Hypoglycemia during the Concomitant Use of Repaglinide and Clopidogrel in an Elderly Patient with Type 2 Diabetes and Severe Renal Insufficiency

Intern Med. 2021;60(6):905-910. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.5578-20. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Abstract

Hypoglycemia should be avoided when treating patients with diabetes. Repaglinide is an insulin secretagogue with a low hypoglycemic risk because of its rapid- and short-acting effects. However, its blood concentration has been reported to increase in combination with clopidogrel, an antiplatelet drug, and in patients with severe renal insufficiency. We herein report an elderly patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe renal insufficiency who received repaglinide and hypoglycemia three days after starting clopidogrel. The concomitant use of repaglinide and clopidogrel can lead to hypoglycemia, especially in patients with severe renal insufficiency.

Keywords: clopidogrel; cytochrome P450 2C8; diabetes; hypoglycemia; renal insufficiency; repaglinide.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose
  • Carbamates
  • Clopidogrel / adverse effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia* / chemically induced
  • Hypoglycemia* / drug therapy
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Piperidines
  • Renal Insufficiency* / chemically induced
  • Renal Insufficiency* / complications

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Carbamates
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Piperidines
  • repaglinide
  • Clopidogrel