PPAR stands for "peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor." The type
of diabetes drugs that you've heard about are "PPAR agonists." These
insulin-sensitizing drugs are called thiazoldidinediones or
glitazones. Generic names for some of the drugs include troglitazone,
rosiglitazone, and pioglitazone. Basically, what these drugs do is
make the body's cells more sensitive to insulin, so that the insulin
that is already in your system can work more efficiently.
"By far the most common form of diabetes is adult-onset diabetes, also
known as type II or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, in which insulin
production is adequate, but the body's muscle and fat cells are unable
to make effective use of the hormone... The problem, called insulin
resistance, can be treated by elevating insulin levels, either by
injection of insulin or by giving drugs that stimulate insulin
production in the pancreas... Thiazolidinediones address this problem
by improving the performance of a cell receptor... called peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor gamma, or PPAR-gamma, so that the body
is able make more efficient use of its insulin to regulate blood
glucose levels."
University of Pennsylvania Health System
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/june96/Diabetesjune.html
Here is a long, detailed article about glitazone drugs:
Karnataka Journal of Medical Sciences Online
http://www.kjmsonline.com/julsep/thiazol.htm
One of the best-known of the PPAR agonists is rosiglitazone, sold
under the trade name "Avandia". Here is an excerpt from a FAQ on the
Avandia site:
"What is Avandia?
Avandia is one product in a class of prescription drugs called
thiazolidinediones (thigh-a-zol-a-deen-die-owns) or TZDs. It is used
to treat type 2 diabetes by helping the body use the insulin that it
is already making. Avandia comes as pills that can be taken either
once a day or twice a day to help improve blood sugar levels.
How does Avandia treat type 2 diabetes?
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body probably still produces insulin
but it is not able to use the insulin efficiently. Insulin is needed
to allow sugar to be carried from the bloodstream into many cells of
the body for energy. If insulin is not being used correctly, sugar
does not enter the cells very well and builds up in the blood. If not
controlled, the high blood sugar level can lead to serious medical
problems, including kidney damage, blindness and amputation.
Avandia helps your body use insulin by making the cells more sensitive
to insulin so that the sugar can enter the cell."
Avandia.com
http://avandia.com/global/avandia_faq.jsp#wia
Here you'll find more info on Avandia:
Thomson CenterWatch: Drugs Approved by the FDA
http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/drugs/dru528.html
A similar drug is pioglitazone, sold in the United States as Actos.
More on Actos is available here:
Actos.com
http://www.actos.com/
A third drug in this family is troglitazone, trade named Rezulin.
Rezulin was withdrawn from the U.S. market on March 21, 2000, after 63
confirmed fatalities:
"Rezulin was the first of this group of drugs to come on the market,
but it has been taken off because it caused an excess number of deaths
due to liver damage. Fortunately, no serious liver damage has been
seen with Actos or Avandia which became available in the U.S. in 1999.
Avandia has been approved for use with metformin or sulfonylureas,
while Actos can be used with insulin, metformin or sulfonylureas."
Diabetes Net: Actos and Avandia
http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_treatments/actos_avandia.php
The Diabetes Net article linked above provides an excellent discussion
of Actos and Avandia. I recommend that you read the entire article.
It's very informative without being overly technical in terminology.
Search terms used:
"ppar" + "diabetes"
"peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor" + "diabetes"
"ppar agonist(s)
"peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist(s)"
"thiazolidinedione(s)"
"glitazone(s)"
"avandia"
I hope this information is helpful. Please keep in mind that Google
Answers is not a source of authoritative medical advice; the material
I've presented here is for informational purposes, and is not a
substitute for the services of a qualified medical professional.
If anything is unclear, or if a link does not function, please request
clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before you
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Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
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