Assessment of Toxicity and Drug-Drug Interaction of Combination Therapy Prescribed by Physicians/ Clinicians for Treatment of Diabetes using Experimental Animals

Abstract:

Purpose: The management of diabetes associated with hyperlipidemia is a challenge not only to the physician but also to medical fraternity. Hence most of the physicians prefer to prescribe antihyperglycemic drug along with some lipid lowering agent. The present study is aimed to find out toxicity and drug interaction of combination therapy of hypoglycemic agents (Glimepride, Metformin) withhypolipidemic drugs (Atovastatin + Fenofibrate). Materials and Methods: Young healthy adult Albino Wister rats (150-180 g) were used in the study. The experimental animals we reassessed for acute toxicity study and ant diabetic activity. The drug-drug interaction was also evaluated by changes in physiological, hematological parameters and histopathology of different tissues. Results: The result of acute toxicity revealed that there was a change in body weight in the animal treated with hypoglycemic agents (Glimepride, Metformin) withhypolipidemic drugs (Atovastatin + Fenofibrate). Water, food consumption has not been varied with greater extent in all groups of animals. Mild changes were marked inhemoglobin, neutrophils, - platelet count. Conclusion: The combination of drugs showed mild change in the effect of Glimepride + Metformin alone and in combination with Atorvastatin + Fenofibrate. Other factors showed no significant effect which proves that there is no drug interaction.

Key words: Drug interaction, Diabetes, Toxicity, Combination therapy, Metformin, Atorvastatin.