Inside.
Glimepiride tablets are taken without chewing, squeezed with a sufficient amount of water (about 0.5 cup). If necessary, the drug tablets Glimepiride can be divided along the risks into equal parts.
Initial dose and dose selection
As a rule, the dose of glimepiride is determined by the target concentration of glucose in the blood. The lowest dose, sufficient to achieve the necessary metabolic control, should be used.
The initial dose of glimepiride is 1 mg 1 time per day.
If necessary, the daily dose can be gradually increased (at intervals of 1-2 weeks). It is recommended to increase the dose under regular control of blood glucose concentration and in accordance with the following step of increasing the dose: 1 mg - 2 mg - 3 mg - 4 mg - 6 mg (-8 mg).
The range of doses of patients with well-controlled diabetes mellitus
Typically, the daily dose in patients with well-controlled diabetes mellitus is 1-4 mg glimepiride. A daily dose of more than 6 mg (8 mg) is more effective only in a small number of patients.
Dosing regimen
Time of taking the drug Glimepiride and the distribution of doses during the day is set by the doctor depending on the lifestyle of the patient at a given time (meal time, amount of exercise).
It is usually sufficient to take a single dose of the drug Glimepiride during the day. It is recommended that in this case the entire dose of the drug Glimepiride was taken immediately before a full breakfast or, if it was not accepted at this time, - just before the first main meal.
It is very important after taking the drug Glimepiride do not skip meals.
Since improvement in metabolic control is associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity, the need for glimepiride may decrease during treatment. In order to avoid the development of hypoglycemia, it is necessary to reduce doses in a timely manner or stop taking glimepiride.
Conditions in which glimepiride dose adjustment may also be required:
- weight loss in the patient;
- changing the lifestyle of the patient (changing diet, meal time, amount of exercise);
- the occurrence of other factors that lead to a predisposition to the development of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (see section "Special instructions").
Duration of treatment Treatment with glimepiride is usually carried out for a long time.
Transfer of the patient from taking another oral hypoglycemic agent to taking Glimepiride
There is no precise correlation between doses glimepiride and other oral hypoglycemic agents. When another oral hypoglycemic agent is substituted for glimepirideIt is recommended that the procedure for its purpose was the same as the initial assignment of glimepiride, i.e. the treatment should begin with an initial dose of 1 mg (even if the patient is transferred to the drug Glimepiride with a maximum dose of another oral hypoglycemic agent).
Any increase in the dose should be carried out in stages, taking into account the reaction to glimepiride, in accordance with the above recommendations.
It is necessary to take into account the strength and duration of the effect of the previous oral hypoglycemic agent. An interruption in treatment may be required in order to avoid any summation of effects that may increase the risk of developing hypoglycemia.
Use in combination with metformin
In patients with insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus, the combination of these two drugs can be started with maximum daily doses or glimepiride or metformin. In this case, the previous treatment with either glimepiride or metformin is continued at the same doses, and an additional intake of metformin or glimepiride begins with a low dose, which is then titrated, depending on the target level of metabolic control, up to the maximum daily dose. Combination therapy should begin under strict medical supervision.
Use in combination with insulin
Patients with insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus at intake of the maximum daily doses of glimepiride can simultaneously be prescribed insulin administration.In this case, the last dose of glimepiride prescribed to the patient remains unchanged. In this case, treatment with insulin begins with low doses, which gradually increase under the control of the concentration of glucose in the blood. Combined treatment requires careful medical supervision.
Use in patients with renal insufficiency
There is a limited amount of information on the use of the drug Glimepiride in patients with renal insufficiency. Patients with impaired renal function may be more sensitive to the hypoglycemic effect of glimepiride.
Use in patients with hepatic impairment
There is a limited amount of information on the use of the drug Glimepiride with hepatic insufficiency.
Use in children
Dnepr on the use of the drug Glimepiride children are not enough.