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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rex on May 30, 2003, at 17:26:12
In a somewhat unorthodox move, my pdoc agreed to a trial of Aricept to see if it can help alleviate some of the cognitive dysfunction (primarily memory lapses) presumably caused by the Klonopin that helps my anxiety so much. Theoretically, a cholinergic med shouldn't help out here, but we're giving it a try, especially since he's seen some subtle anti-anxiety effects from Aricept in the two other patients he has on it.
But here's what's weird: I'm either unconfirmed diabetic (only one blood test -- four years ago -- was in the diabetic range) or at least glucose impaired. So I don't take any diabetes meds.
Well, within days of starting Aricept, my blood sugar started plummeting, from its usual normal-to-"low impaired" range to a consitent low normal. This is both fasting and postparandial (after eating), and I'm talking a typical drop of 30 mg/dl from baseline, which is better than I would expect were I taking, say metformin (a diabetes drug - insulin sensitizer). E.g. fasting glucose dropped from a typical 100 mg/dl to about 70 mg/dl.
And *nowhere* can I find anything relating Aricept to lowered blood sugar, let alone *greatly* lowered blood sugar. It's not even listed among the "rare, no causality proven" side effects in the monograph. And I can't find anything in Medline or on the newsgroups.
Just to make sure the change was driven by the Aricept, we stopped it and after a week things returned to normal. Then I started again, and -- same response all over again, blood sugar plummets to low-normal all the time. There are no discernible physical efects asocated with the drop, by the way.
Well, I've stopped the Aricept because I don't know the mechanism of the drop; if its somehow stimulating excessive insulin release, that's the last thing I would want (hyperinsulinemia). But, on the other hand, perhaps it's somehow markedly alleviating insulin resistance, which would make it a wonder drug (at least for me) -- even if there were no memory or anxiolytic effects.
It's hardly worth asking if any P-B readers have seen a similar effect, since I know the chances of that are quite low -- especially as this isn't likely a med commonly-used by P-B readers (even though pdocs ARE starting to try it for things like anxiety and ADD).
But I would welcome 1) Any theories as to what might be happening 2) Any advice on how to make this not-necessarily-adverse (possibly just the opposite) effect better known, besides what I'm doing by posting to P-B.
Incidentally, I see *hyper*-glycemia listed as a possible rare side effect of a related Alzheimer's med, Reminyl.
Thanks,
Rex
Posted by Maryum on June 27, 2012, at 22:24:59
In reply to Aricept causing my blood sugar to plummet??!!, posted by Rex on May 30, 2003, at 17:26:12
> In a somewhat unorthodox move, my pdoc agreed to a trial of Aricept to see if it can help alleviate some of the cognitive dysfunction (primarily memory lapses) presumably caused by the Klonopin that helps my anxiety so much. Theoretically, a cholinergic med shouldn't help out here, but we're giving it a try, especially since he's seen some subtle anti-anxiety effects from Aricept in the two other patients he has on it.
>
> But here's what's weird: I'm either unconfirmed diabetic (only one blood test -- four years ago -- was in the diabetic range) or at least glucose impaired. So I don't take any diabetes meds.
>
> Well, within days of starting Aricept, my blood sugar started plummeting, from its usual normal-to-"low impaired" range to a consitent low normal. This is both fasting and postparandial (after eating), and I'm talking a typical drop of 30 mg/dl from baseline, which is better than I would expect were I taking, say metformin (a diabetes drug - insulin sensitizer). E.g. fasting glucose dropped from a typical 100 mg/dl to about 70 mg/dl.
>
> And *nowhere* can I find anything relating Aricept to lowered blood sugar, let alone *greatly* lowered blood sugar. It's not even listed among the "rare, no causality proven" side effects in the monograph. And I can't find anything in Medline or on the newsgroups.
>
> Just to make sure the change was driven by the Aricept, we stopped it and after a week things returned to normal. Then I started again, and -- same response all over again, blood sugar plummets to low-normal all the time. There are no discernible physical efects asocated with the drop, by the way.
>
> Well, I've stopped the Aricept because I don't know the mechanism of the drop; if its somehow stimulating excessive insulin release, that's the last thing I would want (hyperinsulinemia). But, on the other hand, perhaps it's somehow markedly alleviating insulin resistance, which would make it a wonder drug (at least for me) -- even if there were no memory or anxiolytic effects.
>
> It's hardly worth asking if any P-B readers have seen a similar effect, since I know the chances of that are quite low -- especially as this isn't likely a med commonly-used by P-B readers (even though pdocs ARE starting to try it for things like anxiety and ADD).
>
> But I would welcome 1) Any theories as to what might be happening 2) Any advice on how to make this not-necessarily-adverse (possibly just the opposite) effect better known, besides what I'm doing by posting to P-B.
>
> Incidentally, I see *hyper*-glycemia listed as a possible rare side effect of a related Alzheimer's med, Reminyl.
>
> Thanks,
> Rex
Hi Rex,I know this post is almost 10 years old, but I have recently come across a similar reaction with my father. He is 76 years old and diagnosed with dementia and Type II diabetes. The psychiatrist recently prescribed him with Aricept in an attempt to improve his incoherence from the dementia. In the past week, however, he has been to the emergency room twice for his glucose levels plummeting. If you have found a cause or other stories similar, please share information. I'm considering contacting the FDA to explain this side effect.
Thank you,
Maryum
Posted by sk85 on July 2, 2012, at 15:03:56
In reply to Re: Aricept causing my blood sugar to plummet??!! » Rex, posted by Maryum on June 27, 2012, at 22:24:59
> Hi Rex,
>
> I know this post is almost 10 years old, but I have recently come across a similar reaction with my father. He is 76 years old and diagnosed with dementia and Type II diabetes. The psychiatrist recently prescribed him with Aricept in an attempt to improve his incoherence from the dementia. In the past week, however, he has been to the emergency room twice for his glucose levels plummeting. If you have found a cause or other stories similar, please share information. I'm considering contacting the FDA to explain this side effect.
>
> Thank you,
>
> MaryumAcetylcholine stimulates insulin secretion through M3 muscarinic receptors. So it is plausible that Aricept is indirectly excessively stimulating insulin secretion through blocking Ach degradation, and thus causing blood sugar to drop.
-Ikaros
Posted by alchemy on July 9, 2012, at 15:39:22
In reply to Re: Aricept causing my blood sugar to plummet??!!, posted by sk85 on July 2, 2012, at 15:03:56
I havent tried Aricept, but have tried to find things on other meds and blood sugar. Right now i often get an annoying weird feeling sometimes if i eat, exercise, stimulants, and now percocet. the percocet makes no sense because it is sedating.
Posted by alchemy on July 9, 2012, at 18:43:28
In reply to Re: Aricept causing my blood sugar to plummet??!!, posted by sk85 on July 2, 2012, at 15:03:56
I havent tried Aricept, but have tried to find things on other meds and blood sugar. Right now i often get an annoying weird feeling sometimes if i eat, exercise, stimulants, and now percocet. the percocet makes no sense because it is sedating.
Posted by novelagent on July 10, 2012, at 8:52:06
In reply to Re: Aricept causing my blood sugar to plummet??!!, posted by alchemy on July 9, 2012, at 18:43:28
I've taken Aricept, and my blood sugar was fine. If there is a problem with blood sugar, it's highly unlikely to do much more than compound an existing issue someone already has that would have likely given way if they ate one more Twinkie anyhow.
I wouldn't exactly use this as a reason not to take Aricept in a healthy individual. Aricept is a safe drug, and has millions of patient years behind it. Keep in mind it's also a drug often used with like two dozen other medications, so it's often difficult to screen out whether it's Aricept or something else. It's also used in highly sick, aging populations, with people who already have things going on and would get sick anyhow.
This is the end of the thread.
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