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Glyburide |
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What is Glyburide and why is it prescribed? Glyburide is an oral antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, the kind that occurs when the body either does not make enough insulin or fails to use insulin properly. Insulin transfers sugar from the bloodstream to the body's cells, where it is then used for energy. Type 2 diabetes can usually be treated by dietary changes, exercise, and/or oral antidiabetic medications such as Glyburide. Glyburide controls diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin and by helping insulin to work better. Type 2 diabetics may need insulin injections, sometimes only temporarily during stressful periods such as illness, or on a long-term basis if an oral antidiabetic medication fails to control blood sugar. Glyburide is an aid to, not a substitute for, good diet and exercise. Failure to follow a sound diet and exercise plan can lead to serious complications, such as dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. Glyburide is not an oral form of insulin, and cannot be used in place of insulin. How should you take Glyburide? Follow your doctors directions for taking Glyburide. In general, Glyburide should be taken with breakfast or the first main meal of the day. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take two doses at the same time. Keep Glyburide in the container it came in, tightly closed. Store it at room temperature. Are there any Glyburide side effects? Glyburide side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Many side effects from Glyburide are rare and seldom require discontinuation of the medication. More common Glyburide side effects may include bloating, heartburn, and nausea. Less common or rare Glyburide side effects may include anemia and other blood disorders, blurred vision, changes in taste, headache, hives, itching, joint pain, liver problems, muscle pain, reddening of the skin, skin eruptions, skin rash, and yellowing of the skin. Glyburide, like all oral antidiabetics, may cause hypoglycemia especially in elderly, weak, and undernourished people, and those with kidney, liver, adrenal, or pituitary gland problems. The risk of hypoglycemia can be increased by missed meals, alcohol, other medications, fever, trauma, infection, surgery, or excessive exercise. To avoid hypoglycemia, you should closely follow the dietary and exercise plan suggested by your physician. Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia may include cold sweat, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, headache, nausea, and nervousness. Symptoms of more severe hypoglycemia may include coma, pale skin, seizures, and shallow breathing. Eating sugar or a sugar-based product will often correct mild hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia should be considered a medical emergency, and prompt medical attention is essential. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Glyburide? If Glyburide is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Glyburide with Airway-opening drugs (such as Proventil and Ventolin), Anabolic steroids (such as testosterone and Danazol), Antacids (such as Mylanta), Aspirin, Beta blockers (such as the blood pressure medications Inderal and Tenormin), Blood thinners (such as Coumadin), Calcium channel blockers (such as the blood pressure medications Cardizem and Procardia), Certain antibiotics (such as Cipro), Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), Cimetidine (Tagamet), Clofibrate (Atromid-S), Estrogens (such as Premarin), Fluconazole (Diflucan), Furosemide (Lasix), Gemfibrozil (Lopid), Isoniazid (Nydrazid), Itraconazole (Sporanox), Major tranquilizers (such as Stelazine and Mellaril), MAO inhibitors (such as the antidepressants Nardil and Parnate), Metformin (Glucophage), Niacin (Niacor, Niaspan), Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Voltaren), Oral contraceptives, Phenytoin (Dilantin), Probenecid (Benemid), Steroids (such as prednisone), Sulfa drugs (such as Bactrim or Septra), Thiazide diuretics (such as the water pills Diuril and HydroDIURIL), or Thyroid medications (such as Synthroid). Be careful about drinking alcohol, since excessive alcohol consumption can cause low blood sugar. Are there any special warnings about Glyburide? It's possible that drugs such as Glyburide may lead to more heart problems than diet treatment alone, or diet plus insulin. If you have a heart condition, you may want to discuss this with your doctor. If you are taking Glyburide, you should check your blood or urine periodically for abnormal sugar levels. It is important that you closely follow the diet and exercise plan recommended by your doctor. The effectiveness of any oral antidiabetic, including Glyburide, may decrease with time. This may occur either because of a diminished responsiveness to the medication or a worsening of the diabetes. |
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