Glimepiride

Glimepiride is used along with diet and exercise to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (not for type 1 diabetes).

Glimepiride may also be used for other reasons that are not mentioned in this medication guide.

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.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked regularly, and you may need other medical tests.

Blood sugar can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can make you feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink hard candy, crackers, raisins, fruit juice, or non-diet soda. Your doctor may prescribe glucagon injection in case of severe hypoglycemia.

Tell your doctor if you have frequent symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination. Ask your doctor before changing your medication dosage.

Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and special medical care.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

You should not use glimepiride if you have diabetic ketoacidosis.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Some drugs should not be used with glimepiride.

You should not use glimepiride if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis; or
• an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; or
• liver or kidney disease.

Glimepiride may increase your risk of heart problems. Ask your doctor about this risk.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using glimepiride if you are pregnant or become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, and having high blood sugar may cause complications for both the mother and the baby. However, you may need to stop taking glimepiride for a short time just 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).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficulty 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).

Glimepiride may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor immediately if you have:

• signs of hemolytic anemia--pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness; or
• severely low blood sugar--tremors, sweating, fast heartbeats, trouble speaking, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, fainting, and seizures.

Common side effects of glimepiride may include:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• 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 dayMaintenance dose: Increase in 1 or 2 mg increments no more frequently than every 1 to 2 weeks based on glycemic responseMaximum dose: 8 mg per dayComments: -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.

Take your dose as soon as you can, but only if you are about to eat a meal. If you miss a meal, skip the missed dose and wait until your next meal. Do not take two doses at once.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A glimepiride overdose can cause life-threatening low blood sugar.

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects could occur.

Avoid driving or doing anything risky until you know how glimepiride will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

When you start or stop taking glimepiride, your doctor may need to change the doses of other medicines you take regularly.

Take your glimepiride dose 4 hours before taking colesevelam.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially miconazole.

Many drugs can affect your blood sugar and may also affect glimepiride. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. Not all possible interactions are listed here.