Efficacy and safety of reformulated, micronized glyburide tablets in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial.

The subjects were 206 patients (123 men, 83 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, aged 33 to 80 years. For at least 4 weeks prior to the study each subject had been taking 5-mg tablets of original, nonmicronized glyburide (Micronase tablets) in doses of 5, 10, 15, or 20 mg daily. In a double-blind 12-week study, the subjects were randomly assigned to continue receiving 5-mg tablets of original glyburide or to substitute 3-mg tablets of reformulated, micronized glyburide (Glynase PresTab tablets) for the original tablets. Glyburide tablets had been reformulated to improve their bioavailability. Baseline mean fasting serum glucose levels in the groups taking reformulated and original glyburide were 169.3 and 168.3 mg/dl, respectively; at study end point, their respective serum glucose levels were 186.0 and 177.0 mg/dl. The differences between groups were not significant; in both groups, however, end point glucose levels were significantly higher than baseline levels. Baseline hemoglobin A1C levels in the groups taking reformulated and original glyburide were both 7.6%; at study end point, hemoglobin A1C levels had improved slightly in each group to 7.4% and 7.5%, respectively. The differences between and within groups at end point were not significant. No between-group differences at baseline or at end point were found in mean levels of postprandial serum glucose, fasting C-peptide, or postprandial C-peptide. Medical events experienced by the subjects in the two groups were similar in nature and number. Changes in other laboratory test results, vital signs, and weight were not clinically meaningful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)