amaryl for diabetes
Glimepiride (glih MEH pih ride)
What is the most important information I should know about Amaryl?
• Treatment with Amaryl may increase the risk of death from cardiovasculardisease compared to treatment of diabetes with diet alone or diet plus insulin amaryl for diabetes. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of treatment with Amaryl amaryl for diabetes.
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), whichinclude headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea amaryl for diabetes. Carry a piece of hard candy or glucose tablets with youto treat episodes of low blood sugar amaryl for diabetes.
• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines closely amaryl for diabetes. Changing anyof them can affect your blood sugar levels amaryl for diabetes.
• Do not change your dose of Amaryl without first talking to your doctor amaryl for diabetes.
• Avoid alcohol amaryl for diabetes. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetestreatment amaryl for diabetes.
What is Amaryl?
• Amaryl is in a class of drugs called sulfonylureas amaryl for diabetes. It is used to helpcontrol blood sugar levels amaryl for diabetes.
• Amaryl is used with diet and exercise to treat noninsulin-dependent (TypeII) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) amaryl for diabetes. Insulin or metformin (Glucophage) may also beused in combination with Amaryl, if necessary amaryl for diabetes.
• Amaryl may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide amaryl for diabetes.
What should I discuss with my docotr before taking Amaryl?
• Before taking Amaryl, 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 amaryl for diabetes.
• You may not be able to take Amaryl, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove amaryl for diabetes.
• Amaryl is in the FDA pregnancy category C amaryl for diabetes. This means that it is notknown whether Amaryl will be harmful to an unborn baby amaryl for diabetes. Insulin is usually thedrug of choice to control diabetes during pregnancy amaryl for diabetes. Do not take Amaryl withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment amaryl for diabetes.
• It is not known whether Amaryl passes into breast milk amaryl for diabetes. Do not take Amarylwithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby amaryl for diabetes.
How should I take Amaryl?
• Take Amaryl exactly as directed by your doctor amaryl for diabetes. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou amaryl for diabetes.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water amaryl for diabetes.
• Amaryl is usually taken once a day, with breakfast or the first mainmeal amaryl for diabetes. Follow your doctor's instructions amaryl for diabetes.
• Do not change your dose of Amaryl without first talking to your doctor amaryl for diabetes.
• Store Amaryl at room temperature away from moisture and heat amaryl for diabetes.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember amaryl for diabetes. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose amaryl for diabetes. Do not take a double dose of this medication amaryl for diabetes.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention amaryl for diabetes.
• Symptoms of a Amaryl overdose include hunger, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats,weakness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and coma amaryl for diabetes.
What should I avoid while taking Amaryl?
• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines closely amaryl for diabetes. Changing anyof these things can effect your blood sugar levels amaryl for diabetes.
• Avoid alcohol amaryl for diabetes. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetestreatment amaryl for diabetes.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforeyou undergo any surgery amaryl for diabetes.
• Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weightloss medications without first talking to your doctor amaryl for diabetes.
What are the possible side effects of Amaryl?
• Stop taking Amaryl and seek emergency medical attention if you experiencean allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swellingof your lips, tongue, or face; or hives) amaryl for diabetes.
• Other, less serious side effects from Amaryl result mostly from bloodsugar levels that are either too high or too low amaryl for diabetes. You should be familiar withthe symptoms of both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat bothconditions amaryl for diabetes. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help youin an emergency situation amaryl for diabetes.
• Low blood sugar may occur when too much Amaryl is taken; when meals aremissed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especiallywith vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol;and in other situations amaryl for diabetes.
• Hypoglycemia or Low blood sugar has the following symptoms:
· shaking;
· headache;
· cold sweats;
· pale, cool skin;
· anxiety; and
· difficulty concentrating amaryl for diabetes.
• Keep hard, sugary candy; chocolate; fruit juice; or glucose tablets onhand to treat episodes of low blood sugar amaryl for diabetes.
• Increased blood sugar may occur when not enough Amaryl is taken; if youeat significantly more food then usual; if you exercise less than usual; ifyou take other medications; during fever or other illness; and in other situations amaryl for diabetes.
• Hyperglycemia or High blood sugar has the following symptoms:
· increased thirst,
· increased hunger, and
· increased urination amaryl for diabetes.
• There may be an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular (heartand blood vessels) complications with the use of Amaryl when compared to thetreatment of diabetes with diet or diet plus insulin amaryl for diabetes. The long-term use of Amarylshould be discussed with your doctor amaryl for diabetes.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur amaryl for diabetes. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome amaryl for diabetes.
What other drugs will affect Amaryl?
• Many other medicines may increase or decrease the effects of Amaryl oraffect your condition amaryl for diabetes. Before taking Amaryl, tell your doctor if you are takingany of the following medicines:
· aspirin or another salicylate such as magnesium/choline salicylate(Trilisate), salsalate (Disalcid, others), choline salicylate (Arthropan), magnesiumsalicylate (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 amaryl for diabetes.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you aretaking any of the medicines listed above amaryl for diabetes.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Amaryl or affectyour condition amaryl for diabetes. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products amaryl for diabetes.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Amaryl written for healthprofessionals that you may read amaryl for diabetes.
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