[Interactions of non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs with oral antidiabetic agents: acemetacin--glibenclamide]

In a double-blind cross-over trial on 20 diabetic patients of type IIb we investigated whether a drug interaction between glibenclamide and acemetacin may possibly occur. After hospitalization of all in-patients needing glibenclamide therapy, a one-week period of adaptation to clinical conditions with optimized diet, antidiabetic dosage of the drug and the beginning of a diabetes learning programme followed. Thereafter, in a randomized design, ten out of the 20 patients were treated concomitantly with either 60 mg acemetacin t.i.d. or placebo for 1 week. Furthermore, a cross-over period of one week's duration followed once more. Daily blood glucose profiles (four values) were measured every second day and suggested a continuous improvement of the severe diabetic state previously seen. Blood glucose levels reached an optimal steady-state condition after 1 week of adaptation. Concomitant treatment with acemetacin did not lead to a relevant alteration of the laboratory parameters used in type IIb diabetic patients. This could also be established due to HbA1 values. Contrary to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, interactions between acemetacin and the widely used oral antidiabetic glibenclamide could not be established.