Glimepiride 1MG TAB

Short Description

Glimepiride 1 mg Tablets are a prescription oral antidiabetic medicine from the sulfonylurea class. They are used to help control blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when diet, exercise, and weight reduction alone are not enough.

What Is Glimepiride 1 mg Tablets?

Each tablet contains 1 mg of glimepiride. Glimepiride is a sulfonylurea, a type of medicine that helps the body release more of its own insulin.

It is used as part of an overall diabetes management plan that includes a suitable diet and regular physical activity. It may be used on its own or alongside other diabetes treatments, such as metformin or insulin, as decided by a healthcare professional.

Uses

Glimepiride 1 mg Tablets may be prescribed to:

• Help control blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when diet, exercise, and weight reduction alone are not adequate

• Be used with metformin or insulin when a single medicine does not give enough control, under medical supervision

  
  

Glimepiride is not used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. The appropriate treatment and dose should be determined by a healthcare professional.

How Does Glimepiride Work?

Glimepiride is a sulfonylurea that lowers blood glucose mainly by helping the pancreas release more insulin. It works when the pancreas is still able to produce insulin.

Your doctor may monitor blood glucose and HbA1c levels to assess how well treatment is working and whether the dose needs adjustment.

How to Take Glimepiride

Take Glimepiride exactly as prescribed by your healthcare professional.

• It is usually taken once daily, shortly before or during breakfast or, if no breakfast is eaten, shortly before or during the first main meal.

• Swallow the tablet whole with some liquid.

• Your doctor may start treatment at a suitable dose and adjust it gradually according to your blood glucose levels. Do not change your dose yourself. 

• Do not skip meals or eat at irregular times while taking glimepiride, as this can lead to low blood sugar.

• If you forget a dose, do not take extra at the next dose to make up for it.

• Do not stop or change treatment without advice from your healthcare professional.

• Your healthcare professional may recommend regular blood glucose and HbA1c testing to monitor your diabetes and adjust treatment when needed. 

  
  

Important Safety Information

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your full medical history and about all medicines, supplements, and herbal products you use.

Glimepiride should not be used if you are allergic to glimepiride, other sulfonylureas, sulfonamides, or any ingredient in the medicine. It is also not used to treat type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, or diabetic coma. 

Caution and closer monitoring may be needed if you have:

• Kidney or liver problems

• Thyroid, pituitary, or adrenal gland disorders

• G6PD deficiency, as sulfonylureas can cause haemolytic anaemia

• Irregular eating patterns, undernutrition, or regular alcohol use

• Stress situations such as infection with fever, injury, or surgery, where a temporary switch to insulin may be needed

• Lactose intolerance, as the tablets contain lactose

  
  

The main risk is hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Warning signs include sweating, shakiness, hunger, headache, dizziness, confusion, and blurred vision. Seek advice from your healthcare professional on how to recognise and treat it. Hypoglycaemia can affect concentration and reaction time, so take care when driving or using machinery.

Medicines and substances that may interact with glimepiride include:

• Insulin and other medicines used to lower blood glucose

• Alcohol, which may increase the risk of low blood sugar

• Some antibiotics, antifungals, and other medicines that can affect blood glucose control

• Blood thinners and some medicines for high blood pressure or other conditions

• Steroids and some other medicines that may increase blood glucose

  
  

Some medicines may also hide the warning signs of low blood sugar.

This is not a full list. Check possible interactions with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or changing any medicine.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Glimepiride is generally not recommended during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or become pregnant while taking glimepiride, speak with your doctor promptly.

It is not known whether glimepiride passes into human breast milk. Speak with your doctor before taking glimepiride while breastfeeding.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, Glimepiride can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.

Main side effects include:

• Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal discomfort

• Temporary visual disturbances, particularly at the start of treatment

• Weight gain

• Skin reactions such as itching, rash, or sensitivity to sunlight

• Taste changes or hair loss

• Raised liver enzymes on blood tests

  
  

Seek prompt medical attention for severe or repeated low blood sugar, confusion or loss of consciousness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, signs of infection or persistent sore throat, or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing or swelling.

This is not a complete list of side effects or warnings. Please refer to the product packaging and patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine for complete information and speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns.

Storage

Store Glimepiride according to the instructions shown on the original product packaging. Storage conditions can differ between manufacturers.

• Keep the tablets in their original packaging until use.

• Keep out of reach of children.

• Do not use after the expiry date shown on the packaging.