Glyburide

Glyburide is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Glyburide is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction

Generic name: Glyburide

Brand names: DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase

Drug class: Sulfonylureas

Uses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Dierctions for use

  • Glyburide is usually taken with breakfast or the first main meal of the day.

  • Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

  • Your blood sugar may need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor’s office.

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen to anyone who has diabetes. Symptoms include headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky. To quickly treat low blood sugar, always keep a fast-acting source of sugar with you such as fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda.

  • Your doctor can prescribe a glucagon emergency injection kit to use in case you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink. Be sure your family and close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.

  • Also watch for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination.

  • Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.

  • If your doctor changes your brand, strength, or type of glyburide, your dosage needs may change. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the new kind of glyburide you receive at the pharmacy.

Side effects

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • Dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

  • Severe skin rash, redness, or itching

  • Pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding

  • Fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores

  • Low levels of sodium in the bodyheadache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

  • Older adults may be more likely to have low blood sugar while taking glyburide.

Common glyburide side effects may include:

  • Low blood sugar

  • Nausea, heartburn, feeling full

  • Muscle or joint pain

  • Blurred vision

  • Mild rash or skin redness.

What drugs will affect glyburide?

  • If you also take colesevelam, take your glyburide dose 4 hours before you take colesevelam.

  • Glyburide may not work as well when you use other medicines at the same time.

  • Many other drugs can also affect blood sugar control. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Warnings

  • You should not use glyburide if you are being treated with bosentan (Tracleer), or if you have diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment). Glyburide is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

  • Before taking glyburide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, if you have been using insulin or chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or if you have hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells), an enzyme deficiency (G6PD), a nerve disorder, liver disease, or kidney disease.

  • Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress.

  • Symptoms include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremor, irritability, or trouble concentrating. Carry hard candy or glucose tablets with you in case you have low blood sugar.

  • Other sugar sources include orange juice and milk. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.

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