepafloxacin
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Hydroflumethiazide
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Indapamide
• Insulin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Bovine
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Lanreotide Acetate
• Levofloxacin
• Liraglutide
• Lixisenatide
• Lomefloxacin
• Metformin
• Methotrexate
• Metolazone
• Moxifloxacin
• Norfloxacin
• Octreotide Acetate
• Ofloxacin
• Pasireotide Diaspartate
• Pioglitazone
• Polythiazide
• Porfimer
• Pramlintide
• Semaglutide
• Sitagliptin
• Somatrogon-ghla
• Sotagliflozin
• Sparfloxacin
• Thioctic Acid
• Triamterene
• Trovafloxacin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acebutolol
• Aminolevulinic Acid
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Bitter Melon
• Carteolol
• Carvedilol
• Celiprolol
• Clofibrate
• Esmolol
• Fenugreek
• Glecaprevir
• Glucomannan
• Guar Gum
• Isocarboxazid
• Labetalol
• Levobunolol
• Linezolid
• Methylene Blue
• Metipranolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Nebivolol
• Oxprenolol
• Ozanimod
• Penbutolol
• Phenelzine
• Pibrentasvir
• Pindolol
• Practolol
• Procarbazine
• Propranolol
• Psyllium
• Rasagiline
• Safinamide
• Saxagliptin
• Selegiline
• Sotalol
• Timolol
• Tirzepatide
• Tranylcypromine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol intoxication or
• Underactive adrenal glands or
• Underactive pituitary gland or
• Undernourished condition or
• Weakened physical condition or
• Any other condition that causes low blood sugar—Patients with these conditions may be more likely to develop low blood sugar while taking tolazamide .

• Diabetic ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood) or
• Type I diabetes—Should not be used in patients with these conditions .

• Fever or
• Infection or
• Surgery or
• Trauma—These conditions may cause temporary problems with blood sugar control and your doctor may want to treat you temporarily with insulin .

• Heart disease—Use with caution. May make this condition worse .

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of this medicine may occur, which may cause serious problems .

Proper Use

Follow carefully the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed .

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For type 2 diabetes:
    • Adults—At first, 100 to 250 milligrams (mg) once a day taken with breakfast or the first main meal. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. The dose is usually not more than 1000 mg per day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions

Your doctor will want to check your progress at regular visits, to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects .

Check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pain or discomfort; nausea; pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck; shortness of breath; sweating; or vomiting while you are using this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious heart problem, including a heart attack .

It is very important to follow carefully any instructions from your health care team about:

• Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
• Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, patients with diabetes may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur in patients with diabetes during pregnancy.
• Travel—Keep your recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.
• In case of emergency—There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines .

Too much tolazamide can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when it is used under certain conditions. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important that you learn which symptoms of low blood sugar you usually have so that you can treat it quickly and call someone on your health care team right away when you need advice .

Symptoms of low blood sugar include anxiety; behavior change similar to being drunk; blurred vision; cold sweats; confusion; cool, pale skin; difficulty in thinking; drowsiness; excessive hunger; fast heartbeat; headache (continuing); nausea; nervousness; nightmares; restless sleep; shakiness; slurred speech; or unusual tiredness or weakness .

If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes; or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar. Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe or needle, and know how to use it. Members of your household also should know how to use it .

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

1. Abdominal or stomach pain
2. chills
3. clay-colored stools
4. dark urine
5. diarrhea
6. difficulty swallowing
7. dizziness
8. fast heartbeat
9. fever
10. headache
11. hives
12. itching
13. loss of appetite
14. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
15. rash
16. shortness of breath
17. skin rash
18. tightness in chest
19. unpleasant breath odor
20. unusual tiredness or weakness
21. vomiting of blood
22. wheezing
23. yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

1. Agitation
2. back, leg, or stomach pains
3. black, tarry stools
4. bleeding gums
5. blood in urine or stools
6. chest pain
7. coma
8. confusion
9. convulsions
10. cough or hoarseness
11. decreased urine output
12. depression
13. difficulty breathing
14. fast or irregular heartbeat
15. fatigue
16. fever with or without chills
17. fluid-filled skin blisters
18. general body swelling
19. general feeling of tiredness or weakness
20. hostility
21. increased thirst
22. irritability
23. itching of the skin
24. lethargy
25. light-colored stools
26. lower back or side pain
27. muscle pain or cramps
28. muscle twitching
29. nausea or vomiting
30. nosebleeds
31. painful or difficult urination
32. pale skin
33. pinpoint red spots on skin
34. rapid weight gain
35. seizures
36. sensitivity to the sun
37. skin thinness
38. sore throat
39. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
40. stupor
41. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
42. swollen or painful glands
43. unusual bleeding or bruising

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

1. Anxiety
2. cold sweats
3. cool, pale skin
4. increased hunger
5. nervousness
6. nightmares
7. shakiness
8. slurred speech

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

1. Indigestion
2. passing of gas

Rare

1. Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
2. sensation of spinning

Incidence not known

1. Redness or other discoloration of skin
2. severe sunburn

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: March 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/tolazamide-oral-route/precautions/drg-20072140