What Is Glimepiride (Amaryl)?
Glimepiride belongs to a class of drugs known as sulfonylureas.
It stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin and helps the body use insulin more efficiently.
The drug can also decrease the chances that someone will develop life-threatening complications of type 2 diabetes.
The drug was approved by the FDA in 1995 and is manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis.
Glimepiride comes in tablet form and is usually taken once a day. It may be used alone, or in combination with insulin or another oral medication such as metformin.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of the medication and gradually increase your dose if needed.
If you've taken glimepiride for a long period of time, the drug may not control blood sugar as well as it did when you first started the treatment. Your doctor will adjust the dosage as needed.
Glimepiride Warnings
Glimepiride helps control blood sugar, but it will not cure your diabetes. You should continue to take glimepiride even if you feel well.This medication should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce insulin. Glimepiride will only help lower blood sugar if your body produces insulin naturally.
In one study, patients who took a medication similar to glimepiride to treat diabetes were more likely to die of heart problems than those who were treated with diet changes and insulin.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of this treatment.
While taking glimepiride, you should tell your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- Are having surgery, including dental surgery
- Have ever had G6PD deficiency (a genetic blood disorder)
- Have hormone disorders involving the adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid gland
- Have heart, kidney, or liver disease
Glimepiride Side Effects
Common Side Effects of Glimepiride
Glimepiride may cause changes in your blood sugar, which could cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate.Symptoms of low blood sugar include:
- Sudden sweating
- Shaking
- Fast heartbeat
- Hunger
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Tingling in the hands or feet
Serious Side Effects of Glimepiride
Some side effects of glimepiride can be serious. You should call your doctor immediately if you experience:- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Dark urine
- Light-colored stools
- Pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Glimepiride Interactions
You should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop, or change any medication.
If you are taking another anti-diabetic drug such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese), follow your doctor's instructions carefully for stopping the old drug and starting on glimepiride.
The drug colesevelam (Welchol) can decrease the absorption of glimepiride. You will need to take glimepiride at least four hours before taking colesevelam.
You should tell your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs or supplements you are taking.
Glimepiride and Alcohol
Alcohol can worsen the side effects of glimepiride and may cause symptoms such as flushing, headache, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, blurred vision, mental confusion, sweating, choking, difficulty breathing, and anxiety.Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while taking glimepiride.
You should also avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun while taking glimepiride because the drug can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Glimepiride Dosage
Typically, you will take the medication by mouth with breakfast or with the first meal of the day, usually once daily.
Your dose will be based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
The recommended starting dose of glimepiride is 1 or 2 milligrams (mg), once a day with breakfast or first main meal.
If you are at increased risk for hypoglycemia (elderly patients or those with kidney impairment), you should start on 1 mg, once daily.
After reaching a daily dose of 2 mg, further dose increases can be made. The maximum recommended dose is 8 mg, once daily.
Glimepiride Overdose
If you suspect an overdose, you should contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.You can get in touch with a poison control center at (800) 222-1222.
Missed Dose of Glimepiride
If you miss a dose of glimepiride, take it as soon as you remember.If it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on your regular schedule.
Do not double up on doses to make up for a missed dose.
Glimepiride Pictures
