Tolazamide is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your body respond better to insulin produced by your pancreas.

Tolazamide is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with tolazamide if needed.

Tolazamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tolazamide, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. Call your doctor for treatment with insulin.

Before taking tolazamide, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, or a history of heart disease.

Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Other sugar sources include orange juice and milk. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

Also watch for signs of blood sugar that is too high (hyperglycemia). These symptoms include increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, and weight loss. Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need to adjust your tolazamide dose.

Tolazamide is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to tolazamide, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

To make sure you can safely take tolazamide, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• liver disease;

• kidney disease; or

• a history of heart disease.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether tolazamide will harm an unborn baby. Similar diabetes medications have caused severe hypoglycemia in newborn babies whose mothers had used the medication near the time of delivery. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether tolazamide passes into breast milk or if it could be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take tolazamide without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.