Get to know Glimepiride, a drug capable of treating type 2 diabetes | Good Doctor

Glimepiride is a drug used to control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This drug is usually used in conjunction with diet and exercise to control blood sugar.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas can no longer produce insulin, or when the body cannot properly use the insulin it produces.

Generally, there are 3 types of diabetes, namely type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Also Read: Don’t overdo it, how much is healthy weight gain for pregnant women?

What is glimepiride

Glimepiride itself is a prescription drug and should not be used carelessly. This drug is only available in tablet form.

Usually this drug is available as the brand name Amaryl and as other generic drugs, such as Amadiab, Gliariade, Gluvas, Mapryl, Metrix, Pimaryl, Diaglime, Friladar, Actaryl, and many more.

This medication is used to reduce high blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. This medication may be used with insulin or other types of diabetes medications to help control high blood sugar.

For use with other drugs, you should have a doctor’s prescription so as not to harm the body.

Also read: Get to know Gentacimin, a drug that can treat bacterial infections

How does glimepiride work?

Glimipiride belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. A drug class is a group of drugs that work in the same way. Sulfonylureas are often used to treat the same condition.

To reduce blood sugar, glimipiride works by making the pancreas produce insulin (a natural substance used to break down sugar in the body) and helping the body use insulin efficiently.

Insulin itself is a chemical that the body makes to move sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream to the cells in the body. Once sugar enters cells, they can use it as fuel for the body.

This medication will only help lower blood sugar in people whose bodies can produce insulin naturally.

What diseases can be treated with this drug?

This medicine cannot be used in people who have type 1 diabetes, which is a condition in which the body is unable to produce insulin. So it can not control the amount of sugar in the blood or diabetic ketoacidosis.

In contrast, glimepiride can only be used in people with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease that often occurs in adults, in which the body cannot properly use the insulin it produces.

With type 2 diabetes, the body also doesn’t produce enough insulin, so the sugar stays in the bloodstream. This is what causes high blood sugar levels or what is commonly called hyperglycemia.

Diabetes and high blood sugar levels can develop serious or even life-threatening complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and vision problems.

By lowering high blood sugar levels, the risk of these serious complications can also be lowered.

Special warning before taking glimepiride

It is better not to take this drug carelessly, because this drug can cause certain dangers.

Before choosing to take this drug, pay attention to the following:

• Before taking glimepiride, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it, or if you have any other allergies.
• This medication contains ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems, tell your doctor or pharmacist for details.
• Tell us about your medical history, especially liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, certain hormone conditions (adrenal/pituitary insufficiency, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone-SIADH secretion), electrolyte imbalance (hyponatremia).
• You may experience blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness due to very low or high blood sugar. Therefore, do not drive, use machines, or do certain activities that require concentration after taking this drug.
• Limit alcohol consumption while taking this medication, as this can increase the risk of low blood sugar
• It’s difficult to control blood sugar when the body is under stress (such as from a fever, infection, injury, or surgery). Consult a doctor because it may require a change in medication.
• This drug can make you more sensitive to the sun. Limit time in the sun. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Consult a doctor if your skin is burned or if you have blisters on your skin.
• Before having surgery, tell your doctor about all the products you use, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products.
• Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially low blood sugar.
• During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Consult a doctor to treat diabetes while pregnant

Instructions for dosage and use of glimepiride

The dosage for this drug is different for each person.

The dosage, type, and how often you take this drug really depends on your age, the condition being treated, how severe your condition is, what other medical conditions you have, and how you react to the first dose.

It is better to follow the dosage according to the doctor’s or pharmacist’s recommendations. Or you can also follow the dosage instructions printed on the product packaging.

Usually this drug is taken once a day after breakfast or the main meal. Follow the doctor’s instructions and consume this drug by drinking it with mineral water and don’t chew it.

Dosage for type 2 diabetes

Adult dosage (ages 18-64 years)

• Initially the recommended dose is 1 mg or 2 mg taken once a day with breakfast or a main meal
• After reaching 2 mg per day, your doctor may increase your dose by 1 mg or 2 mg based on your blood sugar level. They may increase the dose every 1 to 2 weeks until blood sugar levels are controlled.
• The maximum dose is 8 mg taken once per day

Child dosage (ages 0-17 years)

• Glimepiride is not recommended for people under 18 years of age because it can affect weight and cause low blood sugar

Senior dose (age 65 years and over)

• The initial dose is 1 mg taken once a day with breakfast or a main meal
• Doctors can adjust the dose based on blood sugar levels. Because seniors may be more sensitive to glimepiride and more likely to have decreased kidney function, doctors may increase the dose more slowly

Special dose

Patients with kidney disease

This drug if consumed by patients with kidney disease will be at risk of experiencing low blood sugar. The dose will be lower than the usual dose.

• The initial dose to be consumed is 1 mg once a day with breakfast or the main meal
• Then, the dose is adjusted based on blood sugar levels
• The maximum dose is 8 mg taken once per day

Patients with heart disease

If you have liver disease, you may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug. Your doctor may start you on a low initial dose and increase your dose slowly if needed.

What to do if you forget to take your medicine?

Before taking this drug, it is highly recommended to ask your doctor or pharmacist first what if you forget to take it. Write down these instructions so that if you forget you can see the instructions that have been given.

As a general rule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If the missed dose is close to the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the regular dose. And the most important thing is not to take a double dose.

Glimepiride interactions with other drugs

Glimiperide may interact with the use of other medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies.

To avoid dangerous interactions, be sure to tell your doctor about other medicines that you are also taking.

You can also talk to your doctor about any medicines that can cause interactions if taken together with this drug.

Some examples of drugs that can cause interactions if taken together are:

1. Quinolone Antibiotics

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Levofloxacin (Levaquin)

2. Medication for blood pressure and heart

• Benazepril (Lotensin)
• Captopril (Capoten)
• Enalapril (Vasotec)
• Enalaprilat
• fosinopril (monopril)
• Lisinopril (Privinil)
• Moexipril (Univasc)

3. Antifungal

• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

4. Medicine for eye infections

5. Medicine for high cholesterol and triglycerides

6. Drug depression

• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• Phenelzine (Nardil)
• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

7. Drugs containing salicylates

• Aspirin
• Magnesium salicylate (Doan’s)
• Salsalate (Disalcid)

8. Drugs containing sulfonamides

• Sulfacetamide
• Sulfadiazine
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)
• Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• Sulfisoxazole

9. Tuberculosis drugs

• Rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• Rifampin (Rifadin)
• Rifapentine (Priftin)

10. Diuretic drugs

• Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
• Chlorthalidone
• Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril)
• Indapamide (Lozol)
• Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)

Glimepiride side effects

Just like most other drugs, glimepiride also has side effects. This drug itself does not cause drowsiness, but it has other side effects that need attention.

Reported from Healthlinehere are the side effects of glimepiride.

Common side effects

• Low blood sugar
• Headache
• Nauseous
• Dizzy
• Feeling weak
• Unexplained weight gain

If the side effects are mild, they may go away in a few days or a few weeks. However, if these side effects become more severe, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Serious side effects

This drug can also cause more serious side effects. If you have these more serious side effects, immediately contact your doctor to get treatment quickly so as not to harm your body.

The following are serious side effects that may be experienced if you take this drug in excess.

• More severe low blood sugar (less than 35 to 40 mg/dL)
• Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
• Liver damage
• The number of blood cells or platelets becomes low
• Low sodium levels (hyponatremia)

Warnings for using glimepiride in certain conditions

G6PD Disease: This drug may cause hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells) in people with G6PD problems. Your doctor may not prescribe this drug if you have this condition.

Kidney illness: Glimepiride can be excreted by the body through the kidneys. If the kidneys are not working, this drug can build up and cause low blood sugar. Your doctor may just start you on a lower dose.

Liver disease: Glimiperide has not been fully studied in patients with liver disease. If you have liver disease, you may be more sensitive to this drug.

You should always take glimepiride according to the doctor’s recommendations, don’t consume it excessively and carelessly because this drug can cause side effects to the body.

Have further questions about this drug? Please chat directly with our doctor for consultation. Our doctor partners are ready to provide solutions. Come on, download the Good Doctor application here!

Make efforts to prevent diabetes with early detection. Come on, check the risk of prediabetes via GrabHealth or in full on the Good Doctor app.