GLIMESTAR M 1 TABLET

Glimestar-M 1 tablet is an oral anti-diabetic medicine containing glimepiride and metformin. It is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, in which blood sugar levels are above normal. This medicine decreases blood glucose levels.

Take this medicine as advised by the doctor, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Glimestar M Tablet should be taken as directed by the doctor and in doses and duration as prescribed. Before starting this medicine, inform the doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Also, inform about your detailed medical history. While taking this medicine, it is essential to make certain lifestyle modifications, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, staying active, quitting smoking, and regularly checking your blood sugar. This may help to manage your diabetes and improve your health.

Gemer 1mg tablet , Amaryl M 1mg tablet , Gluconorm G 1mg tablet , Glimestar M 1mg tablet, and Zoryl M 1mg tablet also include glimepiride and metformin.

Dosage

Overdose

• Overdose of Glimestar M 1 tablet may lead to severe hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis (Excessive lactic acid build-up) & low blood sugar.
• This can result in headache, nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbances, restlessness, impaired alertness and reactions, depression, confusion, dizziness, etc.
• If you experience these, immediately take glucose, juice, or sugar-containing products (Such as Sugar candy).
• Contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital, as you may require close monitoring for the next few hours.

Missed a Dose

• A missed dose may lead to high blood sugar levels, which include symptoms such as feeling thirsty, excessive urination, loss of appetite, drowsiness, and a fruity smell to the breath.
• If you missed a dose of Glimestar M 1 tablet, take it as soon as you remember it.
• If it's time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dose schedule.
• Do not take a double dose of medicine to compensate for the missed one.

Mode of Action

How Does It Work?

• This combination is known to control blood sugar to a greater extent than metformin or glimepiride alone. Glimiperide lowers the blood sugar level increasing release of insulin hormone from the pancreas.
• Insulin moves sugar (glucose) from the blood into the cells.
• Metformin decreases the absorption in the intestine and production of sugar by the liver.
• Both of these components are known to increase the insulin sensitivity of the body (allows the cells of the body to use blood glucose more effectively, reducing blood sugar).

Directions for Use

• Glimestar M 1 tablet should be taken as directed by your doctor.
• It should be consumed as a whole without chewing or crushing, with a sufficient amount of water and food.
• It would be best if you took it at a fixed time for optimal results.
• You should not consume it more than that prescribed by your doctor.

Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy

Can I take Glimestar M Tablet during pregnancy?

• It is advisable not to use this medicine during pregnancy as this medicine may harm your unborn baby.
• If you have diabetes and happen to be pregnant, your doctor may shift you from this medicine to insulin injections.
• Inform your doctor if you are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant.

Breast Feeding

Can I take Glimestar M Tablet while breastfeeding?

• It is advisable not to breastfeed during the treatment with Glimestar M Tablet as it may harm the baby.
• Consult your doctor for more information on the use of this medicine while breastfeeding.

Driving

Can I drive if I have consumed Glimestar M Tablet?

• It can cause low blood sugar levels which can lead to drowsiness, unconsciousness or confusion. These can be dangerous while driving.
• Consult your doctor whether you can drive a car if you have frequent episodes of hypoglycemia.
• Keep a juice or chocolate in the car close to you while driving, in case you start feeling any of the above symptoms of hypoglycemia, immediately have a juice or chocolate.
• Note that artificial sweeteners are not of any use in such scenarios.

Alcohol

Can I consume alcohol with Glimestar M Tablet?

• It is advisable not to consume alcohol during treatment with this medicine.
• Alcohol alters the way this medicine works.
• Be cautious not to consume alcohol on an empty stomach. Alcohol increases the risk of low blood sugar.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol when taking this medicine can cause a serious complication known as ketoacidosis.

Other General Warnings

Talk to your doctor if

• You experience extreme hunger, headache, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, restlessness, aggression, reduced alertness, confusion, shakiness or dizziness. These could be signs of low blood sugar.
• If you have any of these, immediately have sugar or sweet juice. Inform your doctor as you may need a change in your medicine's dose.
• You are experiencing pins-and-needles sensation, numbness and weakness.
• You are going to have a diagnostic imaging test that involves an injection of iodine.
• You have dehydration due to diarrhoea, vomiting or limited fluid intake.
• You have suffered through trauma.
• You have to undergo surgery in the near future.
• You have serious kidney and liver problems.
• You have a thyroid disorder.
• You are overweight (specific diet restrictions may be suggested).

Contraindications

• If you are allergic to metformin, glimepiride or any of the ingredients of Glimestar M 1 tablet.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have serious kidney failure or liver failure.
• If you have any metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the body fluids) like lactic acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis or diabetic pre-coma.
• If you have dehydration, severe infections, shock and injections containing iodine.
• If you have had heart or lung failure, a recent incidence of heart attack and shock.
• If you are an alcoholic.

Side effects

• Weight gain
• Low blood sugar levels
• Headache
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heart rhythm

Interactions

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines affect the way the Glimestar M 1 tablet works, or the medicine itself reduces the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Inform the physician about any medicines, supplements, or herbal products you take or may take to avoid potential interactions.
• You may suffer from symptoms of low blood sugar if you are taking other medicines for diabetes like Insulin, Pioglitazone, medicines for high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors like Captopril), Steroids, Chloramphenicol, Fenfluramine, medicine to lower blood cholesterol (fibrates), medicine to treat depression (Fluoxetine), medicine to treat blood clotting like Coumarins, antibiotics like Clarithromycin etc.
• You may have symptoms of high blood sugar if you are taking oral contraceptives, Acetazolamide, water pills, Phenytoin, Rifampicin, medicines for constipation, Phenytoin, Rifampicin, and medicines for thyroid disorders.
• Medicines like antihistamines (ranitidine), clonidine, reserpine, and high blood pressure medications like atenolol alter the way the Glimestar M 1 tablet works and may block the body's response to low blood sugar. This leads to dangerously low blood sugar levels.
• Medicines like Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, and Enalapril may affect kidney function if taken along with other medicines.
• Medicines used to treat thyroid disease affect how the medicine works.

Interactions with food items

Glimestar-M 1 tablet should be taken with food. Take it regularly, at the same time each day, to get the most benefit.

Storage and disposal

• Store Glimestar M 1 tablet at room temperature in a dry place protected from moisture.
• Keep out of the reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What diet should I follow?

• A diet should be high in fibre, low in fat with adequate protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals
• Maintain the regular meal timings and try to have soups and salads
• Diet should include boiled, steamed, or baked food
• Ensure moderate use of edible oils (groundnut oil, olive oil), very less use of ghee and butter
• Drink at least 8-10 glass of water daily
• Carry fruit or low calorie high fibre biscuits while travelling

What should I avoid being a diabetic patient?

• Do not shop when you are hungry. You could be tempted to buy oily and fried food
• Avoid overeating
• Avoid maida, white bread, potato, noodles, corn flakes, poori, biryani, naan, fried rice, etc
• Stop having daals with ghee, deep-fried pulses
• Avoid cream soups, carrot juice, deep-fried vegetables, vegetable curries with excess oil.

My blood sugar falls too often, what could be the reason?

• Avoid skipping meals, fasting, too much alcohol intake, taking alcohol on an empty stomach and taking double dose
• If you are taking any medicines mentioned in the drug interaction section, you need to inform your doctor
• Always keep a juice or sugar candy with you, in case you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia like headache, irritability, drowsiness, reduced alertness or nausea, immediately have the juice or glucose
• Do not have artificial sweeteners in this situation
• If such episodes happen too often, inform your doctor as you may need a decrease in the dose of this medicine.

When should I take Glimestar M Tablet?

You should take Glimestar M Tablet as advised by the doctor. It would be best if you take it during breakfast or the first main meal. Try to take the medicine at the same time every day.

What is the composition of Glimestar M Tablet?

The composition of Glimestar M Tablet includes - glimepiride and metformin, as its active components.

What is Glimestar M Tablet used for?

Glimestar M Tablet is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus; when diet, exercise and Glimepiride or Metformin alone is not able to control the blood sugar levels adequately.

What is the dose of Glimestar M Tablet?

The doctor will decide the specific dose for a specific duration depending upon the severity of the underlying condition. Please do not modify the dose or stop it before the prescribed duration, even if you feel better.

How many tablets of the Glimestar M Tablet I should take in a day?

The frequency of taking Glimestar M Tablet will be decided by your doctor based on your age, weight, current regimen, blood sugar level and its control along with comorbidities present. The regimen varies from person to person.

Can I Stop taking Glimestar M Tablet on my own?

No, you should not discontinue the treatment on your own. Keep taking this tablet even if your symptoms improve to help keep the disease under control as advised by your doctor for the specified duration. Gradual weening of the medication should be done to avoid adverse effects.

How does Glimestar M Tablet work?

• Glimestar M Tablet is known to control blood sugar to a greater extent than metformin or glimepiride alone. Glimepiride lowers the blood sugar level increasing release of insulin hormone from the pancreas.
• Insulin moves sugar (glucose) from the blood into the cells.
• Metformin decreases the absorption in the intestine and production of sugar by the liver.
• Both of these components are known to increase the insulin sensitivity of the body (allows the cells of the body to use blood glucose more effectively, reducing blood sugar).

Does Glimestar M Tablet cause low blood sugar level?

Sometimes it may increase the risk of drop in blood sugar level as a side effect. So try to take your meals on time while taking Glimestar M Tablet. However, if you experience any symptoms related to hypoglycaemia such as drowsiness, unconsciousness, confusion etc, immediately drink the juice or eat the chocolate bar. Note that artificial sweeteners are not of any use in such scenarios. Always keep a juice or a bar of chocolate in the car close to you while driving or if you have frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia.