What is Glimepiride (Amaryl)?
Glimepiride, which is also known as Amaryl, is an oral hypoglycemic drug that is prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes. The drug is normally prescribed with exercise and a healthy diet to control high blood glucose levels. Make sure you carefully follow the exercise program and diet plan that was recommended by your doctor. Changing any of these factors may adversely affect your blood glucose levels. To help you remember your glimepiride dosage, it is important you take this medication at the same time every day. If you take this medication once per day, take it together with breakfast. Your drug dose will vary depending on your medical condition and how you respond to treatment.
What is Glipizide (Glucotrol)?
Glipizide is an oral hypoglycemic drug that is used in combination with an exercise and diet program to manage high blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps glucose enter the muscle cells for fuel. As a result, they experience high blood glucose levels. When you take this medicine, it works by helping the pancreas release insulin into the bloodstream. It also works by helping your body utilize insulin better. This in turn helps to lower blood glucose levels. It is important to control blood glucose levels because it prevents the risk of contracting serious complications such as stroke. Glucotrol is the brand name of glipizide.
Similarities and differences between Glipizide vs. Glimepiride
Similarities
Glimepiride and glipizide are both oral diabetes drugs that belong to a class of drugs known as sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas drugs are used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and not type 1 diabetes. This is because sulfonylureas drugs work by stimulating the beta cells to release insulin. Patients with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin naturally as a result of the beta cells being attacked by the immune system. Hence, type 1 diabetes patients cannot use these drugs, which require the presence of insulin in the body.
Both drugs may result in similar side effects such as
- low blood sugar
- nausea
- headache
- dizziness
- weight gain
Differences Glipizide vs Glimepiride
Both medications are affordable type 2 diabetes medications. However, there is a slight difference in cost where glipizide is sold at a slightly lower price compared to glimepiride. Another difference between them is that glipizide is also available as an extended-release pill.
Doctor’s Recommendation
Before taking glipizide pills, talk to your doctor about your medical history. Let them know if you’ve had any allergic reactions to medications and describe the symptoms you experienced.
Some people should not use glipizide because of specific reasons, including:
- Allergies to glipizide or its ingredients
- Allergies to sulfonamides
- Having type 1 diabetes
- Having diabetic ketoacidosis
Make sure to discuss these with your doctor.
Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
