Vnitr Lek 2011, 57(4):391-395

Dyspeptic syndrome associated with antidiabetic therapy

A. Šmahelová

Diabetologické centrum Kliniky gerontologické a metabolické Lékařské fakulty UK a FN Hradec Králové, přednosta prof. MUDr. Luboš Sobotka, CSc.

Dyspeptic syndrome is a common complication of treatment with antidiabetic drugs. This may be a trivial as well as a very serious complication. Nauzea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and taste disturbances are the most common symptoms of dyspeptic problems in patients treated with metformin. They rarely are a reason for treatment discontinuation. Dyspeptic syndrome is a common complication in patients treated with acarbose, this may be prevented by reduced intake of sucrose. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is a rare complication in acarbose-treated patients. Antiobesity agent orlistat is frequently associated with dyspeptic symptoms, particularly if fat intake is not reduced. Treatment with drugs affecting the incretin system (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) is very rarely complicated by acute pancreatitis. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may cause dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea) at the beginning of treatment. These complaints usually cease and the treatment usually does not need to be discontinued.

Keywords: metformin; acarbose; orlistat; incretin treatment; upper dyspeptic syndrome; lower dyspeptic syndrome; pancreatitis; pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis

Received: February 21, 2011; Published: April 1, 2011  Show citation