Side Effects Of Glimepiride

NHS medicines information on side effects of glimepiride and what you can do to cope.

Common side effects

Like all medicines, glimepiride can cause side effects in some people. But most people have no side effects, or only minor ones.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you get any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people may have serious side effects after taking glimepiride.

Call your doctor or call 111 now if:

• the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or Black skin - these can be signs of a liver problem
• you have a sore throat and high temperature, your skin is unusually pale, you are bleeding for longer than usual or you get unexpected bruises - these can be signs of a blood disorder

Low blood sugar

Glimepiride can sometimes cause low blood sugar (known as hypoglycaemia, or "hypos").

Early warning signs of low blood sugar include:

• feeling hungry
• trembling or shaking
• sweating
• confusion
• difficulty concentrating

It's also possible for your blood sugar to go too low while you're asleep. If this happens, it can make you feel sweaty, tired and confused when you wake up.

Low blood sugar may happen if you:

• take too much of some types of diabetes medicines
• do not eat meals regularly, or skip meals
• are fasting
• do not eat a healthy diet and are not getting enough nutrients
• change what you eat
• increase your physical activity without eating more to compensate
• drink alcohol, especially after skipping a meal
• take some other medicines or herbal remedies at the same time
• have a hormone disorder such as hypothyroidism
• have kidney or liver problems

To prevent hypos, it's important to have regular meals, including breakfast. Never miss or delay a meal.

If you're planning to exercise more than usual, make sure you eat carbohydrates like bread, pasta or cereals before, during or after exercise.

Always carry a fast-acting carbohydrate with you, like sugar cubes, fruit juice or some sweets, in case your blood sugar level gets low. Artificial sweeteners will not help.

You may also need to eat a starchy carbohydrate, like a sandwich or a biscuit, to maintain your blood sugar for longer.

If taking in sugar does not help or if the hypo symptoms come back, contact your doctor or the nearest hospital.

Make sure your friends and family know about your diabetes and the symptoms of low blood sugar levels so they can recognise a hypo if it happens.

Serious allergic reaction

It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to glimepiride.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of glimepiride. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.