Amaryl

Generic name: Glimepiride
Drug class: Sulfonylureas

Usage of Amaryl

Amaryl is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels.

Amaryl is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Insulin or other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Amaryl if needed.

Amaryl side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Amaryl (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).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine;

confusion, weakness; or

fever.

Common Amaryl side effects 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.

Before taking Amaryl

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

an allergy to sulfa drugs; or

diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

To make sure Amaryl is safe for you, 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).

Amaryl 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 this medicine.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using Amaryl 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 Amaryl 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).

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

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How to use Amaryl

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.

Warnings

You should not use Amaryl if you have diabetic ketoacidosis ((call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

Before taking Amaryl, tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, or if you have heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, an enzyme deficiency (G6PD), adrenal or pituitary gland problems, or if you are under-nourished.

Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar. Other sugar sources include orange juice and milk. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

What other drugs will affect Amaryl

Amaryl 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 Amaryl dose at least 4 hours before you take colesevelam.

Other drugs may interact with 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.

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