Amaryl vs. Glucotrol

• Are Amaryl and Glucotrol the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Amaryl?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Glucotrol?
• What Is Amaryl?
• What Is Glucotrol?
• What Drugs Interact with Amaryl?
• What Drugs Interact with Glucotrol?
• How Should Amaryl Be Taken?
• How Should Glucotrol Be Taken?

Amaryl (glimepiride) and Glucotrol (glipizide) are oral diabetes medicines of the sulfonylurea class used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

Insulin or other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Amaryl if needed.

Common side effects of Amaryl include:

• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• stomach pain,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• tiredness,
• increased skin sensitivity to sunlight,
• itching, or
• skin rash.

Amaryl can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of low blood sugar include sudden sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands/feet.

Common side effects of Glucotrol include:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• nausea
• vomiting
• upset stomach
• loss of appetite
• headache
• weight gain,
• skin changes (skin rash, hives, redness, itching, and blisters)
• gas
• drowsiness, and
• dizziness

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Glucotrol including easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), tiredness, shortness of breath, upper stomach pain, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); pale skin, fever, confusion; or throbbing headache, severe nausea and vomiting, fast or pounding heartbeats, sweating or thirst, or feeling like you might pass out.

Amaryl (glimepiride) is an oral diabetes medicine used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Insulin or other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Amaryl if needed

Glucotrol (glipizide) is blood glucose lowering drug of the sulfonylurea class used to help maintain glucose control in type 2 diabetics, in conjunction with an appropriate diet and exercise program. Glucotrol is available as a generic named glipizide.

Amaryl with drugs that raise blood sugar, such as: isoniazid, diuretics (water pills), steroids, phenothiazines, thyroid medicine, birth control pills and other hormones, seizure medicines, and diet pills, or medicines to treat asthma, colds or allergies. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may result if you take Amaryl with drugs that lower blood sugar, such as: clarithromycin, disopyramide, fluoxetine, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin or other salicylates, blood thinners, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or sulfa drugs. It may also interact with albuterol, clonidine, reserpine, or beta-blockers. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Many drugs may interact with Glucotrol; patients should carefully check glucose levels and inform their doctors about what medications they are taking. There are no adequate and well controlled studies of Glucotrol in pregnant women. Glucotrol (glipizide) should be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding women only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus and infant.

The recommended starting dose of Amaryl is 1 mg or 2 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose is 8 mg once daily.

Glucotrol is available in 5 and 10 mg strength tablets. The usual starting dose is 5 mg about 30 min before breakfast.