What Pioglitazone/Glimepiride is used for

• Glimepiride and Pioglitazone are oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels.


• Pioglitazone/Glimepiride is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Do not takePioglitazone/Glimepiride

• if you are allergic to Glimepiride, Pioglitazone, or sulfa drugs


• if you have severe or advanced heart failure


• if you have active bladder cancer


• if you have diabetic ketoacidosis

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Pioglitazone/Glimepiride if you ever had:

• Congestive heart failure or heart disease.


• Fluid retention.


• Bladder cancer.


• Liver disease.


• Kidney disease.


• A genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd) deficiency.


• Eye problems caused by diabetes.


• A heart attack or stroke.

Possible side effects

These include hypoglycemia; weight gain; headache; muscle pain; anxiety; depression; fast heartbeat; nausea, diarrhea; or cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sneezing, sore throat.

Other medicines and Pioglitazone/Glimepiride

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:

• Strong CYP2C8 Inhibitors.


• Oral miconazole.


• Medications that increase the activity of the enzyme CYP2C8 or CYP2C9, such as rifampin.

How to take Pioglitazone/Glimepiride

Usual Adult Dose for Diabetes Type 2:

• Individualize dose based on safety, efficacy, and prior therapy.


• Initial dose: Pioglitazone 30 mg-Glimepiride 2 mg or Pioglitazone 30 mg-Glimepiride 4 mg orally once a day.


• Maintenance Dose: gradually titrate dose based on adequacy of therapeutic response and tolerability for each component.

• Take with first meal of the day.


• For patients switching from a different sulfonylurea, carefully monitor for hypoglycemia for 1 to 2 weeks due to a potential overlapping drug effect.

How to store Pioglitazone/Glimepiride

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.


• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.


• Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.


• Store Pioglitazone/Glimepiride at 59° to 86°F (15° to 30°C).


• Keep it in the original container to protect from light.