What is Glimepiride: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Take glimepiride as directed. The dose may need to be changed until the most effective dose is reached.

Take this medicine with breakfast or your first main meal of the day.

Swallow the tablet with a drink of water.

Store glimepiride tablets in a closed container at room temperature.

Glimepiride should be taken right before eating breakfast.

If you don’t eat breakfast, take the glimepiride dose right before the first large meal of the day. 

Ask the prescriber what to do if a dose of glimepiride is missed.

If the prescriber tells you to take missed doses, make sure to take a missed dose right before a main meal.

Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to glimepiride or a sulfa drug.

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are taking glimepiride.

Glimepride treatment requires regular doctor’s visits and blood tests. Keep all appointments.

Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have:

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Heart or blood vessel problems

• Adrenal gland problems

• Pituitary gland problems

• A hereditary disorder called G6PD deficiency

Glimepiride can cause serious problems, including:

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

• Increased risk of heart or blood vessel problems

Low blood sugar is the biggest risk when taking drugs like glimepiride. People taking glimepiride should be familiar with the signs of low blood sugar.

Low blood sugar can cause significant impairment. People taking drugs like glimepiride should be cautious about driving or other risky activities and should avoid or stop these activities when they may be impaired.

To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescriber about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements that are regularly used before starting glimepiride, particularly:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen

• Laxatives

• Blood pressure medications called ACE inhibitors or beta blockers

• High cholesterol medications called fibrates

• Tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics

• Corticosteroids

• Anabolic steroids

• Diuretics (drugs that make you pee)

• Estrogen hormones, including birth control pills

• Thyroid hormones

• Blood thinners called coumarin antibiotics (such as warfarin)

• Barbiturates

• Atypical antipsychotic medications

• Antiviral drugs called protease inhibitors

• Phenothiazine drugs

• MAO inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Drugs that work on the involuntary nervous system, like epinephrine, albuterol, or terbutaline

• Clarithromycin, cyclophosphamide, danazol, disopyramide, fluconazole, fluoxetine, glucagon, isoniazid, miconazole, niacin, phenyramidol, phenytoin, probenecid, propoxyphene, rifampin, somatropin, sulfinpyrazone

If you are also taking a cholesterol medication called colesevelam, take the glimepiride dose at least four hours before you take the dose of colesevelam.

Tell other healthcare professionals about glimepiride treatment before they prescribe new drugs.