About Glimepiride 2 mg Tablet
Glimepiride 2 mg Tablet contains Glimepiride 2 mg. Glimepiride is a medicine for type 2 diabetes. It helps the pancreas release more insulin to lower blood sugar. It is used together with a healthy diet and exercise, and sometimes with other diabetes medicines. It can cause low blood sugar, so it is important to know the warning signs.
Uses of Glimepiride 2 mg Tablet
- Type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
Benefits
In type 2 diabetes
It lowers blood sugar. Keeping blood sugar well controlled over time lowers the risk of complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.
Side effects
Low blood sugar is more likely if you skip meals, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol or take other diabetes medicines. Keep a source of sugar with you.
Common
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
Get medical help if you notice
- Low blood sugar: sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, confusion or blurred vision — take sugar, glucose or a sweet drink straight away, and seek medical help if you do not recover or lose consciousness
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes — contact your doctor
- Unusual bruising, bleeding, sore throat or fever — contact your doctor
- Allergic reaction or severe skin rash — seek emergency care
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed, usually once a day with breakfast or the first main meal. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not skip meals after taking it.
How it works
It acts on beta cells in the pancreas and makes them release more insulin. Insulin moves sugar from the blood into the body's cells.
Safety advice
Alcohol Unsafe
Avoid alcohol. It can cause sudden low blood sugar or make blood sugar control unpredictable.
Pregnancy Unsafe
It must not be used in pregnancy. Insulin is usually used instead. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Unsafe
It should not be used while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor about other options.
Driving Caution
Low blood sugar can affect your concentration. Check your blood sugar before driving and do not drive if you feel signs of a low.
Kidney Caution
Use with caution in kidney disease, as low blood sugar is more likely. It is not recommended in severe kidney disease.
Liver Caution
Use with caution in liver disease. It is not recommended in severe liver disease.
If you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it with food as soon as you remember the same day. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Take it with breakfast or your first main meal, and do not skip meals.
- Carry glucose tablets, sugar or a sweet drink in case of low blood sugar.
- Check your blood sugar regularly as your doctor advises.
- Tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfonamide (sulfa) medicines or have G6PD deficiency.
- Your doctor may switch you to insulin during surgery, serious illness or pregnancy.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Same salts, other strengths or forms
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Sulfonylurea
- Therapeutic class
- Antidiabetic
- Action class
- Sulfonylurea (insulin secretagogue)
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Insulin and other diabetes medicines | Increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| Beta-blockers such as propranolol | Can hide the warning signs of low blood sugar |
| Fluconazole, some antibiotics and some NSAIDs | May increase the effect and cause low blood sugar |
| Steroid medicines and some water tablets (thiazides) | May raise blood sugar and reduce its effect |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Glimepiride prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); Glimepiride Summary of Product Characteristics (EMC)). Pharmacist review pending.