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Glimepiride is an oral diabetes medicine that is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. glimepiride is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Glimepiride may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not use glimepiride if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.
You should not use glimepiride if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
an allergy to sulfa drugs; or
diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
heart disease;
liver or kidney disease; or
an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD).
Glimepiride may increase your risk of serious heart problems, but not treating your diabetes can also damage your heart and other organs. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of glimepiride.
Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant. Blood sugar control is very important during pregnancy, and your dose needs may be different during each trimester.
Medications similar to glimepiride have caused severe hypoglycemia in newborn babies whose mothers used the medicine near the time of delivery. If you take glimepiride during pregnancy, stop taking this medicine at least 2 weeks before your due date.
If you breastfeed while taking glimepiride, call your doctor if your baby shows signs of hypoglycemia (extreme drowsiness, feeding problems, mottled skin, blue lips, feeling cold or jittery, or having a seizure).
Glimepiride is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Glimepiride is usually taken once a day with breakfast or the first main meal of the day. Follow your doctor's instructions. Take glimepiride with a full glass of water.
Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office.
You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar (fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda).
Your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injection kit in case you have severe hypoglycemia. Be sure your family or close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.
Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.
Glimepiride is only part of a treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A glimepiride overdose can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include extreme weakness, confusion, tremors, sweating, fast heart rate, trouble speaking, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).
Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Glimepiride can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine;
confusion, weakness; or
fever.
Common side effects may include:
headache;
dizziness, weakness;
nausea; or
low blood sugar.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2:
Initial dose: 1 to 2 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: Increase in 1 or 2 mg increments no more frequently than every 1 to 2 weeks based on glycemic response
Maximum dose: 8 mg per day
Comments:
-Administer with breakfast or first main meal of the day.
-In patients who are at increased risk for hypoglycemia, start with 1 mg orally once a day and titrate slowly.
-When patients are being transferred to this drug from a longer half-life sulfonylurea, monitor 1 to 2 weeks for overlapping drug effect.
Use: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Usual Geriatric Dose for Diabetes Type 2:
Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day; titrate slowly and monitor closely
Usual Pediatric Dose for Diabetes Type 2:
Not recommended because of adverse effects on body weight and hypoglycemia.
Glimepiride may not work as well when you use other medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
If you also take colesevelam, take your glimepiride dose at least 4 hours before you take colesevelam.
Other drugs may affect glimepiride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Further informationRemember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Glimepiride (www.drugs.com/mtm/glimepiride.html).
Applies to glimepiride: oral tablet
Along with its needed effects, glimepiride may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking glimepiride:
Rare
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking glimepiride:
Symptoms of overdose
Some side effects of glimepiride may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Incidence not known
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to glimepiride: oral tablet
GeneralThe most commonly reported adverse events included hypoglycemia, headache, nausea, asthenia, and dizziness.
MetabolicHyponatremia and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) occurred in mostly in patients who were on other medications or who had medical conditions known to cause hyponatremia or increased release of antidiuretic hormone.
Very common (10% or more): Hypoglycemia (up to 19.7%)
Frequency not reported: Weight gain
Postmarketing reports: Hyponatremia, SIADH
HematologicRare (less than 0.1%): Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, granulocytopenia, erythropenia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia
Postmarketing reports: Hemolytic anemia in patients without G6PD deficiency, thrombocytopenia purpura
HypersensitivityUncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic reactions such as pruritus, erythema, urticaria, a morbilliform or maculopapular eruptions
Frequency not reported: Cutaneous eruptions with or without pruritus, cross-allergenicity with sulfonylureas, sulfonamides, or related substances
Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, dyspnea
OcularTemporary visual impairment due to changes in blood glucose levels may occur due to temporary alteration in the turgidity and hence the refractive index of the lens which is dependent on blood glucose levels.
Frequency not reported: Transient visual disturbances
DermatologicDermatologic side effects have included pruritus, erythema, urticaria, and morbilliform or maculopapular rashes in less than 1% of cases. Sulfonylureas have caused porphyria cutanea tarda and photosensitivity reactions.
Nervous systemCommon (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
GastrointestinalRare (less than 0.1%): Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, sensations of pressure or fullness in the epigastrium
HepaticCommon (1% to 10%): Elevated ALT
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic function abnormal, hepatitis, hepatic failure
Postmarketing reports: Hepatitis and liver impairment, e.g. with cholestasis and jaundice, hepatic porphyria reactions and disulfiram-like reactions
ImmunologicCommon (1% to 10%): Flu syndrome
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Leukocytoclastic vasculitis
OtherCommon (1% to 10%): Asthenia, accidental injury
Accidental injury was reported more frequently in patients receiving this drug (5.4% vs 3.4%). There was insufficient information available to determine if these events were associated with hypoglycemia.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Glimepiride (www.drugs.com/mtm/glimepiride.html).
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