Glimepiride is used for:

Treating patients with type 2 diabetes who cannot control blood sugar levels by diet and exercise alone. Glimepiride may be used in combination with insulin.

Glimepiride is a sulfonylurea. Glimepiride lowers blood glucose (sugar) by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas gland. It also may help lower blood glucose by other actions on fat and muscle cells. Glimepiride does not work in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus because in this condition, the pancreas gland is not capable of making or releasing insulin.

Do NOT use Glimepiride if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Glimepiride
• you have type 1 diabetes, severe second or third degree burns, increased ketone levels, severely increased acid levels in your bodily fluids (acidosis), or a history of a diabetic coma
• you are pregnant and near delivery
• you are using bosentan or drink alcohol

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Glimepiride :

Some medical conditions may interact with Glimepiride. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have increased levels of acid in your bodily fluids (acidosis), a weak stomach, liver problems, intestinal problems, a high fever, kidney problems, severe diarrhea, an infection, or thyroid problems
• if you have recently suffered from major surgery or trauma, or you are debilitated or malnourished

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Glimepiride. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Bosentanbecause liver problems may occur and the effectiveness may be decreased
• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), certain medicines that act on the liver (eg, cimetidine, fluoxetine, miconazole, and others), chloramphenicol, clofibrate, fenfluramine, gemfibrozil, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen, celecoxib), oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), probenecid, salicylates (eg, aspirin), or sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole) because the risk of abnormally low blood sugar levels (eg, hunger, shakiness or weakness, dizziness, headache, sweating) may be increased
• Birth control pills, certain medicines that act on the liver (eg, phenytoin, rifampin, and others), diazoxide, diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), estrogens (eg, estradiol), gemfibrozil, isoniazid, nicotinic acid, phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), or certain stimulants (eg, albuterol, amphetamine, pseudoephedrine) because the effectiveness of Glimepiride may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Glimepiride may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Glimepiride :

Use Glimepiride as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• The usual dose is given once daily with breakfast or the first main meal of the day.
• If you miss a dose of Glimepiride , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Glimepiride.

Important safety information:

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using Glimepiride. It can increase the risk of developing abnormally low blood sugar. Alcohol can sometimes interact with Glimepiride and cause a serious reaction with symptoms such as facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or stomach pain.
• Sulfonylurea antidiabetic medicines have been associated with increased risk of death from heart disease. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of using Glimepiride and alternative treatments for your condition.
• Carry an identification card at all times that says you are diabetic. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly according to your doctor's directions. If your blood sugar level is often higher than it should be and you are taking Glimepiride according to directions, check with your doctor.
• Glimepiride may cause low blood sugar (eg, increased heartbeat, headache, chills, sweating, tremor, increased hunger, changes in vision, nervousness, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, or fainting). It is a good habit to carry glucose tablets or gel to treat low blood sugar. If you do not have a reliable source of glucose available, eat a quick source of sugar, such as table sugar, honey, or candy, or drink a glass of orange juice or nondiet soda to quickly raise your blood sugar level. Tell your doctor immediately about the reaction. To prevent low blood sugar levels, eat meals on a regular schedule and do not skip meals.
• Use Glimepiride with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially abnormally low blood sugar levels.
• Glimepiride is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Glimepiride during pregnancy. It is unknown if Glimepiride is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Glimepiride.

Possible side effects of Glimepiride :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; headache; nausea; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy waves often used in medicine. 2. The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

Replantation: 1. Literally, the act of planting again. 2. In surgery, the restoration of any part of the body to its original site. Also known as reimplantation.

The Chinese surgeon Zhong Wei Chen (1929-2004) was the "father of replantation." Dr. Chen was the first to reattach a severed hand with success which he did in 1963. Dr. Chen also developed many microsurgical procedures including techniques for preserving severed extremities, reattaching amputated fingers and thumbs, reconstructing muscles and repairing nerves and blood vessels.

Rheumatism: Rheumatism is an older term, used to describe any of a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.

Rheumatism conditions have been classified as either localized, regional, or generalized. Localized rheumatism conditions include bursitis and tendinitis. Regional rheumatism conditions include chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndromes. Generalized rheumatism conditions include fibromyalgia.

Another category of rheumatism is psychogenic rheumatism. With this term it is understood that the patient is reporting inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for the symptoms.

Rheumatology: A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the non-surgical evaluation and treatment of the rheumatic diseases and conditions. Rheumatic diseases and conditions are characterized by symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. Many of the rheumatic diseases and conditions feature immune system abnormalities. Therefore, rheumatology also involves the study of the immune system. Classical rheumatology training includes 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship in internal medicine, 2 years of internal medicine residency, and 2 years of rheumatology fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification. The American College of Rheumatology is the official organization acting on behalf of the field of rheumatology in the United States.

T cell: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.

Immature T cells (termed T-stem cells) migrate to the thymus gland in the neck, where they mature and differentiate into various types of mature T cells and become active in the immune system in response to a hormone called thymosin and other factors. T-cells that are potentially activated against the body's own tissues are normally killed or changed ("down-regulated") during this maturational process.

There are several different types of mature T cells. Not all of their functions are known. T cells can produce substances called cytokines such as the interleukins which further stimulate the immune response. T-cell activation is measured as a way to assess the health of patients with HIV/AIDS and less frequently in other disorders.

T cell are also known as T lymphocytes. The "T" stands for "thymus" -- the organ in which these cells mature. As opposed to B cells which mature in the bone marrow.

Teleology: The study of the ultimate purpose of the design of something in nature.

For example, "what is the true purpose of the nose?" is a teleological question and, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite purpose is a teleological explanation of evolution.

"Teleology" comes from ancient Greek roots but it (and teleological) did not enter English until the 18th century. It is a compound of the Greek "tele-, telos," meaning "end or purpose" + the ending "logos" meaning "the science or study of" = the study of the ends or purposes.

Testosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages the development of male sexual characteristics, stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics, and prevents changes in them following castration. Chemically, testosterone is 17-beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one.

Testosterone is the most potent of the naturally occurring androgens. The androgens cause the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deep voice and a beard; they also strengthen muscle tone and bone mass.

High levels of testosterone appear to promote good health in men, for example, lowering the risks of high blood pressure and heart attack. High testosterone levels also correlate with risky behavior, however, including increased aggressiveness and smoking, which may cancel out these health benefits.

Testosterone may be given to treat medical conditions, including female (but not male) breast cancer, hypogonadism (low gonadal function) in the male, cryptorchism (nondescent of the testis into the scrotum), and menorrhagia (irregular periods).