Actos-Diabities

Amaryl is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your body respond better to insulin produced by your pancreas.

Before Taking

You should not use Amaryl if you are allergic to glimepiride, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before you take Amaryl, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease;

• liver or kidney disease;

• an allergy to sulfa drugs;

• an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD);

• adrenal or pituitary gland problems; or

• if you are under-nourished.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Amaryl is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using Amaryl, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether glimepiride passes into breast milk or if it could be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take Amaryl without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

 

How Should Take?

Take Amaryl exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your dose needs may change if you are ill, if you have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency.

Do not change your dose of Amaryl without first talking to your doctor. Amaryl is usually taken once a day with breakfast or the first main meal of the day. Follow your doctor's instructions. Take Amaryl with a full glass of water.

Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress.

 

Important Information

Do not use Amaryl if you are allergic to glimepiride, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).

Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, which can be caused by stress, skipping a meal, exercising too long, or drinking alcohol.

Amaryl is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.

Miss A Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An Amaryl overdose can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, seizure (convulsions), and coma.

 

What Should  Avoid While Taking Amaryl

Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment. Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds. Amaryl can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and a sunburn may result. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Glucotrol(Glipizide SR) is an anti-diabetic medicine (sulfonylurea-type) used along with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar.
Glucotrol(Glipizide SR) is used in patients with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes).
Glucotrol(Glipizide SR) works by stimulating the release of your body's natural insulin.
Effectively controlling blood sugar helps prevent heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, blindness, and circulation problems, as well as sexual function problems (impotence).

How Taken

Take Glucotrol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
* Take each dose with a full glass of water.
* Glucotrol is usually taken before breakfast if it is taken once a day, or before meals if it is taken multiple times each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
* The Glucotrol XL extended release tablets (Glucotrol extended release tablets) should be swallowed whole. Do not chew, divide, or crush the tablets.
* If you are taking Glucotrol XL extended release tablets (Glucotrol extended release tablets), do not be concerned if something that looks like a tablet occasionally appears in the stool. The medication is contained in a non-absorbable shell that has been specially designed to slowly release the drug so the body can absorb it. When this process is completed, the empty tablet is eliminated from the body.
* It is important to take Glucotrol regularly to get the most benefit.
* Do not change your dose of Glucotrol without first talking to your doctor.
* Your healthcare provider may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with blood or urine tests.
* Store Glucotrol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

 

Side Effects

Stop taking Glucotrol  and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
* Other, less serious side effects from Glucotrol result mostly from blood sugar levels that are either too high or too low. You should be familiar with the symptoms of both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency situation.
* Low blood sugar may occur when too much Glucotrol is taken; when meals are missed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especially with vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol; and in other situations.
* Hypoglycemia or Low blood sugar has the following symptoms:
- shaking;
- headache;
- cold sweats;
- pale, cool skin;
- anxiety; and
- difficulty concentrating.
* Keep hard, sugary candy; chocolate; fruit juice; or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
* Increased blood sugar may occur when not enough Glucotrol is taken; if you eat significantly more food than usual; if you exercise less than usual; if you take other medications; during fever or other illness; and in other situations.
* Hyperglycemia or High blood sugar has the following symptoms:
- increased thirst,
- increased hunger, and
- increased urination.
* There may be an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) complications with the use of Glucotrol when compared to the treatment of diabetes with diet or diet plus insulin. The long-term use of Glucotrol should be discussed with your doctor.
* Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.