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Glimepiride

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M

MaggieG

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I have just been put on 1mg of this drug, it's one of only two that I can take due to other meds and even this one has the potential to cause problems. But there seems to be some confusion as to when it should be taken. The leaflet says before a 'substantial breakfast'. And a slice of toast isn't substantial and will increase the risks of a hype according to my pharmacist. Info on the website says before the main meal of the day, and in another place before breakfast. My main meal is in the evening... but nobody seems to know if I should take it then or not, nobody answers my questions. I have resorted to emailing the manufacturers but wondered if anyone on the forums has taken it and if so, when.
 
MaggieG said:
I have just been put on 1mg of this drug, it's one of only two that I can take due to other meds and even this one has the potential to cause problems. But there seems to be some confusion as to when it should be taken. The leaflet says before a 'substantial breakfast'. And a slice of toast isn't substantial and will increase the risks of a hype according to my pharmacist. Info on the website says before the main meal of the day, and in another place before breakfast. My main meal is in the evening... but nobody seems to know if I should take it then or not, nobody answers my questions. I have resorted to emailing the manufacturers but wondered if anyone on the forums has taken it and if so, when.
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I have never had this drug but I would contact your gp as he or she has prescribed it to you and should be able to tell you what dose and what time and if you need to eat before etc
 
I was going to post a similar link to LeeLee, but all it says take it before breakfast as your doctor as prescribed, and does not state what they class as a breakfast.

Its not a medication I have used, if you can't get a quick answer via a doctor or experienced user of this med it could well be worth asking at the chemists as some are experienced with helping people on how to take meds.
 
I would personally go with the main meal. As the drug works by stimulating your pancreas to produce more insulin, you need to have sufficient carbs digesting to match its action. I think some post meal testing would be a good idea so that you can monitor the effect and ensure you are not dropping too low. Have you taken one yet?
 
pav said:
... it could well be worth asking at the chemists as some are experienced with helping people on how to take meds.
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A trained pharmacist should know if there's a pharmacological reason for a drug to be taken at a certain time of day. An example of this is statins, which are far less effective if not taken in the evening.
 
LeeLee said:
A trained pharmacist should know if there's a pharmacological reason for a drug to be taken at a certain time of day. An example of this is statins, which are far less effective if not taken in the evening.
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I think Maggie has already spoken to her pharmacist, who told her a slice of toast wasn't enough.
 
Not having a good night here that's twice I not taken in the full post. 😡 😱
 
I'm on Gliclazide which works in a similar way except I have to take a larger dose. I take two in the morning and one in the evening before meals. I queried with my GP if it shouldn't be the other way round as I only have cereal for breakfast and my main meal in the evening but he said that I might have an overnight hypo if I took two at night.
 
If you read this link: http://xpil.medicines.org.uk/ViewPil.aspx?DocID=26189
you will see that the advice is to follow your GP's directions and not to skip a meal (alcohol has an interaction as well). Its a long time since I took it but I am sure I took it in the morning and I didn't use to have any breakfast. I think it very much depends on how low you are in the first place.
Personally I would take it in the morning with your toast and test to see what the effect is (if you have a meter and strips of course).
 
KateR said:
I'm on Gliclazide which works in a similar way except I have to take a larger dose. I take two in the morning and one in the evening before meals. I queried with my GP if it shouldn't be the other way round as I only have cereal for breakfast and my main meal in the evening but he said that I might have an overnight hypo if I took two at night.
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Yes, it's the overnight hypo that was worrying me too.
But thanks to all who answered. I've contacted the drug company themselves to see what they say, heaven knows when they'll get back to me, but I may have a word with GP, although it was the diabetic nurse that issued the script, with advice from my renal consultant. But neither bothered to say when to take it or how!
 
MaggieG said:
Yes, it's the overnight hypo that was worrying me too.
But thanks to all who answered. I've contacted the drug company themselves to see what they say, heaven knows when they'll get back to me, but I may have a word with GP, although it was the diabetic nurse that issued the script, with advice from my renal consultant. But neither bothered to say when to take it or how!
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Hope you can get some clarification soon Maggie! 🙂
 
hope there is some clarification for you soon Maggie.

When I asked my GP for advice as to when things should be taken he has always said with meals for everything. One pharmacist told me to read the leaflet that came with the pills and another wanted to give me a meds review before he gave any advice, and as for the practice nurses, forget it...
 
The drugs company got back to me just now. Just reiterating what the pharmacist said, hardly surprising since he was using their additional info available to health professionals only. It says to take before breakfast, but if breakfast isn't eaten, before the first main meal of the day. Nobody says what they consider a main meal though in terms of carbs, calories and so on. I shall persevere until I get clarification... we Northerners are like a dog with a bone if we want something!
 
MaggieG said:
The drugs company got back to me just now. Just reiterating what the pharmacist said, hardly surprising since he was using their additional info available to health professionals only. It says to take before breakfast, but if breakfast isn't eaten, before the first main meal of the day. Nobody says what they consider a main meal though in terms of carbs, calories and so on. I shall persevere until I get clarification... we Northerners are like a dog with a bone if we want something!
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I know, you're 'talking' to one! :D I would think that, given this information, I would try it before your slice of toast and monitor your levels to see if you go low because of insufficient carbs (and have some jelly babies on standby! 🙂) I would imagine you have been started on a low dose anyway, so hopefully no risk of a hypo.
 
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