Glimepiride Sandoz® glimepiride tablets Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet This medicine is available only with deficiency or glucose-galactose a doctor's prescription. malabsorption. This leaflet answers some common Do not take this medicine if you questions about Glimepiride are pregnant or intend becoming Sandoz. pregnant. It may affect your developing baby It does not contain all the available Before you take if you take it during pregnancy. information. It does not take the Glimepiride Sandoz place of talking to your doctor or Insulin is more suitable for pharmacist. When you must not take it controlling blood glucose during pregnancy. Your doctor will replace All medicines have risks and Do not take this medicine if you Glimepiride with insulin. benefits. Your doctor has weighed have an allergy to: the risks of you taking this medicine • glimepiride, the active Do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding or plan to against the benefits they expect it ingredient, or to any of the other breastfeed. will have for you. ingredients listed at the end of The active ingredient in If you have any concerns about this leaflet under Product Glimepiride Sandoz passes into taking this medicine, ask your description breast milk and there is a possibility doctor or pharmacist. • other sulfonylureas (e.g. that your baby may be affected. Keep this leaflet with the Minidiab, Diamicron or Daonil) medicine. Do not give this medicine to • any other similar medicines such children. You may need to read it again. as sulfonamides (e.g. sulphur Safety and effectiveness in children antibiotics or thiazide diuretics). has not been established. Some of the symptoms of an Do not take this medicine after allergic reaction may include: What Glimepiride the expiry date printed on the Sandoz is used for • shortness of breath pack or if the packaging is torn or • wheezing or difficulty breathing shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, This medicine is used to control • swelling of the face, lips, tongue return it to your pharmacist for blood glucose (sugar) in patients or other parts of the body disposal. with type 2 diabetes mellitus. • rash, itching or hives on the If you are not sure whether you It contains the active ingredient skin. should start taking this medicine, glimepiride. Do not take this medicine if you talk to your doctor. Glimepiride belongs to a group of have or have had any of the following medical conditions: medicines called sulfonylureas. Before you start to take it • a previous reaction to It works by increasing the amount Tell your doctor if you have glimepiride, other sulfonylureas of insulin produced by your allergies to any other medicines, or sulphonamides pancreas. foods, preservatives or dyes. • type 1 diabetes mellitus Ask your doctor if you have any Tell your doctor if you have or questions about why this • diabetic ketoacidosis have had any of the following medicine has been prescribed for • diabetic coma or pre-coma medical conditions: you. • severe kidney disease or if you • kidney problems Your doctor may have prescribed it require dialysis • liver problems for another reason. • severe liver failure • unstable diabetes This medicine is not addictive. • hereditary problems of galactose • adrenal, pituitary or thyroid intolerance, Lapp lactase problems Glimepiride Sandoz® Published by MIMS December 2017 1 • heart failure • some antidepressants, Follow the instructions they give • glucose-6-phosphate psychiatric and sedating you. dehydrogenase (G6PD) medicines If you take the wrong dose, deficiency • some medicines used to treat Glimepiride Sandoz may not work as well and your condition may not • diabetic coma. epilepsy improve. Tell your doctor if you: • some medicines used to treat high blood pressure and some Your doctor will tell you how many • drink alcohol in any amount heart conditions, such as ACE tablets to take each day. Depending • do not eat regular meals inhibitors and beta-blockers on your blood glucose levels, your • do a lot of exercise or heavy • some medicines used to treat doctor may increase or decrease the exercise or work blood clots, blood vessel dose. • are ill or feeling unwell. problems and irregular heart Alcohol, diet, exercise and your rhythms such as coumarin How to take it general health all strongly affect the derivatives Swallow the tablets whole with a control of your diabetes. • some fluid and glaucoma full glass of water. If you have not told your doctor medications about any of the above, tell • large doses of laxatives. When to take Glimepiride him/her before you start taking These medicines may be affected by Sandoz Glimepiride Sandoz. Glimepiride Sandoz or may affect Take your medicine at about the Taking other medicines how well it works. You may need same time each day. different amounts of your Taking it at the same time each day Tell your doctor or pharmacist if medicines, or you may need to take will have the best effect. It will also you are taking any other different medicines. help you remember when to take it. medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from Certain medicines such as beta- Take your medicine during or your pharmacy, supermarket or blockers and clonidine may hide the immediately after a meal, at health food shop. warning symptoms of about the same time each day. hypoglycaemia (low blood Some medicines and Glimepiride Glimepiride Sandoz tablets are glucose). Sandoz may interfere with each usually taken once a day, other. These include: Your doctor and pharmacist have immediately before breakfast. If more information on medicines to your breakfast is very light, you • alcohol be careful with or avoid while may wait until lunch to take the • other medicines used to treat taking this medicine. tablet. diabetes such as metformin or Do not skip meals while taking insulin Glimepiride Sandoz. • some medicines used to treat reflux and stomach ulcers How to take How long to take Glimepiride • some anti-inflammatory Glimepiride Sandoz Sandoz medicines, such as aspirin, Continue taking your medicine ibuprofen, naproxen or Follow all directions given to you for as long as your doctor tells mesalazine by your doctor or pharmacist you. • some medicines used to treat carefully. This medicine helps to control your arthritis and gout They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet. condition, but does not cure it. It is • some antibiotics, such as important to keep taking your clarithromycin or rifampicin If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or medicine even if you feel well. • anabolic steroids pharmacist for help. • oral contraceptives If you forget to take it • corticosteroids, glucagon, How much to take Take your dose as soon as you thyroid hormones and other Ask your doctor or pharmacist if remember, and continue to take it as hormonal medications you are unsure of the correct dose you would normally. • some cancer and organ for you. If it is almost time for your next transplant treatments They will tell you exactly how dose, skip the dose you missed and • some cholesterol-lowering and much to take. take your next dose when you are weight reduction medicines meant to. Glimepiride Sandoz® Published by MIMS December 2017 2 Tell your doctor if you have missed While you are taking • numbness around the lips and several doses. Glimepiride Sandoz tongue. Missed doses can cause Always carry some sugary food or drink with you. hyperglycaemia (high blood Things you must do glucose). If you experience any of the If you are about to be started on symptoms of hypoglycaemia, raise Do not take a double dose to any new medicine, remind your your blood glucose quickly by make up for the dose that you doctor and pharmacist that you missed. are taking Glimepiride Sandoz. taking one of the following: This may increase the risk of Tell any other doctors, dentists, • 5-7 jelly beans hypoglycaemia (low blood and pharmacists who treat you • 3 teaspoons of sugar or honey glucose). that you are taking this medicine. • 1/2 can of sugar-containing soft If you are not sure what to do, ask If you are going to have surgery, drink your doctor or pharmacist. tell the surgeon or anaesthetist • 2-3 concentrated glucose tablets. that you are taking this medicine. If you have trouble remembering to Unless you are within 10-15 take your medicine, ask your If you become pregnant while minutes of your next meal or snack, pharmacist for some hints. taking this medicine, tell your follow up with extra carbohydrates doctor immediately. such as plain biscuits, fruit or milk. If you take too much If you are about to have any Taking this extra carbohydrate will (overdose) blood tests, tell your doctor that prevent a second drop in your blood you are taking this medicine. Immediately telephone your glucose level. It may interfere with the results of doctor or the Poisons Information If hypoglycaemia is severe, it can some tests. Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for result in seizures or a loss of advice, or go to Accident and Keep all of your doctor's consciousness. In this case, an Emergency at the nearest appointments so that your ambulance should be called hospital, if you think that you or progress can be checked. immediately. anyone else may have taken too Your doctor may do some regular much Glimepiride Sandoz. Do The risk of hypoglycaemia is tests to make sure the medicine is this even if there are no signs of increased in the following discomfort or poisoning. working and to prevent unwanted situations: You may need urgent medical side effects. These include: • too much Glimepiride Sandoz attention. • blood glucose testing • certain other medicines Symptoms of an overdose may • checks of your eyes, feet, • too much or unexpected exercise kidneys, heart, circulation, blood include symptoms of • delayed meal or snack and blood pressure.