Definition: A sulfonylurea is an older class of oral type 2 diabetes drugs that includes glimepiride and glipizide (Glucotrol XL). Their labels approve them, along with diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Low blood sugar is their main side effect.
The glimepiride label (section 5.1) says all sulfonylureas can cause severe hypoglycemia, which can lead to unconsciousness, seizures, brain impairment or death. It names people at higher risk:
In one 22-week trial on the glimepiride label, possible low blood sugar was reported by 19.7% on glimepiride vs 3.2% on placebo.
Other diabetes drug labels name sulfonylureas as a reason to watch for low blood sugar. The Ozempic, Januvia and Jardiance labels each say the risk rises when they are used with insulin or a sulfonylurea, and the dose of those may be lowered.
The glimepiride label also lists serious allergic reactions, red blood cell breakdown in people with G6PD deficiency, and an older class warning about heart-related deaths from a study of tolbutamide. It is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
The label ties low blood sugar to eating too little, hard exercise and alcohol, which change from day to day. Dose Track keeps your medicines and their times on one timeline, so a low reading can be lined up with what you took and when.
Read more on Dose Track: Glimepiride side effects · Glucotrol XL side effects · Ozempic side effects