diabetes medication amaryl
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 diabetes medication amaryl. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of treatment with Amaryl diabetes medication amaryl.
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), whichinclude headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea diabetes medication amaryl. Carry a piece of hard candy or glucose tablets with youto treat episodes of low blood sugar diabetes medication amaryl.
• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines closely diabetes medication amaryl. Changing anyof them can affect your blood sugar levels diabetes medication amaryl.
• Do not change your dose of Amaryl without first talking to your doctor diabetes medication amaryl.
• Avoid alcohol diabetes medication amaryl. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetestreatment diabetes medication amaryl.
What is Amaryl?
• Amaryl is in a class of drugs called sulfonylureas diabetes medication amaryl. It is used to helpcontrol blood sugar levels diabetes medication amaryl.
• Amaryl is used with diet and exercise to treat noninsulin-dependent (TypeII) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) diabetes medication amaryl. Insulin or metformin (Glucophage) may also beused in combination with Amaryl, if necessary diabetes medication amaryl.
• Amaryl may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide diabetes medication amaryl.
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 diabetes medication amaryl.
• 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 diabetes medication amaryl.
• Amaryl is in the FDA pregnancy category C diabetes medication amaryl. This means that it is notknown whether Amaryl will be harmful to an unborn baby diabetes medication amaryl. Insulin is usually thedrug of choice to control diabetes during pregnancy diabetes medication amaryl. Do not take Amaryl withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment diabetes medication amaryl.
• It is not known whether Amaryl passes into breast milk diabetes medication amaryl. Do not take Amarylwithout first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby diabetes medication amaryl.
How should I take Amaryl?
• Take Amaryl exactly as directed by your doctor diabetes medication amaryl. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou diabetes medication amaryl.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water diabetes medication amaryl.
• Amaryl is usually taken once a day, with breakfast or the first mainmeal diabetes medication amaryl. Follow your doctor's instructions diabetes medication amaryl.
• Do not change your dose of Amaryl without first talking to your doctor diabetes medication amaryl.
• Store Amaryl at room temperature away from moisture and heat diabetes medication amaryl.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember diabetes medication amaryl. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose diabetes medication amaryl. Do not take a double dose of this medication diabetes medication amaryl.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention diabetes medication amaryl.
• Symptoms of a Amaryl overdose include hunger, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats,weakness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and coma diabetes medication amaryl.
What should I avoid while taking Amaryl?
• Follow diet, medication, and exercise routines closely diabetes medication amaryl. Changing anyof these things can effect your blood sugar levels diabetes medication amaryl.
• Avoid alcohol diabetes medication amaryl. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetestreatment diabetes medication amaryl.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforeyou undergo any surgery diabetes medication amaryl.
• Do not take any over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, or weightloss medications without first talking to your doctor diabetes medication amaryl.
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) diabetes medication amaryl.
• Other, less serious side effects from Amaryl result mostly from bloodsugar levels that are either too high or too low diabetes medication amaryl. You should be familiar withthe symptoms of both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat bothconditions diabetes medication amaryl. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help youin an emergency situation diabetes medication amaryl.
• 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 diabetes medication amaryl.
• Hypoglycemia or Low blood sugar has the following symptoms:
· shaking;
· headache;
· cold sweats;
· pale, cool skin;
· anxiety; and
· difficulty concentrating diabetes medication amaryl.
• Keep hard, sugary candy; chocolate; fruit juice; or glucose tablets onhand to treat episodes of low blood sugar diabetes medication amaryl.
• 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 diabetes medication amaryl.
• Hyperglycemia or High blood sugar has the following symptoms:
· increased thirst,
· increased hunger, and
· increased urination diabetes medication amaryl.
• 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 diabetes medication amaryl. The long-term use of Amarylshould be discussed with your doctor diabetes medication amaryl.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur diabetes medication amaryl. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome diabetes medication amaryl.
What other drugs will affect Amaryl?
• Many other medicines may increase or decrease the effects of Amaryl oraffect your condition diabetes medication amaryl. 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 diabetes medication amaryl.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you aretaking any of the medicines listed above diabetes medication amaryl.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Amaryl or affectyour condition diabetes medication amaryl. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products diabetes medication amaryl.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Amaryl written for healthprofessionals that you may read diabetes medication amaryl.
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