Canadian pharmacy buying guide: drug characteristics, uses and benefits, side effects and interactions, and links for further information about buying discount drugs online from Canada.

Amaryl Consumer Information

AMARYL

Generic Name: glimepiride (glih MEH pih ride)

Brand Names: Amaryl

What is the most important information I should know about glimepiride?

• Treatment with glimepiride may increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to treatment of diabetes with diet alone or diet plus insulin. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of treatment with glimepiride.
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines closely. Changing any of them can affect your blood sugar levels.
• Do not change your dose of glimepiride without first talking to your doctor.
• Avoid alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment.

What is glimepiride?

• Glimepiride is in a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. It is used to help control blood sugar levels.
• Glimepiride is used with diet and exercise to treat noninsulin-dependent (Type II) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Insulin or metformin (Glucophage) may also be used in combination with glimepiride, if necessary.
• Glimepiride may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my docotr before taking glimepiride?

• Before taking glimepiride, tell your doctor if you
• have kidney disease;
• have liver disease;
• have thyroid disease;
• have Type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes);
• have a serious infection, illness, or injury; or
• need surgery.
• You may not be able to take glimepiride, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Glimepiride is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether glimepiride will be harmful to an unborn baby. Insulin is usually the drug of choice to control diabetes during pregnancy. Do not take glimepiride without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether glimepiride passes into breast milk. Do not take glimepiride without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take glimepiride?

• Take glimepiride exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Glimepiride is usually taken once a day, with breakfast or the first main meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Do not change your dose of glimepiride without first talking to your doctor.
• Store glimepiride at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a glimepiride overdose include hunger, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats, weakness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and coma.

What should I avoid while taking glimepiride?

• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines closely. Changing any of these things can effect your blood sugar levels.
• Avoid alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before you undergo any surgery.
• Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weight loss medications without first talking to your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of glimepiride?

• Stop taking glimepiride and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
• Other, less serious side effects from glimepiride result mostly from blood sugar levels that are either too high or too low. You should be familiar with the symptoms of both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency situation.
• Low blood sugar may occur when too much glimepiride is taken; when meals are missed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especially with vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol; and in other situations.
• Hypoglycemia or Low blood sugar has the following symptoms:
• shaking;
• headache;
• cold sweats;
• pale, cool skin;
• anxiety; and
• difficulty concentrating.
• Keep hard, sugary candy; chocolate; fruit juice; or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Increased blood sugar may occur when not enough glimepiride is taken; if you eat significantly more food then usual; if you exercise less than usual; if you take other medications; during fever or other illness; and in other situations.
• Hyperglycemia or High blood sugar has the following symptoms:
• increased thirst,
• increased hunger, and
• increased urination.
• There may be an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) complications with the use of glimepiride when compared to the treatment of diabetes with diet or diet plus insulin. The long-term use of glimepiride should be discussed with your doctor.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect glimepiride?

• Many other medicines may increase or decrease the effects of glimepiride or affect your condition. Before taking glimepiride, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• aspirin or another salicylate such as magnesium/choline salicylate (Trilisate), salsalate (Disalcid, others), choline salicylate (Arthropan), magnesium salicylate (Magan), or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol);
• a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Aleve);
• a sulfa-based drug such as sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra), sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine);
• a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil);
• a beta-blocker such as propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), and others;
• a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril), chlorothiazide (Diuril), and others;
• a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol, others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, others), and others;
• a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin, Permitil), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan), and others;
• phenytoin (Dilantin);
• isoniazid (Nydrazid);
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate); or
• over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or weight loss medications.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with glimepiride or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about glimepiride written for health professionals that you may read.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations of This Canadian Pharmacy Information

Efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. This is an educational resource only intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. This site does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

Full public license and copyright information is available separately from Cerner Multum, Inc.

Version: 2.02. Revision Date: 2/14/03.