Glimepiride

CAUTION:
Oral hypoglycemic drugs, including glimepiride, have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks, benefits, and alternatives of using this drug for your condition.

General Information and Indications:

Glimepiride is used with diet and exercise to treat type II (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes (formerly 'adult-onset'). Glimepiride stimulates your pancreas to make more insulin and also makes your body more sensitive to insulin. Glimepiride may be used with or without insulin.

Information For Users:

Glimepiride comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. The tablet should be taken with breakfast or the first big meal of the day. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take glimepiride exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.

special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to glimepiride or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antibiotics, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), dexamethasone (Decadron), diuretics ('water pills'), estrogens, isoniazid (INH), MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate)], medications for high blood pressure or heart disease, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenytoin (Dilantin), prednisone, probenecid (Benemid), and vitamins.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding kidney disease or ketoacidosis.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking glimepiride, call your doctor without delay.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking glimepiride.

Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. It is important to eat a healthful diet.

Alcohol may cause a decrease in blood sugar. Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking glimepiride.

Possible Adverse Effects:

You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have them.

Eat or drink a food or beverage with sugar in it, such as hard candy or fruit juice, and call your doctor without delay if you have any of the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):

o shakiness
o lightheadedness or dizziness
o sweating
o confusion
o nervousness or irritability
o sudden changes in behavior or mood
o headache
o numbness or tingling around the mouth
o weakness
o pale skin
o sudden hunger
o clumsy or jerky movements
o seizures

call your doctor without delay if you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):

o extreme thirst
o frequent urination
o extreme hunger
o weakness
o blurred vision (Impaired vision)

If high blood sugar is not treated, a serious, life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could develop. call your doctor without delay if you have any of the these symptoms:

o dry mouth
o upset stomach and vomiting
o shortness of breath
o breath that smells fruity
o decreased consciousness

Brand Name(s):

o Amaryl®