Sulfonylurea

A class of oral hypoglycemic agents (pills and capsules taken to lower the level of blood glucose) by people with type 2 diabetes. The sulfonylureas increase the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. There are two generations of sulfonylureas. The main difference between the first- and second-generation sulfonylureas is in the way they are eliminated from the body. As a consequence, second-generation sulfonylureas are usually taken less frequently each day than first-generation sulfonylureas and generally are preferred when there is poor function of the kidneys. The first-generation sulfonylureas are Dymelor (acetohexamide), Diabinese (chlorpropamide), Tolinase (tolazamide), and Orinase (tolbutamide). The second-generation sulfonylureas include Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL (glipizide), DiaBeta, Micronase, and Glynase PresTab (glyburide)and Amaryl (glimepiride).

* * *

sul·fo·nyl·urea or chiefly Brit sul·pho·nyl·urea .səl-fə-.nil-'(y)u̇r-ē-ə n any of several hypoglycemic compounds (as glipizide and tolbutamide) related to the sulfonamides and used in the oral treatment of type 2 diabetes

* * *

sul·fo·nyl·urea (sul″fə-nəl-u-reґə) any of a class of compounds that exert hypoglycemic activity by stimulating the islet tissue to secrete insulin; used to control hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who cannot be treated solely by diet and exercise.