What is the most important information I should know about glimepiride?
You should not use glimepiride if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.
What is glimepiride?
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. This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Glimepiride may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking glimepiride?
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 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 glimepiride for a short time just before your due date.
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.
How should I take glimepiride?
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.
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?
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).
What should I avoid while taking glimepiride?
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.
What are the possible side effects of glimepiride?
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.
What other drugs will affect glimepiride?
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.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about glimepiride.
