DiaBeta Side Effects

Generic name: glyburide

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 22, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about glyburide. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name DiaBeta.

Applies to glyburide: oral tablet.

Serious side effects of DiaBeta

Along with its needed effects, glyburide (the active ingredient contained in DiaBeta) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking glyburide:

Less common

Difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
hives, itching, skin rash
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare

Abdominal or stomach pain
chills
clay-colored stools
dark urine
diarrhea
fever
headache
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
nausea and vomiting
unpleasant breath odor
upper right abdominal or stomach pain
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes and skin

Incidence not known

Agitation
back, leg, or stomach pains
bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
bloody, black, or tarry stools
blurred vision
change in near or distance vision
chest pain
coma
confusion
convulsions
cough or hoarseness
decreased urine output
depression
difficulty in focusing eyes
fast or irregular heartbeat
fluid-filled skin blisters
general body swelling
high fever
hostility
increased thirst
irritability
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
lethargy
lower back or side pain
muscle pain or cramps
muscle twitching
nosebleeds
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
rapid weight gain
sensitivity to the sun
skin thinness
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stupor
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
swollen or painful glands
unusual bleeding or bruising

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking glyburide:

Symptoms of overdose

Anxiety
cold sweats
cool, pale skin
increased hunger
nervousness
nightmares
shakiness
slurred speech

Other side effects of DiaBeta

Some side effects of glyburide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Indigestion
passing of gas

Incidence not known

Difficulty with moving
joint pain
redness or other discoloration of the skin
severe sunburn
swollen joints

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to glyburide: compounding powder, oral tablet.

General

Like all sulfonylureas, this drug may commonly cause hypoglycemia and in some case it may be severe. Proper patient selection, dose, and patient instructions are important to avoid hypoglycemic episodes.^[Ref]

Metabolic

Glyburide (the active ingredient contained in DiaBeta)

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Disulfiram-like reaction

Frequency not reported: Hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, weight gain, lactic acidosis, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion

Sulfonylureas:

Frequency not reported: Hepatic porphyria

Neonatal Diabetes:

Very common (10% or more): Hypoglycemia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Adverse gastrointestinal effects occur in about 1% to 2% of patients and appear to be dose related; they may subside following a dose reduction. Pancreatitis has been reported rarely.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting, epigastric fullness or sensation of pressure, abdominal pain, anorexia, dyspepsia, diarrhea, heartburn

Rare (less than 0.1%): Pancreatitis

Neonatal Diabetes:

Very common (10% or more): Transitory diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dyspepsia

Common (1% to 10%): Tooth discoloration^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Allergic vasculitis

Frequency not reported: Allergic skin reactions including pruritus, erythema, urticaria, and morbilliform or maculopapular eruptions, angioedema, arthralgia, myalgia, vasculitis, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, bullous eruptions, exfoliative dermatitis, photosensitivity, Stevens-Johnson syndrome^[Ref]

Allergic skin reactions including pruritus, erythema, urticaria, and morbilliform or maculopapular eruptions occurred in 1.5 % of patients during clinical trials. In some cases these were transient and disappeared despite continue therapy. Hypersensitivity reactions affecting the skin usually occur within the first 6 weeks of treatment with a sulfonylurea.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Glyburide (the active ingredient contained in DiaBeta)

Common (1% to 10%): Allergic skin reactions including pruritus, erythema, urticaria, and morbilliform or maculopapular eruptions

Frequency not reported: Alopecia/hypotrichoses, increased sweating, facial edema, angioedema, bullous reactions, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis

Sulfonylureas:

-Frequency not reported: Porphyria cutanea tarda, photosensitivity reactions^[Ref]

Allergic skin reactions including pruritus, erythema, urticaria, morbilliform, erythematous and maculopapular and bullous skin eruptions or psoriasiform drug eruptions occurred in 1.5 % of patients during clinical trials. These may be transient and may disappear despite continued therapy. Bullous reactions, erythema multiforme, and exfoliative dermatitis have been reported. If skin reactions persist, this drug should be discontinued.^[Ref]

Ocular

Changes in accommodation and/or blurred vision are thought to be related to fluctuations in glucose levels.^[Ref]

Frequency not reported: Changes in accommodation and/or blurred vision, diplopia, visual disturbances, blindness^[Ref]

Hematologic

Glyburide (the active ingredient contained in DiaBeta)

Postmarketing reports: Hemolytic anemia

Sulfonylureas:

Frequency not reported: Leukopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia purpura, eosinophilia, bone marrow aplasia, coagulation disorders, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, anemia, pancytopenia^[Ref]

Hepatic

Glyburide (the active ingredient contained in DiaBeta)

Rare (less than 0.1%): Cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis

Frequency not reported: Liver function abnormalities including isolated transaminase elevations

Postmarketing reports:

Sulfonylureas:

Frequency not reported: Increased liver enzymes (AST, ALT), abnormal liver function, cholestasis, cholestatic hepatitis, granulomatous hepatitis, bilirubinemia

Neonatal Diabetes:

Very common (10% or more): Transient increased transaminases^[Ref]