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Glimepiride

Also indexed as: Amaryl®

Glimepiride is used to treat type 2, or non-insulin dependent, diabetes when diet and exercise alone have been ineffective. It is a type of drug called a sulfonylurea.

Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B3 can raise blood sugar levels, which makes diabetes difficult to control.1 Use of niacin along with glimepiride may increase requirements for the drug. On the other hand, individuals who stop taking niacin while on glimepiride should monitor their blood for lower-than-usual glucose levels.

Magnesium
Supplementing magnesium may enhance the blood-sugar-lowering effects of sulfonylurea drugs.2 Though no current studies have investigated whether glimepiride increases the risk of developing hypoglycemia, individuals should closely monitor their blood glucose while taking glimepiride together with magnesium supplements.

Lithium
Lithium is a mineral that may be present in some supplements and is also used in large amounts to treat mood disorders such as manic-depression. Taking lithium and sulfonylurea drugs together may increase the risk of developing hypoglycemia.3 Consequently, people taking glimepiride and lithium together should frequently monitor themselves for low blood glucose.

Interactions with Food and Other Compounds

Food
The ingestion of food with glimepiride can lower the overall blood levels of the drug by nearly 10%.4 Though this is a minor reduction, maximum effectiveness would be achieved if glimepiride were taken on an empty stomach.

Summary of Interactions for Glimepiride

Depletion or interference None known
Adverse interaction Vitamin B3* (Niacin)
Side effect reduction/prevention None known
Supportive interaction Lithium*
Magnesium*
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability None known

For the convenience of the reader, the information in the summary is categorized as follows: “Depletion or interference” indicates the drug may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the supplement or herb. “Adverse interaction” indicates that the supplement or herb used together with the drug may result in undesirable effects. “Side effect reduction/prevention” indicates the supplement or herb may reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the drug. “Supportive interaction” indicates the supplement or herb may support or aid the function of the drug. “Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability” indicates that the supplement or herb may decrease the absorption and/or activity of the drug in the body. An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

References:

1. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 1346–9.

2. Werbach MR. Foundations of Nutritional Medicine. Tarzana, CA: Third Line Press, Inc., 1997, 213.

3. Werbach MR. Foundations of Nutritional Medicine. Tarzana, CA: Third Line Press, Inc., 1997, 212.

4. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 1346–9.