Glyburide

The recommended adult starting dose of glyburide is usually 5 mg daily (2.5 mg for patients over 60 years of age) and increases or decreases by 2.5 mg every 5 to 7 days until blood sugar is controlled. The recommended adult dose of glyburide ranges from 2.5 mg once daily to 10 mg twice daily. The maximum dose of glyburide is 20 mg daily.

Glyburide should be taken during or immediately after a meal, usually with breakfast or the first main meal of the day. If you eat only a light breakfast, wait until lunchtime to take your morning dose.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) is an important concern if too much of Glyburide is taken. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator what you should do when you are not going to be eating for a long period of time or when you are going to be exercising more than usual.

It is very important to monitor blood sugar levels closely, especially when increasing and decreasing doses of medication or when exercise level or weight changes occur. Your doctor or diabetes educator will instruct you on the best use of a diabetes monitor.

It is important to take Glyburide exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Glyburide at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture and keep it out of reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause diarrhea or constipation, depending on the person; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting; it may make your skin more sensitive to UV rays (e.g., sunlight, tanning lamps) - avoid exposure to UV rays as much as possible and protect yourself when out in the sun; it may cause heartburn; it may cause low blood sugar levels, which could make you feel dizzy, shaky or weak. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

2.5 mg
Each white, round, flat-faced, bevelled-edge tablet scored and engraved "GLY" over "2.5" on one side contains 2.5 mg of glyburide. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium and magnesium stearate.

Do not take glyburide if you:

• are allergic to glyburide or any ingredients of the medication
• are allergic to sulfonylurea or sulphonamide medications
• are breast-feeding or pregnant
• are in a diabetic coma or pre-coma (a result of hypoglycemia – symptoms include speech and visual disturbances, flushing, trembling, headache, nausea, vomiting)
• are taking the medication Bosentan
• are undergoing surgery or has recently suffered severe trauma (a loss of blood sugar control may occur and insulin administration may be required)
• have diabetic ketoacidosis with or without coma
• have a serious infection (a loss of blood sugar control may occur and insulin administration may be required)
• have jaundice
• have serious kidney or liver impairment
• have Type 1 Diabetes

There may be an interaction between glyburide and any of the following:

• Abiraterone
• acetylsalicylic acid (Asa)
• Acetazolamide
• alcohol
• Amiodarone
• androgens (e.g., methyltestosterone, nandrolone, testosterone)
• angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; Captopril, Ramipril)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., candasartan, Irbesartan, Losartan)
• Aprepitant
• atypical antipsychotics (e.g., Clozapine, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• barbiturates (e.g., Phenobarbital, secobarbital)
• beta-blockers(e.g. Atenolol, Carvedilol, Propranolol)
• birth control pills
• bosentan
• Capecitabine
• Carbamazepine
• Ceritinib
• clarithromycin
• Colesevelam
• corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisone)
• Cyclosporine
• Dabrafenib
• Disopyramide
• diuretics (e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide)
• Enzalutamide
• Epinephrine
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• fenofibric acid
• Fluorouracil
• Fluvastatin
• Gemfibrozil
• glucagon
• Goserelin
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Ifosfamide
• Lanreotide
• laxatives
• Leflunomide
• Leuprolide
• lumacaftor
• mifepristone
• milk thistle
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.O.S. e.g., Moclobemide, Phenelzine, Rasagiline, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine)
• Naltrexone
• Niacin
• nicotinic acid
• Nilotinib
• Octreotide
• Omeprazole
• other diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, insulin, Metformin, Nateglinide, Rosiglitazone)
• Pasireotide
• Pegvisomant
• Phenytoin
• primidone
• probenecid
• progestins (e.g., Dienogest, Levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, Norethindrone)
• pyrimethamine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, Ofloxacin)
• Ranitidine
• rifampin
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• sitaxentan
• somatostatin acetate
• Sorafenib
• sulfonamides (e.g., asulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole)
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• thyroid hormone
• Ticagrelor
• Tolbutamide
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• Trimethoprim
• Vorinostat
• Warfarin
• Zafirlukast

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Glyburide. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take Glyburide.

Allergy: Some people who are allergic to sulfonamide antibiotics and other sulfonylurea anti-diabetes medications also experience allergic reactions to glyburide. Before you take glyburide, inform your doctor about any previous adverse reactions you have had to medications, especially sulfamethoxazole or glipizide. Contact your doctor at once if you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face and throat.

Blood sugar control: For people who take glyburide, loss of blood sugar control may occur during illness or stressful situations such as trauma or surgery. Under these conditions, your doctor may consider stopping the medication and prescribing insulin until the situation improves.

Diabetes complications: The use of glyburide (or any other medication used for diabetes) will not prevent the development of complications peculiar to diabetes mellitus (e.g., Kidney Disease, nerve disease, eye disease).

Diet and exercise: Glyburide should be used in addition to a proper dietary regimen and exercise. If you do not follow a proper dietary and exercise regimen, it is more likely that glyburide will not work, and your diabetes will get worse.

Kidney function: If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how Glyburide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Glyburide, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Glyburide to build up in the body, which will cause side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Glyburide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Glyburide, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Glyburide.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Low blood sugar: As with other sulfonylurea medications like Gliclazide or Glimepiride, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may occur. Situations which may bring this on include:

• advanced age
• alcohol use
• certain Thyroid diseases
• exercise without adequate calorie intake
• liver disease or kidney disease
• malnutrition or irregular meals

Signs of low blood sugar include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• headache
• lack of energy
• nervousness
• numbness or tingling
• shakiness
• sweating
• weakness

Monitor your blood glucose regularly and keep emergency glucose (and a Glucagon kit) available in case you need to increase blood sugar levels quickly. Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about this.

Mental or physical abilities: Glyburide may reduce the mental or physical abilities required for hazardous tasks such as driving or operating dangerous machinery. Use appropriate caution until you have gained control of your blood sugar, when changing doses of medication, or when the tablets have not been taken regularly.

Reduced response: Over time, glyburide may become less effective as your diabetes worsens. If glyburide fails to lower your blood glucose to target levels, it should be stopped and replaced, or another medication for diabetes should be added to it. Monitor your blood glucose levels regularly and if you notice them getting higher, contact your doctor to discuss alternatives.

Pregnancy: Glyburide should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Glyburide, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: Glyburide may pass into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking glyburide, it may affect your baby. Glyburide is not recommended for use by breast-feeding women.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children under the age of 18.

Seniors: Seniors with type 2 diabetes may be more likely to experience very low blood sugar as a result of using glyburide. Lower doses may be necessary.

This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. Like all individuals with diabetes, you should monitor your blood sugar levels regularly using the appropriate device. If you remember missing a dose within 30 minutes of taking your meal, take the missed dose as soon as possible, then take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. If more than 30 minutes have elapsed since your meal, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. Users of this medication should be aware of the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which include confusion, headache, hunger, mood changes, palpitations, rapid breathing, cold sweats and shakiness. These symptoms require immediate treatment, to bring your blood sugar back up to a safe level. This can be done with a quick source of sugar, such as: 4 or 5 glucose tablets 59 to 79 mL of liquid glucose 15 to 20 mL (3 or 4 teaspoons) of honey, maple syrup or corn syrup 6 to 8 LifeSavers type candies 150 to 200 mL (2/3 to 3/4 cup) of fruit juice or regular soft drink (not a diet soft drink) 4 or 5 packets of white sugar (3 or 4 teaspoons) dissolved in water Inform your health care professional if these symptoms have occurred, as it may mean that your diet and/or medication needs to be adjusted. It is preferable to take this medication with a meal. Consuming alcohol with this product may cause adverse effects such as flushing, dizziness or nausea and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Limit alcohol consumption during treatment.