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