GLIMEPIRIDE

(glye MEP ir ide) Brand: Amaryl

What is the most significant information I must know about glimepiride?

• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to glimepiride, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

• Till taking glimepiride, speak your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, or if you have heart malady, liver malady, kidney malady, an enzyme deficiency (G6PD), adrenal or pituitary gland problems, or if you are under-nourished.

• Take care not to allow your blood sugar get too low. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip a meal, exercice too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms include headache, famine, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating. Carry heavy candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Another sugar sources include orange juice and milk. Be certain your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

• Glimepiride is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercice, and weight control. Follow your diet, medicine, and exercice routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

What is glimepiride?

• Glimepiride is an oral diabetes medication that helps control blood sugar levels. This medicine helps your body respond better to insulin produced by your pancreas.

• Glimepiride is used together with diet and exercice to treat type 2 diabetes. Insulin or another diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with glimepiride if needed.

• Glimepiride may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my doctor till taking glimepiride?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to glimepiride or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

• To create certain you can safely take glimepiride, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· heart disease;

· liver or kidney disease;

· an allergy to sulfa drugs;

· an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD);

· adrenal or pituitary gland problems; or

· if you are under-nourished.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether glimepiride will harm an unborn child. Similar diabetes medications have caused severe hypoglycemia in newborn babies whose mothers had used the medicine around the time of delivery. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• It is not known whether glimepiride passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take glimepiride?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Glimepiride is generally 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.

• Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them: headache, famine, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating.

• Always hold a source of sugar accessible in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and can't ate or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon abnormal injection kit and speak you how to give the injection.

• Your doze needs may change if you are ill, if you have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency.

• Ask your doctor how to adjust your glimepiride doze if needed. Do not change your medicine doze or schedule without your doctor's advice.

• Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need another blood trials at your doctor's office. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Glimepiride is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercice, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and testing your blood sugar. Follow your diet, medicine, and exercice routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

• Use glimepiride regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled till you run out of medication completely.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A glimepiride overdose can reason life-threatening hypoglycemia.

• Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include extreme weakness, confusion, tremors, sweating, trouble speaking, blurred vision, nausea, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).

What must 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 create 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 abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· severe skin rash, itching, redness, or irritation;

· pale skin, light bruising or bleeding, fever, unusual weakness;

· numbness or tingly feeling;

· trouble breathing;

· feeling like you might pass out;

· dark urine, clay-colored stools;

· upper stomach pain, low fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

· nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling restless or irritable, confusion, hallucinations, muscle pain or weakness, and/or seizure.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· dizziness, headache, weary feeling;

· mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;

· heighten skin sensitivity to sunlight; or

· mild itching or skin rash.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect glimepiride?

• Using determined medicines can create it harder for you to speak when you have low blood sugar. Speak your doctor if you use any of the following:

· albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin);

· clonidine (Catapres);

· reserpine;

· a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others.

• You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you take glimepiride with:

· clarithromycin (Biaxin);

· disopyramide (Norpace);

· exenatide (Byetta);

· fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem);

· probenecid (Benemid);

· an antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and others;

· some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);

· aspirin or another salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol);

· a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin and others);

· a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI);

· sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Gantanol, Septra, and others); or

· another oral diabetes medications, especially acarbose (Precose), metformin (Glucophage), miglitol (Glyset), pioglitazone (Actos), or rosiglitazone (Avandia).

• You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take glimepiride with:

· isoniazid;

· diuretics (water pills);

· steroids (prednisone and others);

· niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Niaspan, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others);

· phenothiazines (Compazine and others);

· thyroid medication (Synthroid and others);

· birth control pills and another hormones;

· seizure medicines (Dilantin and others);

· diet pills; and

· medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies.

• These lists are not complete and there are much another medicines that can magnify or decrease the effects of glimepiride on lowering your blood sugar. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor. Hold a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or another healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about glimepiride.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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