Composition for reducing blood glucose and cholesterol

The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which is a combination of an insulin-secretion stimulant and a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Suitable insulin-secretion stimulants include the sulfonylurea drugs, and suitable HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors include the statin drugs. The composition may be formulated to provide extended-release characteristics of one or both of the active components. Also provided are methods for treating a diabetic patient using a combination of an insulin-secretion stimulant and a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Practice of the methods of the invention may result in the administration of fewer dosages to the patient. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition which is a combination of an antihyperglycemic drug, particularly a biguanide compound, in combination with a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Also provided are methods for treating a diabetic patient using a combination of an antihyperglycemic biguanide compound and a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.