Brand Name

Glyburide

Generic Name

glyburide, pronounced GLYE bue ride

 

What is Glyburide?

Glyburide is an oral diabetes medication for people with type 2 diabetes. Glyburide can help to control your blood sugar levels by regulating the amount of insulin your body produces after eating. Glyburide should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes.

Glyburide may also be used for purposes not described in this medication guide.

 

Key Facts about Glyburide

You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking Glyburide, as it can lower your blood sugar.

Glyburide is in FDA pregnancy category C. You should not use Glyburide if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or nursing. We do not yet know the effects Glyburide has on an unborn baby. Similar diabetes medications have been reported to cause severe hypoglycemia in newborn babies whose mothers had used the medication near the time of their delivery. Because we do not know if Glyburide passes into breast milk you should not breast-feed while taking Glyburide.

You should always keep a source of sugar available in case you experience symptoms of low blood sugar. Sources of sugar include hard candy, orange juice, glucose gel, or milk.

Glyburide is only a part of a complete program of treatment to help your blood sugar condition. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment plan for you which may include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, and dental care, as well as regular testing of your blood sugar. You should follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

You will need to check your blood sugar often, particularly during a time of illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, skip meals or are under great stress. These factors can affect your glucose levels. Tell your doctor if your levels are not where they should be and you may need a dose adjustment of Glyburide. Your doctor will decide if you need a dosage change, and how much of a change you may need. Do not attempt to change your dose of Glyburide without consulting your doctor first.

 

Before You Take Glyburide

If you are allergic to Glyburide or being treated with bosentan (Tracleer) you should not take Glyburide.

If you are allergic to sulfa drugs you should not take Glyburide.

If you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis or if you have type 1 diabetes you should not take Glyburide.

If you have hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells) or liver disease you should tell your doctor before starting treatment with Glyburide.

Tell your doctor if you are on dialysis or have kidney disease before starting treatment with Glyburide.

Tell your doctor if you have an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, or G6PD.

If you have been taking insulin or chlorpropamide (Diabinese) you should tell your doctor before you take Glyburide.

Glyburide may cause you to be more sensitive to the effects of the sun. You should wear SPF and protective clothing when going outdoors while you are taking Glyburide, and avoid tanning beds.

 

Glyburide Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications, as they may make it harder for you to tell when you have low blood sugar:

• albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
• beta-blockers like atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran) and sotalol (Betapace)
• clonidine (Catapres)
• reserpine
• Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications, as they may make you more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if taken with Glyburide:
• antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin) and ofloxacin (Floxin)
• aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol)
• blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin)
• disopyramide (Norpace)
• exenatide (Byetta)
• fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• oral diabetes medications like acarbose (Precose), metformin (Glucophage), miglitol (Glyset), pioglitazone (Actos), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Gantanol, Septra)

The following medications may be more likely to cause you to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take Glyburide with them:

• asthma or allergy medications
• birth control pills or other hormones
• cold medications
• diuretics or water pills
• heart or blood pressure medications (Cartia, Cardizem, Nifedical, Covera, Verelan)
• isoniazid
• niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Niaspan, Simcor and Slo-Niacin)
• phenothiazine (Compazine)
• seizure medicines like Dilantin
• steroids (prednisone)
• thyroid medications like Synthroid
• Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications:
• ACE inhibitors like enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and ramipril (Altace)
• blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• disopyramide (Norpace)
• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater)

You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

 

Directions for Taking Glyburide

You should take Glyburide exactly how your doctor has told you to. It is important that you do not take Glyburide in larger or smaller amounts, or for longer or shorter than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label and follow any dose changes carefully if your doctor instructs you to change your dose.

Glyburide should be taken at breakfast or with the first main meal of the day.

Take Glyburide with a full glass of water.

While you are taking Glyburide you will need to have your blood sugar checked regularly. Plan to see your doctor often to be sure that Glyburide is working for you. You should know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them. These signs are headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, or trouble concentrating.

Glyburide is part of a complete program of treatment that your doctor may have prescribed for you. This program may include may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and regular monitoring of your blood sugar. You should follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

Glyburide should be stored at room temperature, and away from both moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose of Glyburide you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if your next dose is less than 12 hours away you should skip the dose you missed.

 

Glyburide Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Glyburide and seek emergency medical help immediately:

• allergic reaction including breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your face, lips, throat or tongue
• bleeding or bruising easily with red or purple spots under your skin
• clay colored stools
• dark colored urine
• faint feeling
• memory problems or trouble concentrating
• muscle pain and weakness
• nausea and vomiting with loss of appetite
• numbness or tingly feeling
• pale skin with easy bruising or bleeding, fever and unusual weakness
• restlessness or irritability with confusion or hallucinations
• seizures
• shortness of breath
• unsteady feeling
• upper stomach pain with a low grade fever and jaundice

Less serious Glyburide side effects may include:

• blurry vision
• full feeling
• heartburn
• joint or muscle pain
• nausea
• skin rash with mild itching
• joint or muscle pain

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Glyburide. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

 

Glyburide Description and Dosing

Glyburide is available in available in several dosages under varying trade names. These are:

DiaBeta

Tablets are available in 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg and 5 mg.

Glynase PresTab

Tablets are available in micronized 1.5 mg, micronized 3 mg and micronized 6 mg

Other brand names of Glyburide include:

Apo-Glyburide (Canada)

Gen-Glybe (Canada)

Nu-Glyburide (Canada)

PMS-Glyburide (Canada)

ratio-Glyburide (Canada)

Sandoz Glyburide (Canada)

Teva-Glyburide (Canada)

Your doctor will decide what dose of Glyburide is right for you. Do not attempt to alter or change your dose without your physician’s consent.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Glyburide you should seek emergency help immediately.

 

Ingredients in Glyburide

The main ingredient in Glyburide is glyburide.

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