Glimepiride is an oral diabetes medicine that is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. glimepiride is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

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

You should not use glimepiride if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Glimepiride is usually 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.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor's office.

You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar (fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda).

Your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injection kit in case you have severe hypoglycemia. Be sure your family or close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.

Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.

Glimepiride is only part of a treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

Initial dose: 1 to 2 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: Increase in 1 or 2 mg increments no more frequently than every 1 to 2 weeks based on glycemic response
Maximum dose: 8 mg per day

Comments:
-Administer with breakfast or first main meal of the day.
-In patients who are at increased risk for hypoglycemia, start with 1 mg orally once a day and titrate slowly.
-When patients are being transferred to this drug from a longer half-life sulfonylurea, monitor 1 to 2 weeks for overlapping drug effect.

Use: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day; titrate slowly and monitor closely

Usual Pediatric Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

Not recommended because of adverse effects on body weight and hypoglycemia.

You should not use glimepiride if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• an allergy to sulfa drugs; or

• diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease;

• liver or kidney disease; or

• an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD).

Glimepiride may increase your risk of serious heart problems, but not treating your diabetes can also damage your heart and other organs. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of glimepiride.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, and having high blood sugar may cause complications in both the mother and the baby. However, you may need to stop taking glimepiride for a short time just before your due date.

Medications similar to glimepiride have caused severe hypoglycemia in newborn babies whose mothers used the medicine near the time of delivery. If you take glimepiride during pregnancy, stop taking this medicine at least 2 weeks before your due date.

If you breastfeed while taking glimepiride, call your doctor if your baby shows signs of hypoglycemia (extreme drowsiness, feeding problems, mottled skin, blue lips, feeling cold or jittery, or having a seizure).

Glimepiride is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A glimepiride overdose can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include extreme weakness, confusion, tremors, sweating, fast heart rate, trouble speaking, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).

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

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. It is important to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and lose weight if necessary.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Glimepiride can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Glimepiride may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine;

• confusion, weakness; or

• fever.

Common side effects of glimepiride may include:

• headache;

• dizziness, weakness;

• nausea; or

• low blood sugar.

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

Glimepiride may not work as well when you use other medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

If you also take colesevelam, take your glimepiride dose at least 4 hours before you take colesevelam.

Other drugs may affect glimepiride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your fasting blood sugar levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) should be checked regularly to determine your response to glimepiride. Your doctor may order other lab tests to check your response to glimepiride. Your doctor will also tell you how to check your response to this medication by measuring your blood sugar levels at home. Follow these instructions carefully.

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.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

• Avandaryl® (containing Glimepiride, Rosiglitazone)
• Duetact® (containing Glimepiride, Pioglitazone)