EFFECT OF TOLBUTAMIDE ON WEIGHT GAIN, BLOOD SUGAR AND SERUM PROTEINS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS

Insulin has been used in the past to stimulate appetite and in the treatment of malnutrition. Because of the hypoglycemic property of tolbutamide, the effect of this drug on the induction of weight gain was evaluated. Statistical analysis of the results of a double-blind study on 18 geriatric patients who ingested tolbutamide, 1000 mg. before breakfast and 1000 mg. before lunch, revealed no effect on body weight, the fasting blood sugar level, or the total and fractionated serum protein values.