Glimepiride: study card

Glimepiride — Sulfonylurea. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Glimepiride
Class: Sulfonylurea
Mechanism: Binds beta-cell sulfonylurea receptors, closing ATP-sensitive K+ channels and stimulating insulin release.
Used for: Type 2 diabetes in adults, as an adjunct to diet and exercise
Common side effects: Hypoglycemia; Headache; Nausea; Dizziness; Asthenia
Warnings: Severe hypoglycemia; Hypersensitivity incl. sulfonamide allergy; Hemolytic anemia in G6PD deficiency
Interactions: Oral miconazole (severe hypoglycemia); CYP2C9 inhibitors and inducers; Colesevelam

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

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Label date: 20260519 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Glimepiride: glye-MEP-i-ride

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Body system

Endocrine · 27 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Glipizide

Same class on both cards

Mechanism: Appears to lower glucose acutely by stimulating insulin release from functioning pancreatic beta cells; the mechanism of glucose lowering during long-term treatment is not clearly established.

On both cards: Used for — Type 2 diabetes in adults, as an adjunct to diet and exercise · Common side effects — Nausea

Only on the Glipizide card: Common side effects — Diarrhea; Constipation; Gastralgia; Allergic skin reactions · Warnings — Hypoglycemia; Contraindicated in type 1 diabetes / DKA; Hypersensitivity to glipizide; The label carries a cardiovascular-mortality warning based on a tolbutamide study and advises considering its possible applicability to other sulfonylureas · Interactions — NSAIDs, salicylates, azoles (hypoglycemia); Beta-blockers, MAOIs, coumarins; Thiazides, corticosteroids (loss of control)

Pioglitazone

Same body system: Endocrine

Mechanism: PPAR-gamma agonist that decreases insulin resistance in periphery and liver; requires insulin, not a secretagogue.

On both cards: Used for — Type 2 diabetes in adults, as an adjunct to diet and exercise · Common side effects — Headache

Only on the Pioglitazone card: Common side effects — Upper respiratory tract infection; Sinusitis; Myalgia; Pharyngitis · Warnings — Hepatic failure (postmarketing); Bladder cancer; Edema and fractures · Interactions — Strong CYP2C8 inhibitors (e.g., gemfibrozil); CYP2C8 inducers (e.g., rifampin); Topiramate

Calcitriol

Same body system: Endocrine

Mechanism: Active vitamin D3 that stimulates intestinal calcium transport. Its benefit in renal bone disease appears to result from correcting hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

On both cards: Common side effects — Headache; Nausea

Only on the Calcitriol card: Used for — Secondary hyperparathyroidism and associated metabolic bone disease in moderate-to-severe chronic renal failure before dialysis; Hypocalcemia and associated metabolic bone disease in chronic dialysis; Hypocalcemia in postsurgical or idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, or pseudohypoparathyroidism · Common side effects — Hypercalcemia; Weakness · Warnings — Contraindicated in hypercalcemia or vitamin D toxicity; Keep calcium x phosphate product in range · Interactions — Cholestyramine; Phenytoin / phenobarbital; Thiazides

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.