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GLIMEPIRIDE

H

hazey276

Well-Known Member
Messages
177
Just to let you all know that i took my first Glimepiride, (2mg, oh and still on the metformin as well), tablet yesterday. My GP said that by tea time my levels would be really low as they were really fast acting. I tested just before my tea, (all excited i was), and got a really low reading of 15.9. To say it burst my bubble was an understatement. Not to worry back to see my GP in 2 weeks and see if he can come up with any other tablets that don't seem to work.

THANKS AGAIN JUST GETTING IT OFF MY CHEST !!!!!!!!!!!

HAZEY
 
Hi Hazey,

I think your GP was being perhaps a little over-optimistic as regards the "instant results". The medical practitioner guidelines say that it can take up to a week for the effects of glimepiride (Amaryl) to be fully seen. If there is no improvement after 1 to 2 weeks then the dose is usually stepped up to 4mg, and if still no reaction after another 1 to 2 weeks up again to 6mg. 6mg is the maximum dose you can take.

What it does is to encourage your pancreas to produce extra insulin, and this effect lasts for up to 9 hours after you take the tablet. It is recommended that you take one a day and always before or with your first meal of the day.

Perhaps you will see some improvement over the next few days. Good luck.
 
Hi Hazey,

Sorry to hear your hopes of a lower bg were cruelly dashed! I'm type 1, so I have no use for sulfonylureas like Glimepiride 'cos my pancreas is shot. What I do know is that there is good reason not to use that sort of medication if you can avoid it.

I'm sure you know it encourages your pancreas to produce more insulin, which is why it can cause hypoglycemia. That's one reason to keep in mind. But the real problem is that, if you're type 2, you're insulin resistant and already produce a lot of insulin as a result. Getting your pancreas to pump out even more is likely to worsen, not lessen, insulin resistance. Sulfonylureas can hasten beta cell burnout, which would inevitably lead to an insulin prescription too.

I'm a terrible bore on the subject, I know, but I think the answer lies not in producing more insulin, but in needing less. That means avoiding the foods that require lots of insulin, and eating more of the ones that don't.

Good luck with it.

All the best,

fergus
 
Thanks to you both for the information, (dennis & fergus), i wasn't aware of any of the information you put on here. My GP doesn't give much info even when i ask him for it so it has been really helpful what you've put. I really didn't know about what you put fergus regarding it possibly leading to insulin but thanks to you both again.

TAKE CARE AND BEST WISHES !!!!!!!!!!!

hazey
 
I am not sure that Glimepiride has the same detrimental effect on beta cells as has been suggested above. I have just been changed from Gliclazide to Glimeripide for that very reason. I will be combining this with Levemir and a long acting metformin despite the fact that the first time I was given metformin I ended up in hospital with Pleurisy...ho hum. I am assured by my diabetic nurse that no one is allergic to Metformin...we will see. Mind you, my current 'spot' levels average 6.5 although long term HBa1c is 9 so that is the main thing I need to control.
 
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