Glyburide is part of a class of drugs called sulphonylureas. Sulphonylureas (like Glyburide or Diamicron), stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, the increased insulin levels in turn reduce blood glucose. These drugs can be increased to a maximum dose of 4 tablets a day although usually a lesser dose gives most of the effect of the maximum dose. If we give more than 4 tablets a day, we gain nothing and in fact the drug may become less effective while the side effects increase. The downside to this class of drug is that frequently the person with Diabetes is insulin resistant so increasing insulin quantities has only minimal effect. Another problem is that these drugs, particularly in the elderley may cause low blood sugars (although Diamicron is much less likely to do this) If control is not achieved then we ADD ON a member of another drug class.

Side Effects

Some side effects that may be experienced with this drug are nausea, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These tend to be dose related and may disappear when dosage is reduced.

Hypoglycemic Reactions: Severe hypoglycemia can be induced by all sulfonylurea drugs. Hypoglycemia is more likely to occur when the caloric intake is inadequate or after strenuous or prolonged exercise. The manifestations of hypoglycemia include: flushing or pallor, chilliness, excessive hunger, trembling, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, aggressiveness, depression, speech disorders, sensory and/or visual disturbances, helplessness, lassitude, shallow respiration or bradycardia.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following side effects:

• Unexplained fever, chills or sore throat
  
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
  
• Yellowing of skin or eyes, dark-colored urine or light-colored bowel movements
  
• Skin rash or hives
  
• Edema, swelling of the legs or unexpected weight gain.
  

If you have other side effects that you think might be caused by this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid: Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicine, including over-the-counter products.

• Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
  
• There are various drugs that can interact with Amaryl and change the way the medicine works. Some of these drugs are acetylsalicylic acid such as Aspirin, —sulfa drugs, warfarin and beta-blockers.
  
• Some medicines can make it harder for you to control your diabetes. These include diuretics (water pills), corticosteroids (such as prednisone), birth control pills, and some kinds of cold and allergy drugs.
  
• Make sure your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking these or any other medicines.

How to store these tablets:

• Store the tablets at room temperature (15 to 30°C) away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• As with all medicines, keep this product out of the reach of children.
  
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.