I am diabetic

Drug Name
Amaryl (Glimepiride)

Generic Name
Glimepiride (glye-MEP-i-ride)

Manufacturer / Distributor
Aventis Pharmaceuticals

Looks like
Glimepiride is available with a prescription under the brand name Amaryl. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Amaryl 1 mg-pink, flat-faced, oblong tablets
• Amaryl 2 mg-green, flat-faced, oblong tablets
• Amaryl 4 mg-blue, flat-faced, oblong tablets

Dosage Form
Tablets

Route Of Administration
ORAL

Imprint Code
AMA;RYL

Size
10mm

Alternatives
Glucotrol XL

Drug Uses
Amaryl is an anti-diabetic drug (sulfonylurea-type) used along with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar. It is used in patients with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes). It works by stimulating the release of your body’s natural insulin. Effectively controlling high blood sugar.
Helps prevent:

• heart disease,
• strokes,
• kidney disease,
• blindness,
• and circulation problems, as well as sexual function problems (impotence).

Drug class
Amaryl is an oral blood sugar-lowering drug in a class of medicines for controlling diabetes called sulfonylureas. Amaryl is related to other sulfonylureas including:

• glyburide (Micronase; Diabeta),
• glipizide (Glucotrol),
• tolbutamide (Orinase)
• and tolazamide (Tolinase).

Amaryl is used in type II diabetes, the most common type of diabetes that is found in 90% of patients with diabetes. In type II diabetes, insulin usually is not necessary to control the blood sugar. Instead, diet and oral medications often are sufficient. Intolerance to sugar that results in elevated blood sugar is caused by reduced insulin secretion by the pancreas and resistance to insulin’s effects by the body’s cells. Amaryl lowers the sugar level in the blood by stimulating insulin to be secreted from the pancreas into the blood. Insulin causes sugar to leave the blood and enter cells throughout the body.

Contains
Amaryl (glimepiride tablets) is an oral blood-glucose-lowering drug of the sulfonylurea class. Glimepiride is a white to yellowish-white, crystalline, odorless to practically odorless powder formulated into tablets of 1-mg, 2-mg, and 4-mg strengths for oral administration.
Amaryl Tablets contain:

• the active ingredient glimepiride
• and the following inactive ingredients: lactose (hydrous), sodium starch glycolate, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate.

In addition, Amaryl 1-mg tablets contain Ferric Oxide Red,
Amaryl 2-mg tablets contain Ferric Oxide Yellow and FD&C Blue #2 Aluminum Lake,
and Amaryl 4-mg tablets contain FD&C Blue #2 Aluminum Lake.

Chemical formula
Chemically, glimepiride is identified as 1 – [[p - [2 - (3 - ethyl - 4 - methyl - 2 - oxo - 3 - pyrroline - 1 - carboxamido)ethyl]phenyl]sulfonyl] – 3 – (trans – 4 – methylcyclohexyl)urea. The CAS Registry Number is 93479-97-1.

Mechanism of Action
The primary mechanism of action of glimepiride in lowering blood glucose appears to be dependent on stimulating the release of insulin from functioning pancreatic beta cells. In addition, extrapancreatic effects may also play a role in the activity of sulfonylureas such as glimepiride. This is supported by both preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating that glimepiride administration can lead to increased sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin. These findings are consistent with the results of a long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which Amaryl therapy improved postprandial insulin/C-peptide responses and overall glycemic control without producing clinically meaningful increases in fasting insulin/C-peptide levels. However, as with other sulfonylureas, the mechanism by which glimepiride lowers blood glucose during long-term administration has not been clearly established.
Amaryl is effective as initial drug therapy. In patients where monotherapy with Amaryl or metformin has not produced adequate glycemic control, the combination of Amaryl and metformin may have a synergistic effect, since both agents act to improve glucose tolerance by different primary mechanisms of action. This complementary effect has been observed with metformin and other sulfonylureas, in multiple studies.

How Taken
Take amaryl 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.
Amaryl is usually taken once a day, with breakfast or the first main meal. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
It is important to take amaryl regularly to get the most benefit.
Your healthcare provider may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with blood or urine tests.
Do not change your dose of glimepiride without first talking to your doctor.

Dosage and Administration
ADULTS
The usual starting dose is 1 to 2 milligrams taken once daily with breakfast or the first main meal. The maximum starting dose is 2 milligrams.
If necessary, your doctor will gradually increase the dose 1 or 2 milligrams at a time every 1 or 2 weeks. Your diabetes will probably be controlled on 1 to 4 milligrams a day; the most you should take in a day is 8 milligrams. If the maximum dose fails to do the job, your doctor may add Glucophage to your regimen. Weakened or malnourished people and those with adrenal, pituitary, kidney, or liver disorders are particularly sensitive to hypoglycemic drugs such as Amaryl and should start at 1 milligram once daily. Your doctor will increase your medication based on your response to the drug.

CHILDREN
Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

Usual Starting Dose
The usual starting dose of Amaryl as initial therapy is 1-2 mg once daily, administered with breakfast or the first main meal. Those patients who may be more sensitive to hypoglycemic drugs should be started at 1 mg once daily, and should be titrated carefully.
No exact dosage relationship exists between Amaryl and the other oral hypoglycemic agents. The maximum starting dose of Amaryl should be no more than 2 mg.

Usual Maintenance Dose
The usual maintenance dose is 1 to 4 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose is 8 mg once daily. After reaching a dose of 2 mg, dosage increases should be made in increments of no more than 2 mg at 1-2 week intervals based upon the patient’s blood glucose response. Long-term efficacy should be monitored by measurement of HbA1c levels, for example, every 3 to 6 months.

Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center ( http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm ), or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of a glimepiride overdose include hunger, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats, weakness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and coma.

Storage
Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

How Supplied
Amaryl Tablets are available in the following strengths and package sizes:

• 1 mg (pink, flat-faced, oblong with notched sides at double bisect, either imprinted with “AMA RYL” on one side) or imprinted with “AMA RYL” on one side and the Hoechst logo on both sides of the bisect on the other side)
  [Bottles of 100] [(NDC 0039-0221-10)]
• 2 mg (green, flat-faced, oblong with notched sides at double bisect, either imprinted with “AMA RYL” on one side) or imprinted with “AMA RYL” on one side and the Hoechst logo on both sides of the bisect on the other side)
  [Bottles of 100] [(NDC 0039-0222-10)]
  [Unit Dose Cartons (100)] [(NDC 0039-0222-11)]
• 4 mg (blue, flat-faced, oblong with notched sides at double bisect, either imprinted with “AMA RYL” on one side, or imprinted with “AMA RYL” on one side and the Hoechst logo on both sides of the bisect on the other side)
  [Bottles of 100] [(NDC 0039-0223-10)]
  [Unit Dose Cartons (100)] [(NDC 0039-0223-11)]

Most important information about Amaryl

Pharmacokinetics

Possible Side Effects

More information about AMARYL (Glimepiride):

Amaryl-Metformin Combination Therapy

Amaryl-Insulin Combination Therapy

FDA MedWatch Alerts

To buy Amaryl click HERE: My Family Drugstore

Tags: Amaryl (Glimepiride), Conditions & Treatments, Medications, Type 2 Diabetes

This entry was posted on Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 3:10 pm and is filed under Amaryl, Medications, Type 2 Diabetes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.