Meglitinides(antidiabetic drug)

 Meglitinides
eg-Repaglinide (brand name-Prandin)   
eg-Nateglinide    (brand name-Starlix)
activity-Raise the amount of insulin in the body
Nateglinide is a prescription drug used to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a family of drugs called oral antidiabetics because, unlike insulin, it is taken by mouth (orally).
MeglitinidesNateglinide itself does not lower blood sugar, but rather it acts by stimulating release of insulin—i.e., it acts as an insulin secretagogue. Other insulin secretagogues such as repaglinide (Prandin), glyburide (Amaryl), and tolbutamide (Orinase) have been approved for use in type 2 diabetes and have slightly different properties.
The Food and Drug Administration approved nateglinide on December 26, 2000.
Uses
Nateglinide is used to control glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It is used when diet and exercise are unable to reduce blood sugar levels.
dosage
Nateglinide is available in 60-mg and 120-mg tablets. The recommended dosage is 120 mg taken three times daily within 30 minutes before a meal. Nateglinide is taken alone or with other antidiabetic medications taken by mouth, such as metformin (Glucophage).The 60-mg dose of nateglinide, either alone or in combination with metformin, may be used in people who have achieved their blood sugar level goal.
mechanism of action
Nateglinide lowers blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas. It blocks protein channels on the surface of beta cells, which are the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas. This opens calcium channels and allows calcium to flood into the cells. The calcium sets off a series of reactions that ultimately stimulate the beta cells to secrete insulin. Insulin reduces blood sugar by causing body tissues to take in the sugar, which then reduces the amount of sugar in the blood.
Compared to other insulin secretagogues, nateglinide gives a more rapid, but less sustained, secretion of insulin.[1] Thus, the drug's major therapeutic effect is reducing after-meal blood glucose elevations, rather than maintaining steady levels throughout the day.Following administration, nateglinide reaches peak blood concentrations in approximately one hour. Nateglinide is metabolized in the liver by enzymes called CYP2C9 and CYP3A4. Most nateglinide and the products of metabolism are excreted in the urine, and a minor amount is excreted in the feces.
Side Effects
The most common side effects (occurring in more than 2% of patients in clinical trials) are the following:
    upper respiratory infection (e.g., a cold)
    back pain
    flu symptoms
    dizziness
    joint inflammation or pain
    diarrhea
    accidental trauma
    bronchitis
    cough
    hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)