Prescription medication · Sulfonylurea
glimepiride
Also sold as Amaryl. Glimepiride is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 37,936
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 16
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 3
- Recall records
What the data shows
glimepiride (Amaryl) is a prescription Sulfonylurea, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (37,936 FDA reports), with 16 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
glimepiride (Amaryl) is a prescription Sulfonylurea. Glimepiride is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Glimepiride is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.03/unit
Generic Available
Yes (7 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: GLIMEPIRIDE 1 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (3 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -2.3% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0279/EA | - | 1 |
| August 21, 2024 | $0.0305/EA | +8.9% | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0297/EA | -2.3% | 21 |
What it does
Glimepiride is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Common side effects
Low blood sugar, Headache, Nausea
Key warnings
Glimepiride can cause low blood sugar, which can be severe.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from glimepiride's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Glimepiride helps your body release more insulin. Insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. This lowers your blood sugar levels.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 37,936 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for glimepiride, by number of reports
- Blood Glucose Increased
Blood Glucose Increased
2,970 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
2,276 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
2,169 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
1,827 reports
- Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia
1,639 reports
- Weight Decreased
Weight Decreased
1,391 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
1,365 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
1,319 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
1,287 reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
1,214 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for glimepiride each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where glimepiride sits
glimepiride has more FDA adverse-event reports than 69% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is glimepiride; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 37,936 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
37,936
Reports Mentioning Death
3,187
8.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
13,533
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLOOD GLUCOSE INCREASED | 2,970 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 2,276 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 2,169 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 1,827 |
| 6 | HYPOGLYCAEMIA | 1,639 |
| 7 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 1,391 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 1,365 |
| 9 | DYSPNOEA | 1,319 |
| 10 | VOMITING | 1,287 |
| 11 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,214 |
| 12 | ASTHENIA | 1,196 |
| 13 | DECREASED APPETITE | 1,147 |
| 14 | FALL | 1,071 |
| 16 | PAIN | 1,049 |
| 17 | HEADACHE | 1,022 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Glimepiride can cause low blood sugar, which can be severe. Be careful when driving or operating machinery. If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking glimepiride right away. People with a certain enzyme problem (G6PD deficiency) may get anemia.
Known Drug Interactions
The following are examples of medications that may reduce the glucose-lowering effect of sulfonylureas including glimepiride, leading to worsening glycemic control: danazol, glucagon, somatropin, protease inhibitors, atypical antipsychotic medications (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), barbiturates, diazoxide, laxatives, rifampin, thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid hormones, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics (e.g., epinephrine, albuterol, terbutaline), and isoniazid.
Mechanism: Albuterol can cause blood sugar levels to rise, which works against the effects of the diabetes medicine glimepiride.
The following are examples of medications that may increase the glucose-lowering effect of sulfonylureas including glimepiride, increasing the susceptibility to and/or intensity of hypoglycemia: oral anti-diabetic medications, pramlintide acetate, insulin, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, H 2 receptor antagonists, fibrates, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, somatostatin analogs, anabolic steroids and androgens, cyclophosphamide, phenyramidol, guanethidine, fluconazole, sulfinpyrazone, tetracyclines, clarithromycin, disopyramide, quinolones, and those drugs that are highly...
Mechanism: Fluoxetine can increase the effects of glimepiride, which may cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels.
Beta-blockers, clonidine, and reserpine may lead to either potentiation or weakening of glimepiride’s glucose-lowering effect. The signs of hypoglycemia may be reduced or absent in patients taking sympatholytic drugs such as beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine.
Mechanism: Clonidine can change how your body responds to blood sugar and may hide the normal warning signs of low blood sugar, like a fast heartbeat.
The following are examples of medications that may reduce the glucose-lowering effect of sulfonylureas including glimepiride, leading to worsening glycemic control: danazol, glucagon, somatropin, protease inhibitors, atypical antipsychotic medications (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), barbiturates, diazoxide, laxatives, rifampin, thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid hormones, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics (e.g., epinephrine, albuterol, terbutaline), and isoniazid.
Mechanism: Olanzapine can make glimepiride less effective at lowering blood sugar, which might cause your blood sugar levels to rise.
The following are examples of medications that may increase the glucose-lowering effect of sulfonylureas including glimepiride, increasing the susceptibility to and/or intensity of hypoglycemia: oral anti-diabetic medications, pramlintide acetate, insulin, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, H 2 receptor antagonists, fibrates, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, somatostatin analogs, anabolic steroids and androgens, cyclophosphamide, phenyramidol, guanethidine, fluconazole, sulfinpyrazone, tetracyclines, clarithromycin, disopyramide, quinolones, and those drugs that are highly...
Mechanism: Fluconazole can increase the effect of glimepiride, which makes it more likely for your blood sugar to drop to a dangerously low level.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I do if I feel shaky or sweaty?
Can I drink alcohol while taking glimepiride?
Will glimepiride cure my diabetes?
What other medicines can affect glimepiride?
How often should I check my blood sugar?
Can glimepiride cause weight gain?
What if I need surgery?
Can I stop taking glimepiride if my blood sugar is good?
Does glimepiride interact with any foods?
What are the symptoms of high blood sugar?
What are the common side effects of glimepiride?
Does glimepiride interact with other medications?
What drug class is glimepiride?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for glimepiride?
Has glimepiride been recalled?
Active Recalls
Misprint on tablet
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc.
cGMP Deviations for the manufacturing Firm (Accord Healthcare) after their inspection.
Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CGMP Deviations
Northwind Pharmaceuticals LLC
Related Medications in Sulfonylurea
Other drugs grouped near glimepiride - same-class peers and common alternatives.
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Precose
Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
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alogliptin
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bromocriptine
Cycloset
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canagliflozin
Invokana
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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colesevelam
Welchol
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.
Compare with glimepiride →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for glimepiride: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 37,936.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 8.40%.
- lamotrigine Δ 0.00 pts · 127,196 reports · Anticonvulsant 8.40%death share
- doxazosin Δ 0.01 pts · 27,049 reports · Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker 8.39%death share
- pramipexole Δ 0.03 pts · 14,399 reports · Dopamine Agonist 8.38%death share
- albuterol Δ 0.03 pts · 113,967 reports · Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonist 8.43%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for glimepiride
The FDA label for glimepiride (sold under brand names such as Amaryl) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Sulfonylurea class. Glimepiride is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Low blood sugar, Headache, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 37,936 voluntary reports. The database also lists 16 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.03.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 3 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 13, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages