Effects of Amiodarone on the Glucose Lowering Effect of Glimepiride: An Animal Experiment

The purpose of the current study was to ascertain how the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone, which was given to normal and diabetic rats in numerous doses over seven days, affected the hypoglycemic effect of glimepiride. Finding the medication interaction between glimepiride and amiodarone in rats was the aim of the study. Six healthy and six diabetic rats of both sexes participated in these investigations. Amiodarone (50 mg/kg body weight) and glimepiride (0.41 mg/kg) were the medication doses provided. Oral administration of the drug was used. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein at prearranged intervals, and the Glucose oxidase peroxidase method was applied to calculate the amount of glucose. The results showed that in both normal and diabetic rats, amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic drug, affected the hypoglycemic effect of glimepiride when administered alone or combined with glimepiride. i.e., in healthy albino rats the amiodarone given for a week, the onset of hypoglycemia with glimepiride was increased i.e., (from 16.58±0.61% to 27.89±0.62% at 1st hour), the duration and peak hypoglycemia were both prolonged i.e., (from 17.32±0.62% to 27.14±2.63%) and (from 46.77±0.52% to 60.67±0.67% at 8th hour respectively. In diabetic rats, the hypoglycemia's peak and duration increased i.e., (from 44.50±0.66% to 60.88±0.62% at the 8th hour) and (from 15.97±0.49% and increased to 28.52±1.21% post at 24 hours) respectively. This study suggests that in the case of amiodarone and glimepiride combined use, therapeutic drug monitoring is required in order to adjust the dose.