[Sulfonylurea receptors and their interaction with glimepiride]

In the review, data are presented on glymepiride (amaril), a 3-d generation sulphanylamide. The drug interacts with receptors to sulphonylurea--SUR X, that are found only in B-cells of the pancreas, which fact has been shown to be associated with a higher secretion of insulin, an increased sensitivity of peripheral tissues to this hormone and with insulin-like extrapancreatic effects as well. Amaril does not affect SUR of the myocardium, myocytes of cerebral vessels and nervous cells. The use of the above drug combined with metformin, insulin, repaglynide, and nateglynide has been shown to be an optimum treatment option, however in the latter case, hypoglycemic states may come to be seen more frequently along with a rapid exhaustion of B-cells. In view of the fact that in many instances, type 2 diabetes mellitus runs its course concurrently with other illness, it is necessary that interaction of amaril with other drugs be taken into account.