# Diazoxide: veterinary dose and monograph

> Diazoxide is a veterinary drug. An oral agent that INHIBITS INSULIN SECRETION and raises blood glucose — its veterinary niche is the medical management of refractory HYPOGLYCAEMIA from INSULINOMA (a functional pancreatic beta-cell tumour) when surgery is not… Indications include insulinoma — control of refractory/recurrent hypoglycaemia (medical management); other hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemic states (rare); adjunct when surgery is not curative or is declined. This monograph lists 3 reference doses for dogs, cats and ferrets, each with route, frequency and source.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/diazoxide · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Veterinary drug
- **Also known as:** Proglycem, Eudemine
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats and Ferrets
- **General dose range:** 5–30 mg/kg PO q12h (divided) — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Insulinoma — control of refractory/recurrent hypoglycaemia (medical management)
- Other hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemic states (rare)
- Adjunct when surgery is not curative or is declined

## Diazoxide dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

### Dogs

*Diazoxide doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Insulinoma — hypoglycaemia control | 5–30 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |

- Insulinoma — hypoglycaemia control: Plumb’s p.384: start 5 mg/kg PO q12h, increasing to a maximum of 30 mg/kg PO q12h to control signs (Meleo & Caplan); or 10 mg/kg/day divided q12h, rising to 60 mg/kg/day as tolerated, ± hydrochlorothiazide 2–4 mg/kg/day (Feldman & Nelson). Extra-pancreatic insulin-secreting tumours: 5–13 mg/kg PO q8h. Give with food; combine with frequent small meals ± prednisolone. Not in Papich 5e.

### Cats

*Diazoxide doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Insulinoma (uncommon) | 5–30 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |

- Insulinoma (uncommon): Plumb’s p.384 (Meleo & Caplan 2000): start 5 mg/kg PO q12h, increasing to a maximum of 30 mg/kg PO q12h to control signs. Rare in cats.

### Ferrets

*Diazoxide doses for ferrets*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Insulinoma hypoglycaemia (post-op, refractory to prednisone) | 5–30 mg/kg | PO | q12h | — |

- Insulinoma hypoglycaemia (post-op, refractory to prednisone): Plumb’s p.384 (Johnson 2006): add when prednisone (0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12h) alone fails; begin 5–10 mg/kg PO q12h and lower the prednisone at the same time. Carpenter’s ferret table: 5–30 mg/kg PO q12h. May cause hypertension, lethargy and nausea.

## Contraindications

Diabetes mellitus / hyperglycaemic states. Significant cardiac disease or fluid retention (it causes sodium/water retention). Hypersensitivity to thiazide-related compounds. Pregnancy. Known hypersensitivity. Confirm insulinoma diagnosis.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Dogs: For insulinoma management, balance the dose against blood glucose — too much causes hyperglycaemia/fluid retention; pair with diet and adjuncts (prednisolone/octreotide).

## Adverse effects

- Sodium/water retention, oedema (thiazide-related)
- Vomiting, anorexia (give with food)
- Hyperglycaemia (intended, but can overshoot)
- Tachycardia; bone-marrow effects and hypertrichosis with chronic use
- Cataracts, pancreatitis (reported)

## Drug interactions

- Thiazide diuretics: enhance the hyperglycaemic and hyperuricaemic effects (sometimes used to counter fluid retention)
- Insulin/oral hypoglycaemics: opposing effects
- Phenytoin: levels reduced; protein-binding interactions
- Antihypertensives: additive hypotension (in the antihypertensive context)

## Pregnancy and lactation

Avoid in pregnancy (hyperglycaemia/fluid effects; limited safety data).

## Monitoring

- Blood glucose (the efficacy/safety marker) — titrate to control hypoglycaemic signs without marked hyperglycaemia
- Body weight / oedema (sodium-water retention)
- Electrolytes, CBC on chronic use
- Clinical control of insulinoma signs (collapse/seizures)

## Toxicity and overdose

Overdose causes marked HYPERGLYCAEMIA (potentially ketoacidosis/hyperosmolar state), sodium/water retention with oedema, hypotension and tachycardia. Chronic use can cause hypertrichosis, cataracts, and haematologic effects. Effects relate to its pharmacology rather than narrow organ toxicity.

Management: No specific antidote. For severe hyperglycaemia, manage with fluids and insulin as needed (carefully — the underlying disease is hypoglycaemia); treat fluid retention and support blood pressure. Monitor glucose and electrolytes closely. Discontinue/reduce dose.

## Clinical pearls

- The drug that "turns insulin off" — used to control refractory insulinoma hypoglycaemia when surgery isn't curative; it is the opposite problem to diabetes
- Titrate to blood glucose; combine with frequent small carbohydrate-rich meals and often prednisolone ± octreotide
- Watch for fluid retention/oedema (thiazide-related) and overshoot into hyperglycaemia
- Variable efficacy and cost limit it — but it can meaningfully extend good-quality life in insulinoma dogs

## Mechanism of action

Opens ATP-sensitive potassium channels on pancreatic beta-cells, hyperpolarising the cell and preventing the calcium influx needed to trigger insulin secretion — so it directly INHIBITS insulin release and raises blood glucose. It also has extrapancreatic effects (reduced peripheral glucose uptake, catecholamine-mediated glycogenolysis) and, via the same K-channel action on vascular smooth muscle, causes vasodilation/sodium retention (its human antihypertensive effect).

## Formulations and products

- Capsule 50 mg (Proglycem)
- Oral suspension 50 mg/mL
- Proglycem — 50 mg capsule; 50 mg/mL suspension, Capsule / suspension (human-label)

## Storage

Capsules/suspension: 15–30 °C, protect from light; shake suspension.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Diazoxide for dogs?

Reference doses for Diazoxide in dogs: 5–30 mg/kg PO q12h (Insulinoma — hypoglycaemia control). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Diazoxide for cats?

Reference doses for Diazoxide in cats: 5–30 mg/kg PO q12h (Insulinoma (uncommon)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Diazoxide for ferrets?

Reference doses for Diazoxide in ferrets: 5–30 mg/kg PO q12h (Insulinoma hypoglycaemia (post-op, refractory to prednisone)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Diazoxide not be used?

Diabetes mellitus / hyperglycaemic states. Significant cardiac disease or fluid retention (it causes sodium/water retention). Hypersensitivity to thiazide-related compounds. Pregnancy. Known hypersensitivity. Confirm insulinoma diagnosis.

### What are the side effects of Diazoxide in animals?

Sodium/water retention, oedema (thiazide-related); Vomiting, anorexia (give with food); Hyperglycaemia (intended, but can overshoot); Tachycardia; bone-marrow effects and hypertrichosis with chronic use; Cataracts, pancreatitis (reported).

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition
- Carpenter, Exotic Animal Formulary

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.