Glimepiride is used for:

Treating patients with type 2 diabetes who cannot control blood sugar levels by diet and exercise alone. Glimepiride may be used in combination with insulin.

Glimepiride is a sulfonylurea. Glimepiride lowers blood glucose (sugar) by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas gland. It also may help lower blood glucose by other actions on fat and muscle cells. Glimepiride does not work in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus because in this condition, the pancreas gland is not capable of making or releasing insulin.

Do NOT use Glimepiride if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Glimepiride
• you have type 1 diabetes, severe second or third degree burns, increased ketone levels, severely increased acid levels in your bodily fluids (acidosis), or a history of a diabetic coma
• you are pregnant and near delivery
• you are using bosentan or drink alcohol

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Glimepiride :

Some medical conditions may interact with Glimepiride. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have increased levels of acid in your bodily fluids (acidosis), a weak stomach, liver problems, intestinal problems, a high fever, kidney problems, severe diarrhea, an infection, or thyroid problems
• if you have recently suffered from major surgery or trauma, or you are debilitated or malnourished

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Glimepiride. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Bosentanbecause liver problems may occur and the effectiveness may be decreased
• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), certain medicines that act on the liver (eg, cimetidine, fluoxetine, miconazole, and others), chloramphenicol, clofibrate, fenfluramine, gemfibrozil, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen, celecoxib), oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), probenecid, salicylates (eg, aspirin), or sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole) because the risk of abnormally low blood sugar levels (eg, hunger, shakiness or weakness, dizziness, headache, sweating) may be increased
• Birth control pills, certain medicines that act on the liver (eg, phenytoin, rifampin, and others), diazoxide, diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), estrogens (eg, estradiol), gemfibrozil, isoniazid, nicotinic acid, phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), or certain stimulants (eg, albuterol, amphetamine, pseudoephedrine) because the effectiveness of Glimepiride may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Glimepiride may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Glimepiride :

Use Glimepiride as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• The usual dose is given once daily with breakfast or the first main meal of the day.
• If you miss a dose of Glimepiride , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Glimepiride.

Important safety information:

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using Glimepiride. It can increase the risk of developing abnormally low blood sugar. Alcohol can sometimes interact with Glimepiride and cause a serious reaction with symptoms such as facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or stomach pain.
• Sulfonylurea antidiabetic medicines have been associated with increased risk of death from heart disease. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of using Glimepiride and alternative treatments for your condition.
• Carry an identification card at all times that says you are diabetic. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly according to your doctor's directions. If your blood sugar level is often higher than it should be and you are taking Glimepiride according to directions, check with your doctor.
• Glimepiride may cause low blood sugar (eg, increased heartbeat, headache, chills, sweating, tremor, increased hunger, changes in vision, nervousness, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, or fainting). It is a good habit to carry glucose tablets or gel to treat low blood sugar. If you do not have a reliable source of glucose available, eat a quick source of sugar, such as table sugar, honey, or candy, or drink a glass of orange juice or nondiet soda to quickly raise your blood sugar level. Tell your doctor immediately about the reaction. To prevent low blood sugar levels, eat meals on a regular schedule and do not skip meals.
• Use Glimepiride with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially abnormally low blood sugar levels.
• Glimepiride is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Glimepiride during pregnancy. It is unknown if Glimepiride is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Glimepiride.

Possible side effects of Glimepiride :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; headache; nausea; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

Naturopathy: A system of therapy based on preventative care, and on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Some naturopaths use no medications, either pharmaceutical or herbal. Some recommend herbal remedies only. A few who are licensed to prescribe may recommend pharmaceuticals in those cases where they feel their use is warranted.

Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Doctor: In a medical context, any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The term doctor is quite nonspecific. A doctor may, for example, be a physician, psychologist, biomedical scientist, dentist, or veterinarian. In a nonmedical context, a professor of history might be addressed as doctor, an eminent theologian might be named a doctor of a church, and a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university might also be called a doctor.

The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.