Amaryl (glimepiride) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for type 2 diabetes. As with other drugs, Amaryl can cause side effects. These include headache and nausea.

Amaryl belongs to a drug class called sulfonylureas. The drug is available in a generic version called glimepiride.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects of Amaryl tablets. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Amaryl can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Amaryl in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Amaryl use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Amaryl’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Amaryl include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Amaryl and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Amaryl may cause serious side effects. Although serious side effects from this medication are rare, they’re possible. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Amaryl’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Amaryl, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms can include:
  • Liver problems. Symptoms can include:
    • nausea or vomiting
    • abdominal pain
    • jaundice
  • Severe allergic reaction.*

* To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Amaryl may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Does Amaryl affect the kidneys?

Amaryl does not cause kidney problems to occur. So, you shouldn’t experience kidney problems from taking this medication.

However, Amaryl is removed from your body by your kidneys. So, if you have kidney problems or if your kidneys aren’t working as well as expected, Amaryl may build up in your body. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of Amaryl.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about any kidney problems you may have before starting treatment with Amaryl.

Do the 3-mg and 4-mg doses of Amaryl cause different side effects?

It’s possible for different strengths of Amaryl, such as 3-milligram (mg) or 4-mg doses, to cause different side effects. So, if your doctor recommends a dose increase, you may notice an increase in your side effects such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This is because when you take a higher dose of medication, there’s more drug in your body. More of the drug in your body can increase your risk of side effects.

If you’re experiencing side effects from Amaryl, talk with your doctor. They may recommend decreasing your dose to manage your side effects.

Does Amaryl cause hair loss?

It’s possible that Amaryl may cause hair loss. This side effect was not reported in clinical trials of the drug. However, after Amaryl was approved for use, hair loss was reported as a side effect of the medication.

It’s important to note that diabetes, which Amaryl is prescribed to treat, can also cause hair loss. Diabetes can cause your hair to grow slower than usual. In addition, you may lose hair due to diabetes.

If you’re experiencing hair loss during your treatment with Amaryl, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine what may be causing your hair loss. In addition, they may be able to recommend ways to decrease your hair loss from occurring. For example, they may recommend using Rogaine (minoxidil).

Learn more about some of the side effects that Amaryl may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Amaryl.

Weight gain

Weight gain was a common side effect in clinical trials of Amaryl.

Amaryl may cause weight gain if you take a higher dose of the drug. For example, if you’re taking Amaryl 8 milligram (mg) tablets, you may experience more weight gain than if you were taking Amaryl 1 mg tablets.

What you can do

If you notice weight gain while you’re taking Amaryl, talk with your doctor. Amaryl should be used along with changes in your diet and exercise routine. So, your doctor may be able to make additional changes to your diet or exercise plan to help decrease weight gain from occurring.

Headache

Amaryl may cause headaches. This was the most common side effect in clinical trials of the drug.

What you can do

If you experience a headache that’s severe or bothersome to you, tell your doctor. They may be able to recommend treatments for your headaches, such as over-the-counter pain medications. For example, Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) can be used to treat headaches.

Dizziness

Dizziness can be a side effect of Amaryl. Dizziness was commonly seen in people who took the drug in clinical trials.

However, it’s important to note that dizziness may also be a symptom of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If you’re feeling dizzy while taking Amaryl, your doctor may recommend checking your blood sugar levels to be sure that they aren’t too low. If you do have low blood sugar, you may experience other symptoms, such as anxiety or sweating.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you’re feeling dizzy during your treatment with Amaryl. They may be able to recommend ways to decrease this side effect from occurring.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Amaryl can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect was rare in clinical trials of Amaryl.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Amaryl. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Amaryl. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

G6PD deficiency. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a genetic (inherited) condition where you don’t have enough of the enzyme G6PD. If you have G6PD deficiency, you have an increased risk of developing a condition called hemolytic anemia from taking Amaryl. This is a condition where your red blood cells breakdown faster than your body can regenerate them. If you have G6PD deficiency, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment option for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Amaryl or any of its ingredients, including sulfonamides, your doctor will likely not prescribe Amaryl. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Heart problems. It’s possible that Amaryl may increase your risk of heart problems, which may be life-threatening. If you already have a heart condition, taking Amaryl may increase your risk even more. Due to this risk, your doctor may monitor your heart condition more frequently or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Alcohol and Amaryl

Your doctor may recommend limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption during your treatment with Amaryl. This is because alcohol can increase your risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occurring. Since Amaryl can also cause hypoglycemia to occur, this combination may further increase your risk.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe for you to drink while taking Amaryl.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Amaryl

It’s possible for your doctor to recommend taking Amaryl during pregnancy. However, other medications may be better options to manage your blood sugar levels during pregnancy. So, taking Amaryl during pregnancy is not common.

Studies of people taking Amaryl during pregnancy have not shown an increased risk of congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects). But Amaryl can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occurring in a child up to 10 days after birth. Due to this risk, it’s recommended that people taking Amaryl during pregnancy stop treatment with the drug at least 14 days before giving birth. It’s also possible that babies born to people taking Amaryl may be larger than average and may also experience breathing problems.

If you’d like to breastfeed while taking Amaryl, talk with your doctor. It’s not known if this medication can pass into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who is breastfed. However, it’s possible for this medication to increase the risk of low blood sugar levels in a child who’s breastfed, which can be serious.

In animal studies, Amaryl was present in breast milk. The studies indicated that breastfed animals had changes in their bone formation. However, animal studies don’t always accurately predict what will happen in humans.

If you have questions about pregnancy or feeding options while taking Amaryl, talk with your doctor.

Most side effects that people taking Amaryl experience are mild. However, serious side effects are also possible. Before starting treatment with Amaryl, talk with your doctor about possible side effects that this medication may cause. If you’d like to learn more about Amaryl, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.