Glimepiride 1mg Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Glimepiride 1mg, 2mg, 3mg and 4mg Tablets
Glimepiride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Glimepiride is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Glimepiride
3. How to take Glimepiride
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Glimepiride
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Glimepiride is and what it is used for
Glimepiride is an orally active blood sugar lowering drug. This drug belongs to a blood sugar lowering group of medicines called sulfonylureas.
Glimepiride works by increasing the amount of insulin released from your pancreas. The insulin then lowers your blood sugar levels.
What Glimepiride is used for:
Glimepiride is used to treat a certain form of diabetes (type 2 diabetes mellitus) when diet, physical exercise and weight loss alone have not been able to control your blood sugar levels.
2. What you need to know before you take Glimepiride
Do not take Glimepiride if:
- you are allergic to glimepiride, or other sulfonylureas (medicines used to lower your blood sugar such as glibenclamide) or sulfonamides (medicines for bacterial infections such as sulfamethoxazole) or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- you have insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes mellitus)
- you have diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes when your acid level is raised in your body and you may have some of the following signs: fatigue, feeling sick (nausea), frequent urination and muscular stiffness)
- you are in a diabetic coma
- you have severe kidney disease
- you have severe liver disease
Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or
pharmacist before taking glimepiride.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to vour doctor or pharmacist before taking Glimepiride if
- You are recovering from an injury, operation, infections with fever, or from other forms of stress, inform your doctor as temporary change of treatment may be necessary
- You have a severe liver or kidney disorder
If you are not sure if any of these apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking glimepiride
Lowering of the haemoglobin level and breakdown of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia) can occur in patients missing the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Children and adolescents
The information available on the use of glimepiride in people below 18 years of age is limited. Therefore, its use in these patients is not recommended.
Important information about hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
When you take glimepiride, you may get hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Please see below for additional information about hypoglycaemia, its signs and treatment.
Following factors could increase the risk of you getting hypoglycaemia:
- Undernourishment, irregular meal time, missed or delayed meal or period of fasting
- Changes to your diet
- Taking more glimepiride than needed
- Having decreased kidney function
- Having severe liver disease
- If you suffer from particular hormone-induced disorders (disorders of the thyroid glands, of the pituitary gland or adrenal cortex)
- Drinking alcohol (especially when you skip a meal)
- Taking certain other medicines (see “Other medicines and Glimepiride” below)
- If you increase your body exercise and you do not eat enough or eat food containing less carbohydrate than normal
Signs of hypoglycaemia include:
Hunger pangs, headache, nausea, vomiting, sluggishness, sleepiness, disordered sleep, restlessness, aggression, impaired concentration, reduced alertness and reaction time, depression, confusion, speech and visual disorders, slurred speech, shakiness, partial paralysis, sensory disturbances, dizziness, helplessness.
The following signs may also occur: sweating, clammy skin, anxiety, fast or uneven heart beat, high blood pressure, awareness of your heart beat (palpitations), sudden strong pain in the breast that may radiate into neighbouring areas (angina pectoris).
If blood sugar levels continue to drop you may suffer from considerable confusion (delirium), develop convulsions, lose self control, breathing may be shallow and your heart beat slowed down and you may fall into unconsciousness. The clinical picture of a severe reduced blood sugar level may resemble that of a stroke.
Treating hypoglycaemia
In most cases the signs of reduced blood sugar vanish very quickly when you consume some form of sugar, e.g. sugar cubes, sweet juice, sweetened tea.
You should therefore always take some form of sugar with you (e.g. sugar cubes). Remember that artificial sweeteners are not effective. Please contact your doctor or the next hospital if taking sugar does not help or if the symptoms recur.
Laboratory tests
The level of sugar in your blood or urine should be checked regularly. Your doctor may also take blood tests to monitor your blood cell levels and liver function.
Other medicines and Glimepiride
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Your doctor may wish to change your dose of glimepiride if you are taking other medicines, which may weaken or strengthen the effect of glimepiride on the level of sugar in your blood.
The following medicines can increase the blood sugar lowering effect of glimepiride. This can lead to a risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar):
- Other medicines to treat diabetes mellitus (such as insulin or metformin)
- Medicines to treat pain and inflammation (phenylbutazone, azopropazone, oxyphenbutazone, aspirin-like medicines)
- Medicines to treat urinary infections (such as some long acting sulfonamides)
- Medicines to treat bacterial and fungal infections (tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, fluconazole, miconazole, quinolones, clarithromycin)
- Medicines to inhibit blood clotting (coumarin derivatives such as warfarin)
- Medicines supporting muscle build up (anabolics)
- Medicines used for male sex hormone replacement therapy
- Medicines to treat depression (fluoxetine, MAO-inhibitors)
- Medicines lowering high cholesterol level (fibrates)
- Medicines lowering high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors)
- Medicines called anti-arrhythmic agents used to control abnormal heart beat (disopyramide)
- Medicines to treat gout (allopurinol, probenecid, sulfinpyrazone)
- Medicines to treat cancer (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, trofosfamide)
- Medicines used to reduce weight (fenfluramine)
- Medicines to increase circulation when given in a high dose intravenous infusion (pentoxifylline)
- Medicines to treat nasal allergies such as hay fever (tritoqualine)
- Medicines called sympatholytics to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or prostate symptoms
The following medicines may decrease the blood sugar lowering effect of glimepiride. This can lead to a risk of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar level):
- Medicines containing female sex hormones (oestrogens, progestogens)
- Medicines supporting urine production (thiazide diuretics)
- Medicines used to stimulate the thyroid gland (such as levothyroxine)
- Medicines to treat allergies and inflammation (glucocorticoids)
- Medicines to treat severe mental disorders (chlorpromazine and other phenothiazine derivatives)
- Medicines used to raise heart beat, to treat asthma or nasal congestion, coughs and colds, used to reduce weight, or used in lifethreatening emergencies (adrenaline and sympathomimetics)
- Medicines to treat high cholesterol level (nicotinic acid)
- Medicines to treat constipation when they are used long term (laxatives)
- Medicines to treat seizures (phenytoin)
- Medicines to treat nervousness and sleep problems (barbiturates)
- Medicines to treat increased pressure in the eye (acetazolamide)
- Medicines to treat high blood pressure or lowering blood sugar (diazoxide)
- Medicines to treat infections, tuberculosis (rifampicine)
- Medicines to treat severe low blood sugar levels (glucagon)
The following medicines can increase or decrease the blood sugar lowering effect of glimepiride:
- Medicines to treat stomach ulcers (called H2 antagonists)
- Medicines to treat high blood pressure or heart failure such as beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine and reserpine. These can also hide the signs of hypoglycaemia, so special care is needed when taking these medicines
Glimepiride may either increase or weaken the effects of the following medicines:
- Medicines inhibiting blood clotting (coumarin derivatives such as warfarin)
Glimepiride with food, drink and alcohol
Alcohol intake may increase or decrease the blood sugar lowering action of glimepiride in an unpredictable way.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Glimepiride should not be taken during pregnancy.
Glimepiride may pass into breast milk. Glimepiride should not be taken during breast feeding.
Driving and using machines
Your ability to concentrate and react may be impaired if your blood sugar is lowered (hypoglycaemia) or raised (hyperglycaemia) or if you develop visual problems as a result of such conditions. Bear in mind that you could endanger yourself or others (e.g. when driving a car or using machines). Please ask your doctor whether you can drive a car if you
- have frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia
- have fewer or no warning signals of hypoglycaemia
Glimepiride contains lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Glimepiride [2 mg tablets] contains tartrazine (E102) and Sunset yellow (E110)
May cause allergic reactions.
3. How to take Glimepiride
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist
if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
- Take this medicine by mouth, just before or with the first main meal of the day (usually breakfast). If you do not have breakfast you should take the product on schedule as prescribed by your doctor. It is important not to leave out any meal when you are on glimepiride.
- Swallow the tablets whole with at least half glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablets
How much to take
The dose depends on your needs, condition and results of blood and urine sugar tests and is
determined by your doctor. Do not take more tablets than your doctor has prescribed.
- The usual starting dose is glimepiride 1 mg tablet once a day.
- If necessary, your doctor may increase the dose after each 1-2 weeks of treatment.
- The maximum recommended dose is 6 mg glimepiride per day.
- A combination therapy of glimepiride plus metformin or of glimepiride plus insulin may be started. In such a case your doctor will determine the proper doses of glimepiride, metformin or insulin individually for you.
- If your weight changes or if you change your lifestyle, or you are in a stress situation this may require changed glimepiride doses, therefore inform your doctor.
- If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor.
If you take more Glimepiride than you should
If you happen to have taken too much glimepiride or an additional dose there is a danger of low hypoglycaemia (for signs of hypoglycaemia see section 2 - “Warnings and precautions”) and therefore you should instantly consume enough sugar (e.g. a small bar of sugar cubes, sweet juice, sweetened tea) and inform a doctor immediately. When treating hypoglycaemia due to accidental intake in children, the quantity of sugar given must be carefully controlled to avoid the possibility of producing dangerous hyperglycaemia. Persons in a state of unconsciousness must not be given food or drink.
Since the state of hypoglycaemia may last for some time it is very important that the patient is carefully monitored until there is no more danger. Admission into hospital may be necessary, also as a measure of precaution. Show the doctor the package or remaining tablets, so the doctor knows what has been taken.
Severe cases of hypoglycaemia accompanied by loss of consciousness and severe neurological failure are cases of medical emergency requiring immediate medical treatment and admission into hospital. It should be ensured that there is always a pre-informed person that can call a doctor in case of emergency.
If you forget to take Glimepiride
If you forget to take a dose, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Glimepiride
If you interrupt or stop the treatment you should be aware that the desired blood sugar lowering effect is not achieved or that the disease will get worse again. Keep taking glimepiride until your doctor tells you to stop.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following occurs, contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital straight away, as you
may need urgent medical attention:
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- Severe hypoglycaemia including loss of consciousness, seizures or coma.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Allergic reactions (including inflammation of blood vessels, often with skin rash) which may develop into serious reactions with difficulty in breathing, fall in blood pressure and sometimes progressing to shock.
- Abnormal liver function including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), problems with the bile flow (cholestasis), inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or liver failure.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Allergy (hypersensitivity) of the skin such as itching, rash, hives and increased sensitivity to sun. Some mild allergic reactions may develop into serious reactions with swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, throat or tongue.
Other possible side effects:
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- Lower blood sugar than normal (hypoglycaemia) (See section 2 - ’Warnings and precautions’)
- Decrease in the number of blood cells:
- Blood platelets (which increases risk of bleeding or bruising)
- White blood cells (which makes infections more likely)
- Red blood cells (which can make the skin pale and cause weakness or breathlessness) These problems generally get better after you stop taking glimepiride
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, feeling full or bloated, and abdominal pain
- Decrease in the amount of sodium level in your blood (shown by blood tests)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Allergic reactions with sulfonylureas, sulphonamides, or related drugs may occur
- Problems with your sight may occur when beginning treatment with glimepiride. This is due to changes in blood sugar levels and should soon improve
- Increased liver enzymes
- Severe unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Glimepiride
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and the carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store below 30°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information What Glimepiride contains
- The active substance is glimepiride. Each tablet contains 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg or 4 mg glimepiride.
- The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, povidone and magnesium stearate, [1 mg tablet:] red iron oxide (E172). [2 mg tablet:] yellow iron oxide (E172), tartrazine (E102), Brilliant Blue FCF (E133), Sunset Yellow FCF (E110). [3 mg tablet:] yellow iron oxide (E172). [4 mg tablet:] Indigo Carmine (E132). (See Section 2 “Glimepiride contains”).
What Glimepiride looks like and contents of the pack
The tablet is flat, oblong, with bevelled edges, marked with “G” on one side, scored on the other side.
Glimepiride 1 mg tablets are pink in colour and 8.0 x 4.1 mm in size.
Glimepiride 2 mg tablets are green in colour and 10.1 x 5.1 mm in size.
Glimepiride 3 mg tablets are yellow in colour and 10.1 x 5.1 mm in size. Glimepiride 4 mg tablets are blue in colour and 10.1 x 5.1 mm in size.
Pack sizes of 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg tablets: 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 60, 90 and 120 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Actavis Group hf.,Reykjavikurvegur 76-78, 220 Hafnarfjordur, Iceland Manufacturers
Actavis hf., Reykjavikurvegur 78, 220 Hafnarfjordur, Iceland Actavis Ltd., BLB016 Bulebel Industrial Estate, Zejtun ZTN 3000, Malta.
Balkanpharma - Dupnitsa AD, 3 Samokovsko Shosse Str, Dupnitsa 2600, Bulgaria