Rosiglitazone Maleate and Symlin

• Generic Name: rosiglitazone
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Avandia

Used as monotherapy or in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin, or a sulfonylurea and metformin as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the management of type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

May be added to glyburide/metformin fixed-combination therapy if hyperglycemia is not adequately controlled with the fixed combination.

May be used in combination with repaglinide if hyperglycemia is not adequately controlled with repaglinide monotherapy.

May use fixed combination of rosiglitazone/metformin (Avandamet) when treatment with rosiglitazone and metformin is appropriate.

May use fixed combination of rosiglitazone/glimepiride (Avandaryl) when treatment with rosiglitazone and glimepiride is appropriate.

Metformin is the preferred initial oral antidiabetic agent for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thiazolidinediones are one of several second-line agents used with other oral antidiabetic agents (e.g., metformin) in patients who are inadequately controlled on their current oral therapy. Because of potential for serious adverse effects, American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that clinicians carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of thiazolidinediones versus other second-line agents (i.e., insulin, sulfonylureas).

Use in combination with insulin not recommended.

Because endogenous insulin is required for activity, not indicated for type 1 diabetes mellitus or diabetic ketoacidosis.

• Generic Name: pramlintide
• Dosage Forms: injection, pen
• Other Brand Names: SymlinPen 120, SymlinPen 60, Symlin

Symlin (pramlintide) is a man-made form of a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. Pramlintide lowers blood sugar in three ways. It slows the rate that food moves from your stomach to your intestines, which keeps your blood sugar from rising too fast. Symlin also lowers the amount of glucose (sugar) your liver produces. Lastly, pramlintide triggers the feeling of fullness after meals to help control your appetite and decrease how much food you eat.

Symlin is used together with insulin to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Symlin is usually given after other diabetes medicines have been tried without success.