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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 Micronase Diabeta glipizide Glucotrol tolbutamide Orinase and tolazamide 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 results in elevated blood sugar is caused by reduced insulin secretion by the pancreas and resistance to insulins effects by the bodys 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.

Like other medicines used to treat diabetes the dose of glimepiride is individualized using periodic measurements of blood sugar to determine the best dose.

Low blood sugar can occur during glimepiride therapy. Symptoms of low blood sugar include hunger nausea tiredness perspiration headache heart palpitations numbness around the mouth tingling in the fingers tremors muscle weakness blurred vision cold temperature excessive yawning irritability confusion or loss of consciousness. Other side effects include dizziness 1 of every 60 persons headache 1 of every 75 and nausea or vomiting 1 of every 90. A rash occurs in fewer than 1 of every 100 persons who receive glimepiride.

Medicines that can increase blood sugar can reverse the action of glimepiride. These drugs include diuretics [e.g. hydrochlorothiazide furosemide Lasix] corticosteroids such as prednisone and methylprednisolone Medrol] phenytoin Dilantin niacin and sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine 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 bodys protective responses to low blood sugar thus making it difficult for patients to recognize reactions due to low blood sugar. This notwithstanding beta-blockers have been used successfully in diabetic patients and have 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.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to glimepiride.

To monitor the effectiveness of

It is believed that control of blood sugar in diabetics decreases the risks of eye kidney and nerve damage. 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.

Tablets should be stored below 86°F 30°C.