Approximately, 3 out of 4 people are suffering from a chronic disease known as ‘Diabetes’ which is marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. There are many types of diabetes such as, Type I, Type II, Gestational diabetes etc. To control diabetes of type II, Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication is widely used. Glimepiride is an oral blood sugar-lowering drug in a class of medicines for controlling diabetes called sulfonylureas. Glimepiride is related to other sulfonylureas including glyburide i.e. Micronase, Diabeta etc., glipizide i.e. Glucotrol, tolbutamide i.e. Orinase and tolazamide i.e. Tolinase.

Glimepiride is used in type II diabetes the most common type of diabetes that is found in 90 of patients with diabetes. In type II diabetes insulin usually is not necessary to control the blood sugar. Instead diet and oral medications often are sufficient. Intolerance to sugar that result in elevated blood sugar is caused by reduced insulin secretion by the pancreas and resistance to insulin’s effects by the body’s cells. Glimepiride lowers the sugar level in the blood by stimulating insulin to be secreted from the pancreas into the blood. Insulin causes sugar to leave the blood and enter cells throughout the body.

However, before taking Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication. However, Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication and also read the prescription label carefully.

However, like other medicines used to treat diabetes the dose of Glimepiride is individualized using periodic measurements of blood sugar to determine the best dose.

Moreover, it is recommended to be taken before a meal and please do not chew the medicine. And if you wish to use the medication for your children, please contact your pediatrician for the dosage.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

Low blood sugar can occur during Glimepiride therapy. Symptoms of low blood sugar include cold temperature, excessive yawning, irritability, hunger, nausea, tiredness, perspiration, headache, heart palpitations, numbness around the mouth, tingling in the fingers, tremors, muscle weakness, blurred vision, confusion or loss of consciousness.

Other side effects may include dizziness 1 of every 60 persons headache 1 of every 75 and nausea or vomiting 1 of every 90. A rash occurs in less than 1 of every 100 persons who receive Glimepiride.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form.

Medicines that can increase blood sugar can reverse the action of Glimepiride. These drugs include diuretics. For e.g. hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, Lasix, corticosteroids such as prednisone and methylprednisolone i.e. Medrol etc., phenytoin Dilantin niacin and sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine i.e. Sudafed.

Beta-blockers such as propranolol Inderal and atenolol Tenormin can cause low or high blood sugar. Additionally they can directly reverse the sugar-lowering effect of sulfonylureas and render them less effective. Beta-blockers also can blunt some of the body’s protective responses to low blood sugar thus making it difficult for patients to recognize reactions due to low blood sugar. This notwithstanding beta-blockers has been used successfully in diabetic patients and has been associated with improved survival in diabetics with high blood pressure.

Rifampin increases the breakdown of two other sulfonylureas tolbutamide Orinase and glyburide Diabeta Micronase. This might interfere with the effects of the drugs and result in higher levels of sugar in the blood. Although this same interference has not yet been reported with Glimepiride the possibility that it may occur should be kept in mind.
However, Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride may also interact with some of the foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, severe infection or injury etc.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed dose. And in case, if you miss the two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

It is believed that control of blood sugar in diabetics decreases the risks of eye kidney and nerve damage. Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride is used to treat type II diabetes that cannot be controlled by a strict diabetic diet alone. If sulfonylureas are not effective other oral drugs or insulin may be used.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication.

Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride tablets should be stored at room temperature below 86°F 30°C in a cool and dry place. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride tablets in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, severe infection or injury etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or smoke.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course as this drug should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride can increase the sensitivity of your skin to the sun. Hence, try to keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing outdoors and use a sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds or booths.

10. Also wear a medical identification bracelet or chain to say you have diabetes and carry a card that lists all your medications.

11. Make sure your family members know that you can choke if you eat and drink when you have serious symptoms of low blood sugar such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.

12. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Amaryl i.e. Glimepiride.