Sulfonylureas (sold under many names, including Glucotrol, Micronase, Glynase, and Diabeta). These drugs help your body make more insulin. Side effects can include low blood sugar and weight gain. The longer-acting types of these drugs can cause more low blood sugar problems for older patients.
However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution in patients receiving metformin. This medicine is not recommended in patients 80 years of age and older who have kidney problems.
Official answer. Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe. Metformin is recommended as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Examples: Acetazolamide (Diamox), carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), pregabalin (Lyrica), rufinamide (Banzel), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid (Depakote) and zonisamide (Zonegran).
Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are defined as any medication with a greater potential risk than benefit for older people. The use of PIMs may lead to prolonged hospitalizations and many other problems for the elderly health status.
March 6, 2023 -- More than 80% of U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes meet the criteria to use new treatment drugs, such as semaglutide, which is marketed as Ozempic, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
SGLT – 2 Inhibitors ( Invokana, Farxiga, Jardiance, and Steglatro) Usage: This can be a good metformin alternative for people who show side effects of metformin. This medicine helps to control blood sugar levels by releasing extra glucose through urine.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are another option if Metformin isn't working for you. These can either be taken orally or through an injection (either once a day or once weekly). They are proven to lower blood sugar levels and HbA1c levels, as well as protect against kidney disease and heart disease as well.
For people with diabetes, blood sugar can spike. Dehydration—less water in your body means your blood sugar is more concentrated. Nose spray—some have chemicals that trigger your liver to make more blood sugar. Gum disease—it's both a complication of diabetes and a blood sugar spiker.
Gastroparesis: a silent enemy of diabetes.
Patients of diabetes should be very cautious while consuming over-the-counter pain medications like Advil as these drugs are associated with a high risk of a coronary event. The increased risk for a heart disease in diabetics is further worsened if the patient consumes medications like Ibuprofen.
More serious side effects are rare. They include severe allergic reactions and a condition called lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. The risk for this is higher among people with significant kidney disease, so doctors tend to avoid prescribing metformin for them.
Adults over the age of 60 should try to maintain glucose levels between 100 to 140 mg/dL.
Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart for Older Adults [ Ages 65+]
Those who do not have diabetes may be held to the same glucose range as healthy younger adults, keeping glucose between 70-140 mg/dL during the day.
Pfizer's danuglipron, when given twice a day, lowered blood sugar in patients at all doses and reduced body weight at the highest dose after 16 weeks compared to placebo, according to mid-stage data published last year by the U.S. drugmaker.
Semaglutide, which is taken as a weekly injection that is self-administered, helps people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar and in many cases also lose weight.
Semaglutide is marketed under the brand name of Ozempic for the treatment of diabetes. According to the news release from Eli Lilly, it appears that the company achieved a very high rate of weight loss as well.
Important examples of drugs with a higher risk of toxic effects because of age-related reductions in first-pass metabolism include nitrates, propranolol, phenobarbital, and nifedipine.
Overdoses are a leading cause of medication fatalities. And although prescription drugs are the most common offenders, it's also possible to overdose on over-the-counter medications. Seniors, in particular, are at risk of overdosing due to declines in memory.