Prolonged hypoglycemia after a suicidal ingestion of repaglinide with unexpected slow plasma elimination

Abstract

Context: Repaglinide is a short-acting insulin secretagogue with high interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics due to genetic polymorphisms. Little is known about repaglinide overdoses, both with respect to pharmacokinetics and appropriate management. Given its short serum half-life of less than 1 h, hypoglycemic effects of repaglinide are expected to cease within a few hours post-ingestion. Case details: A 15-year-old girl ingested 10.5 mg of repaglinide in a suicide attempt. Few hours later, she developed a strong food craving, nausea, abdominal pain, and a headache. The lowest recorded serum glucose was 44 mg/dl (2.4 mmol/l) 14 h post-ingestion. Using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, we detected repaglinide serum levels of 5.3, 2.6, and 1.0 ng/ml at 14, 20, and 26 h post-ingestion, respectively. Discussion: This case illustrates that in the context of overdose, repaglinide can lead to prolonged hypoglycemia. We therefore recommend glucose monitoring and observation for 24 h in all patients who remain hypoglycemic or show symptoms of hypoglycemia for an unusually long period of time.

Keywords:

• Diabetes
• genetics
• intoxication

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Prof. Dr. Karl Otfried Schwab (Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Center of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany) and by Dr. Sandra Haghir (Ortenau Klinikum Offenburg, Offenburg, Germany).

Disclosure statement

All authors state that there are no specific financial interests, relationships or affiliations relevant to the subject of their manuscript.