Tolinase (Oral)

Generic name: tolazamide [ tole-AZ-a-mide ]
Drug class: Sulfonylureas

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 27, 2024.

Uses for Tolinase

Tolazamide is used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by a type of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) called type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, your body does not work properly to store excess sugar and the sugar remains in your bloodstream. Chronic high blood sugar can lead to serious health problems in the future .

Proper diet is the first step in managing type 2 diabetes, but often medicines are needed to help your body. Tolazamide belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. It causes your pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream .

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Before using Tolinase

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of tolazamide in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of tolazamide in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver or kidney problems, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving tolazamide .

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abiraterone Acetate
Acarbose
Alogliptin
Aspirin
Bexagliflozin
Chloroquine
Chlorothiazide
Chlorthalidone
Ciprofloxacin
Delafloxacin
Desmopressin
Disopyramide
Dulaglutide
Enoxacin
Furosemide
Gatifloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Grepafloxacin
Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydroflumethiazide
Hydroxychloroquine
Indapamide
Insulin
Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
Insulin Bovine
Insulin Degludec
Insulin Detemir
Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
Insulin Glulisine
Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
Lanreotide
Levofloxacin
Liraglutide
Lixisenatide
Lomefloxacin
Metformin
Methotrexate
Metolazone
Moxifloxacin
Norfloxacin
Octreotide
Ofloxacin
Pasireotide
Pioglitazone
Polythiazide
Porfimer
Pramlintide
Semaglutide
Sitagliptin
Somatrogon-ghla
Sotagliflozin
Sparfloxacin
Thioctic Acid
Triamterene
Trovafloxacin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acebutolol
Aminolevulinic Acid
Atenolol
Betaxolol
Bisoprolol
Bitter Melon
Carteolol
Carvedilol
Celiprolol
Clofibrate
Esmolol
Fenugreek
Glucomannan
Guar Gum
Isocarboxazid
Labetalol
Levobunolol
Linezolid
Methylene Blue
Metipranolol
Metoprolol
Nadolol
Nebivolol
Oxprenolol
Ozanimod
Penbutolol
Phenelzine
Pindolol
Practolol
Procarbazine
Propranolol
Psyllium
Rasagiline
Safinamide
Saxagliptin
Selegiline
Sotalol
Timolol
Tirzepatide
Tranylcypromine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Ethanol

Proper use of Tolinase

Follow carefully the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed .

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For type 2 diabetes:
  - Adults—At first, 100 to 250 milligrams (mg) once a day taken with breakfast or the first main meal. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. The dose is usually not more than 1000 mg per day.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions while using Tolinase

Your doctor will want to check your progress at regular visits, to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects .

Check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pain or discomfort; nausea; pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck; shortness of breath; sweating; or vomiting while you are using this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious heart problem, including a heart attack .

It is very important to follow carefully any instructions from your health care team about:

Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, patients with diabetes may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur in patients with diabetes during pregnancy.
Travel—Keep your recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.
In case of emergency—There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines .

Too much tolazamide can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when it is used under certain conditions. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important that you learn which symptoms of low blood sugar you usually have so that you can treat it quickly and call someone on your health care team right away when you need advice .

Symptoms of low blood sugar include anxiety; behavior change similar to being drunk; blurred vision; cold sweats; confusion; cool, pale skin; difficulty in thinking; drowsiness; excessive hunger; fast heartbeat; headache (continuing); nausea; nervousness; nightmares; restless sleep; shakiness; slurred speech; or unusual tiredness or weakness .

If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes; or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar. Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe or needle, and know how to use it. Members of your household also should know how to use it .

Side Effects of Tolinase

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Abdominal or stomach pain
chills
clay-colored stools
dark urine
diarrhea
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
fever
headache
hives
itching
loss of appetite
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
rash
shortness of breath
skin rash
tightness in chest
unpleasant breath odor
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting of blood
wheezing
yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Agitation
back, leg, or stomach pains
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blood in urine or stools
chest pain
coma
confusion
convulsions
cough or hoarseness
decreased urine output
depression
difficulty breathing
fast or irregular heartbeat
fatigue
fever with or without chills
fluid-filled skin blisters
general body swelling
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
hostility
increased thirst
irritability
itching of the skin
lethargy
light-colored stools
lower back or side pain
muscle pain or cramps
muscle twitching
nausea or vomiting
nosebleeds
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on skin
rapid weight gain
seizures
sensitivity to the sun
skin thinness
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stupor
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
swollen or painful glands
unusual bleeding or bruising

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Anxiety
cold sweats
cool, pale skin
increased hunger
nervousness
nightmares
shakiness
slurred speech

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common