Glyburide Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 4, 2024.

Applies to glyburide: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

It is very important to follow carefully any instructions from your health care team about:

• Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
• Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, patients with diabetes may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur in patients with diabetes during pregnancy.
• Travel—Keep your recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.
• In case of emergency—There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pain or discomfort, nausea, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, shortness of breath, sweating, or vomiting while you are using this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious heart problem, including a heart attack.

Too much glyburide can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when it is used under certain conditions. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important that you learn which symptoms of low blood sugar you usually have so that you can treat it quickly and call someone on your health care team right away when you need advice.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) include anxiety, behavior change similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool, pale skin, difficulty in thinking, drowsiness, excessive hunger, fast heartbeat, headache (continuing), nausea, nervousness, nightmares, restless sleep, shakiness, slurred speech, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes; or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar. Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe or needle, and know how to use it. Members of your household also should know how to use it.

Do not take this medicine if you are also using bosentan (Tracleer®). Also, make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are using for diabetes, including insulin.

Serious side effects of glyburide

Along with its needed effects, glyburide 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:

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 glyburide

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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to glyburide: compounding powder, oral tablet.

General adverse events

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:

• 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

• 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]

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]

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:

• 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

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

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

Hematologic

Glyburide:

• 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:

• 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]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal renal function, acute renal failure^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, arthritis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Paresthesia, tremor, convulsions, encephalopathy, confusion, headache, cerebrovascular disorders^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Deafness, fever^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Acute psychosis^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Glyburide side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer