Key facts about Amaryl
What is Amaryl?
Amaryl is the brand name for glimepiride and is available as an oral tablet.
What dosages is Amaryl available in?
Amaryl is available as a 1 mg, 2 mg, and 4 mg tablet.
What is Amaryl used for?
Amaryl is a sulfonylurea indicated along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
How does Amaryl work?
Amaryl is a sulfonylurea. It works by attaching to certain pancreatic cells in your body that make insulin. When glimepiride (Amaryl) is attached, it tells your pancreas to release more insulin into the blood, which helps to lower blood sugar.
How do I take Amaryl?
Amaryl is typically started at 1 mg or 2 mg once daily. The dose can then be increased in 1 mg or 2 mg increments every 1–2 weeks based on your blood sugar readings. The maximum recommended dose is 8 mg once daily.
Is it safe for me to take Amaryl?
Amaryl is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not take Amaryl if you are allergic to glimepiride, any of the product’s ingredients, or to sulfonamide derivatives.
Amaryl Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Amaryl include:
- Shakiness
- Anxiety, and other symptoms of low blood sugar levels
- Headache
- Fever, cough, and other flu-like symptoms
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Amaryl Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Amaryl. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe skin or allergic reactions: rash, blisters, sores, trouble breathing, swelling
- Low blood sugar: shakiness, fast heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, anxiety, confusion, feeling very hungry
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Amaryl
The following medications may interact with Amaryl:
- Other medications that affect bloood sugar levels – may require Amaryl dose adjustment and close monitoring of blood sugar levels
- Miconazole – Severe hypoglycemia can occur when Amaryl and oral miconazole are used concomitantly
- Inhibitors and inducers of cytochrome P450 2C9 may affect glycemic control by changing Amaryl plasma concentrations
- Colesevelam – coadministration may reduce Amaryl absorption. Amaryl should be administered at least 4 hours prior to colesevelam
Who makes Amaryl?
Sanofi-Aventis U.S.
Is Amaryl safe in pregnancy?
It is not known if Amaryl will harm your unborn baby. However, it is known that it will cross the placenta and has been associated with neonatal adverse reactions such as hypoglycemia. Therefore, Amaryl should be discontinued at least two weeks before expected delivery.
