Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take Glyburide.
Allergy: Some people who are allergic to sulfonamide antibiotics and other sulfonylurea anti-diabetes medications also experience allergic reactions to glyburide. Before you take glyburide, inform your doctor about any previous adverse reactions you have had to medications, especially sulfamethoxazole or glipizide. Contact your doctor at once if you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face and throat.
Blood sugar control: For people who take glyburide, loss of blood sugar control may occur during illness or stressful situations such as trauma or surgery. Under these conditions, your doctor may consider stopping the medication and prescribing insulin until the situation improves.
Diabetes complications: The use of glyburide (or any other medication used for diabetes) will not prevent the development of complications peculiar to diabetes mellitus (e.g., Kidney Disease, nerve disease, eye disease).
Diet and exercise: Glyburide should be used in addition to a proper dietary regimen and exercise. If you do not follow a proper dietary and exercise regimen, it is more likely that glyburide will not work, and your diabetes will get worse.
Kidney function: If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how Glyburide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Glyburide, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Glyburide to build up in the body, which will cause side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Glyburide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Glyburide, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Glyburide.
If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.
Low blood sugar: As with other sulfonylurea medications like Gliclazide or Glimepiride, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may occur. Situations which may bring this on include:
- advanced age
- alcohol use
- certain Thyroid diseases
- exercise without adequate calorie intake
- liver disease or kidney disease
- malnutrition or irregular meals
Signs of low blood sugar include:
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- headache
- lack of energy
- nervousness
- numbness or tingling
- shakiness
- sweating
- weakness
Monitor your blood glucose regularly and keep emergency glucose (and a Glucagon kit) available in case you need to increase blood sugar levels quickly. Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about this.
Mental or physical abilities: Glyburide may reduce the mental or physical abilities required for hazardous tasks such as driving or operating dangerous machinery. Use appropriate caution until you have gained control of your blood sugar, when changing doses of medication, or when the tablets have not been taken regularly.
Reduced response: Over time, glyburide may become less effective as your diabetes worsens. If glyburide fails to lower your blood glucose to target levels, it should be stopped and replaced, or another medication for diabetes should be added to it. Monitor your blood glucose levels regularly and if you notice them getting higher, contact your doctor to discuss alternatives.
Pregnancy: Glyburide should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Glyburide, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: Glyburide may pass into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking glyburide, it may affect your baby. Glyburide is not recommended for use by breast-feeding women.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children under the age of 18.
Seniors: Seniors with type 2 diabetes may be more likely to experience very low blood sugar as a result of using glyburide. Lower doses may be necessary.
