Uses of Glimepiride

Glimepiride is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus when diet and exercise alone does not result in adequate blood sugar control.

Therapeutic Category

Glimepiride: Antidiabetic agents (Sulfonylureas)

How Glimepiride works

Glimepiride works by stimulates the pancreas to secrete more insulin (a hormone involved in glucose metabolism). It also makes our body more sensitive to insulin which helps in digesting the circulating sugars (glucose) in the blood, thereby reducing blood sugar levels.

Common side effects of Glimepiride

• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

When to consult your doctor

Consult your doctor:

• if you experience severe allergic reaction (including inflammation of blood vessels, skin rash, swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue or throat which causes difficulty in breathing or swallowing, drop in blood pressure and even shock)
• if you experience signs of liver problems (such as fever, yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes, weakness, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite)
• if you experience increased skin sensitivity to sun
• if you experience signs of severe decrease in blood sugar level (such as confusion, headache, excessive sweating, clammy skin, trembling, weakness, double vision, excessive hunger, nausea, vomiting, problems in sleeping, feeling agitated, unable to concentrate, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slowed reactions, depression, trouble seeing or speaking, paralysis, numbness, dizziness, hallucinations, difficulty in breathing, slowed or faster heartbeat with chest pain)

Health Tips for Glimepiride

• Make certain lifestyle changes such as eating healthy diet, regular physical exercise
• Take this medicine by mouth, just before or with the first main meal of the day (usually breakfast)
• Glimepiride is not recommended for use in pregnant and breast-feeding women