Increased Risk of Glibenclamide-Induced Severe and Protracted Hypoglycaemia in the Elderly and Renal Impaired

HSA had conducted a benefit-risk assessment of glibenclamide in consultation with endocrinologists and its Product Vigilance Advisory Committee, prompted by reports of a disproportionately higher number of hospitalisation cases due to hypoglycaemia associated with glibenclamide as compared to other sulfonylureas. Based on the review, which found an increased risk of severe and protracted hypoglycaemia associated with glibenclamide, HSA would like to advise healthcare professionals that the use of glibenclamide should be avoided in the following patients: those above 60 years old, those with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60ml/min/1.73m2, or those with serum creatinine (SrCr) above the upper limit of normal. Please refer to the Dear Healthcare Professional Letter for more details.

 
 
Healthcare professional, Therapeutic Products
Published:

Dear Healthcare Professional Letters

12 Dec 2019

Only abstracts of the Dear Healthcare Professional Letters (DHCPL) are provided on this website. Details of the letters can be found on the MOH Alert System, which is accessible via the Health Professionals Portal (HPP). HPP is a one-stop portal for all healthcare professionals in Singapore. Dentists, medical doctors and pharmacists may access HPP at https://www.hpp.moh.gov.sg/, and follow the procedures below to access the MOH Alert system.

Step 1: Scroll down to the bottom navigation panel of the HPP web page. Under the Healthcare Professionals section, expand the dropdown option for ‘Healthcare Professional Portal’ and select your profession. You will be redirected to the specific HPP web page to log in.

Step 2: Click on the Restricted Content icon on the left panel of the web page and log in via SingPass.

Step 3: Click on the MOH Alert icon under the ‘Applications’ section.

Step 4: Click on the Drug Alert tab to view the DHCPLs.