glyburide

What is the most important information I should know about glyburide?

What is glyburide?

Glyburide is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glyburide is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Glyburide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking glyburide?

• you are being treated with bosentan (Tracleer);
• you have type 1 diabetes; or
• you have diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
• an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD);
• a nerve disorder affecting bodily functions;
• liver or kidney disease; or
• an allergy to sulfa drugs.

Before taking glyburide, tell your doctor if you have taken another oral diabetes medicine or used insulin during the past 2 weeks.

Glyburide 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 this medicine.

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

How should I take glyburide?

Glyburide is usually taken with breakfast or the first main meal of the day.

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.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office.

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.

Also watch for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination.

If your doctor changes your brand, strength, or type of glyburide, your dosage needs may change. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the new kind of glyburide you receive at the pharmacy.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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.

What happens if I overdose?

Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include extreme weakness, nausea, tremors, sweating, confusion, trouble speaking, fast heartbeats, or seizure.

What should I avoid while taking glyburide?

What are the possible side effects of glyburide?

• dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• severe skin rash, redness, or itching;
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
• fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores; or
• low levels of sodium in the body --headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Older adults may be more likely to have low blood sugar while taking glyburide.

Common side effects may include:

• low blood sugar;
• nausea, heartburn, feeling full;
• muscle or joint pain;
• blurred vision; or
• mild rash or skin redness.

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.

What other drugs will affect glyburide?

If you also take colesevelam, take your glyburide dose 4 hours before you take colesevelam.

Glyburide may not work as well when you use other medicines at the same time. Many other drugs can also affect blood sugar control. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about glyburide.

Remember, 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.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 11.03. Revision date: 3/31/2020.