What is glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone is a combination of two oral diabetes medicines that help control
blood sugar levels.
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone is for people with type 2 diabetes who do not use daily insulin
injections. This medication is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Do not use glimepiride and rosiglitazone if you have advanced heart failure if you are in a
state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone should not be used together with nitrate medication, such as
nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Transderm-Nitro, and others), isosorbide dinitrate
(Dilatrate, Isordil, Isochron), or isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Tell your doctor if
you regularly use this type of medication.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take
this medication. Before taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone, tell your doctor if you have:
-
congestive heart failure or heart disease;
-
a history of heart attack or stroke;
-
liver disease;
-
kidney or adrenal gland disorders; or
-
eye problems caused by diabetes.
Taking certain oral diabetes medications may increase your risk of
serious heart problems. However, not treating your diabetes can damage your heart and other organs.
Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treating your diabetes with glimepiride and
rosiglitazone.
Some women using glimepiride and rosiglitazone have started having menstrual periods,
even after not having a period for a long time due to a medical condition. You may be able to get
pregnant if your periods restart. Talk with your doctor about the need for birth control.
Women may also be more likely than men to have bone fractures in the upper arm, hand, or
foot while taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about this
possibility.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an
unborn baby. Before taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally
change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Take glimepiride and rosiglitazone with your first meal of the day.
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes
diet, exercise, and weight control. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit.
Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a
regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested, and you may need regular eye exams. It
is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious
infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking glimepiride and
rosiglitazone for a short time if any of these situations affect you.
Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have
hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress.
Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them:
-
hunger, headache, confusion, irritability;
-
drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors;
-
sweating, fast heartbeat;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).
Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low
blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe
hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a
prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.
Store glimepiride and rosiglitazone at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and
light.
What happens if I miss a dose of glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food). If it
is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly
scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Your pharmacist has information about glimepiride and rosiglitazone written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Stop using glimepiride and rosiglitazone and get emergency medical help if you have any of
these
signs of an allergic reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face,
lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
-
swelling or rapid weight gain;
-
vision problems;
-
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or
shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
-
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the
body;
-
sudden headache, confusion, problems with speech or
balance; or
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
sneezing, runny nose, cough or other signs of a cold;
-
pale skin, easy bruising;
-
headache;
-
dizziness;
-
vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain; or
-
mild itching or skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Do not use glimepiride and rosiglitazone if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. Call
your doctor for treatment with insulin.
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone should not be used together with nitrate medication, such as
nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Transderm-Nitro, and others), isosorbide dinitrate
(Dilatrate, Isordil, Isochron), or isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Tell your doctor if
you regularly use this type of medication.
Before taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure
or heart disease, a history of heart attack or stroke, liver disease, kidney or adrenal gland disorders, or
eye problems caused by diabetes.
Glimepiride and rosiglitazone is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes
diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Changing any of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.
Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have
hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress.
Some women using glimepiride and rosiglitazone have started having menstrual periods,
even after not having a period for a long time due to a medical condition. You may be able to get
pregnant if your periods restart. Talk with your doctor about the need for birth control.
Women may also be more likely than men to have bone fractures in the upper arm, hand, or
foot while taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about this
possibility.
Taking certain oral diabetes medications may increase your risk of serious heart problems.
However, not treating your diabetes can damage your heart and other organs. Talk to your doctor
about the risks and benefits of treating your diabetes with glimepiride and rosiglitazone.
What should I avoid while taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone. Alcohol can lower your
blood sugar.
What other drugs will affect glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
Some medications may interact with glimepiride and rosiglitazone. Tell your doctor if you are
using any of the following drugs:
-
gemfibrozil (Gemcor);
-
phenytoin (Dilantin);
-
rifampin (Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane); or
-
fluconazole (Diflucan) or miconazole (Monistat).
You may be more likely to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you are
taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone with other drugs that raise blood sugar. Drugs that can raise blood
sugar include:
-
isoniazid;
-
diuretics (water pills);
-
steroids (prednisone and others);
-
phenothiazines (Compazine and others);
-
thyroid medicine (Synthroid and others);
-
birth control pills and other hormones;
-
seizure medicines (Dilantin and others); and
-
diet pills or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies.
You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you are
taking glimepiride and rosiglitazone with other drugs that lower blood sugar. Drugs that can lower
blood sugar include:
-
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as
diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Solareze), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin),
naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), and others;
-
aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol);
-
sulfa drugs (Bactrim and others);
-
a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI);
-
beta-blockers (Tenormin and others); or
-
probenecid (Benemid).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
glimepiride and rosiglitazone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of glimepiride and rosiglitazone?
