Glimepiride is sometimes combined with other drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, in addition to diet and exercise (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Glimepiride lowers blood sugar by encouraging the pancreas to create insulin, a hormone that the body naturally needs to break down sugar. It also facilitates the body’s effective utilisation of insulin. This drug only lowers blood sugar in those whose bodies naturally manufacture insulin. Glimepiride is not used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis or type 1 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not create insulin and cannot regulate the quantity of sugar in the blood (a serious condition that may occur if high blood sugar is not treated).

Those with diabetes and high blood sugar over time may experience serious or fatal complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney issues, nerve damage, and vision issues. It may be possible to control your diabetes and enhance your health by taking medication(s), making lifestyle changes (such as diet, exercise, and quitting smoking), and monitoring your blood sugar frequently. This treatment may also lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage (resulting in numb, cold legs or feet and diminished sex capacity in both men and women), eye issues, such as changes in eyesight or blindness, or gum disease, which are all symptoms of diabetes. The optimal strategy to manage your diabetes will be discussed with you by your doctor and other healthcare professionals.

Glimepiride is available as an oral tablet. It is often taken once day, with breakfast or the morning’s first substantial meal. Take glimepiride at around the same time each day to make it easier for you to remember to take it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the medication’s directions precisely. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

If necessary, your doctor will likely put you on a low dose of glimepiride and gradually raise it. Glimepiride may not continue to regulate your blood sugar as effectively as it did at the start of your therapy if you take it for a while. In order for the drug to function best for you, your doctor may change the dose as necessary. Tell your doctor how you’re doing and if at any point during therapy your blood sugar readings have been higher or lower than usual.

Although it does not treat diabetes, glimepiride helps regulate blood sugar. Despite feeling fine, keep taking glimepiride. Never stop taking glimepiride without consulting your doctor first.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you’re interested in using this drug for any other conditions.

Before taking glimepiride,

• If you have an allergy to glimepiride, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in glimepiride, inform your doctor and pharmacist very away. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Make careful to specify “blood thinners” (anticoagulants) such warfarin (Coumadin); ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); beta blockers include atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); fluconazole (Diflucan), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), chloramphenicol, clarithromycin (Biaxin), disopyramide (Norpace), diuretics (‘water pills’), fluconazole (Diflucan), and hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections); isoniazid (INH); MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate); Insulin or other drugs to treat excessive blood sugar or diabetes; niacin, miconazole (Monistat), oral steroids such dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone), phenytoin (Dilantin), and probenecid (Benemid); drugs for nausea and mental disease; treatments for asthma and colds; antibiotics classified as quinolones or fluoroquinolones, including cinoxacin (Cinobac), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex), gatifloxacin (Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), Ofloxacin (Floxin), Sparfloxacin (Zagam), Moxifloxacin (Avelox), Nalidixic Acid (NegGram), Trovafloxacin and Alatrofloxacin Together (Trovan); rifampin (Rifadin); salicylate analgesics such salsalate (Argesic, Disalcid, Salgesic); choline magnesium trisalicylate; choline salicylate (Arthropan); diflunisal (Dolobid); magnesium salicylate (Doan’s, etc); thyroid medicines, sulfa antibiotics including co-trimoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), and others. As long as you are taking glimepiride, you must also let your doctor or pharmacist know if you stop taking any medications. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had G6PD deficiency (a hereditary condition that results in hemolytic anaemia or premature rbc destruction), if you have adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid gland hormone abnormalities, or if you have heart, kidney, or liver disease.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while taking glimepiride.
• If you are 65 years of age or older, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking glimepiride with your doctor. Since glimepiride is less safe and less successful than alternative drugs that can be used to treat the same condition, older persons should often avoid taking it.
• You should let your doctor or dentist know if you are taking glimepiride if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• Inquire with your doctor if drinking alcohol is okay for you to do while taking glimepiride. The negative effects of glimepiride can be made worse by alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking glimepiride may also result in symptoms like flushing (reddening of the face), anxiety, sweating, choking, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, chest discomfort, weakness, blurred vision, mental disorientation, and blurred vision.
• Plan to use protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen as well as to minimise excessive or prolonged sun exposure. Your skin can become sun-sensitive when using glimepiride.
• In the event that you become ill, encounter exceptional stress, a feverish infection, or an injury, consult your doctor for advice. Several disorders may impact how much glimepiride you require and how your blood sugar responds to it.

Make sure to abide by all dietary and exercise advice given to you by your physician or nutritionist. It’s crucial to maintain a nutritious diet, exercise frequently, and, if required, reduce weight.

Ask your doctor what to do if you miss a dosage of glimepiride before you start taking it. To remember these instructions later, write them down.

Take the missing dose as soon as you remember it, as a general rule. Skip the missed dose if the next one is almost due, and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Your blood sugar levels may alter as a result of this drug. You should be aware of the signs of low and high blood sugar as well as what to do if you experience these signs.

There may be negative effects from glimepiride. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Dizziness
• Nausea

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Eyes or skin that have a yellow tint
• Stools with a light colour
• Dark faeces
• Stomach ache in the top right corner
• Significant bruising or bleeding
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Unwell throat

Further negative effects of glimepiride are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

In one trial, patients with diabetes who took a drug related to glimepiride had a higher risk of dying from cardiac problems than those who received insulin and dietary adjustments as treatment. Describe the dangers of taking glimepiride to your doctor.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

In addition to hypoglycemic symptoms, overdose symptoms may also include the following:

• Seizures
• Consciousness is lost

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. You should monitor your HbA1c and fasting blood sugar levels frequently to see how well you’re responding to glimepiride. To monitor your reaction to glimepiride, your doctor might request additional lab tests. Your doctor will also instruct you on how to measure your blood sugar levels at home in order to monitor your reaction to this medicine. Pay close attention to these directions.

You should always wear a diabetic identification bracelet to be sure you get proper treatment in an emergency.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Wearing a diabetes identity bracelet will ensure that you receive the right care in an emergency.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.