Pentamidine hypoglycemia caused

It is used in the treatment of pneumocystosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease caused by P. carinii), African trypanosomiasis (disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei) and leishmaniasis. Systemic pentamidine is highly toxic and can lead to severe hypotension, tachycardia, dyspnea, dizziness, hypoglycemia. Other adverse effects are skin rash, metallic taste, gastrointestinal symptoms, thrombocytopenia and cardiac arrhythmias. 

Pancreatic toxicity is common. Hypoglycemia due to inappropriate insulin release often appears 5-7 days after onset of treatment, can persist for days to several weeks, and may be followed by hyperglycemia. Reversible renal insufficiency is also common. Other adverse effects include rash, metallic taste, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, abnormal liver function tests, acute pancreatitis, hypocalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hallucinations, and cardiac arrhythmias. Inhaled pentamidine is generally well-tolerated but may cause cough, dyspnea, and bronchospasm. 

Pentamidine 4 mg/kg/day 5% q24hrs q24hrs q48hrs Inhalation may cause bronchospasm, IV administration may cause hypotension, hypoglycemia and nephrotoxicity... 

Pentamidine is highly toxic causes myalgias, pain at the injection site, nausea, and headache and less frequently results in a metafile taste, a burning sensation, numbness, and hypotension. Reversible hypoglycemia occurs in about 2% of cases [49]. 

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