Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (197 page)

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

glimepiride (Rx)

(glye-me′pi-ride)

Amaryl

glipiZIDE (Rx)

(glip-i′zide)

Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL

Func. class.:
Antidiabetic

Chem. class.:
Sulfonylurea (2nd generation)

Do not confuse:
glipiZIDE
/Glucotrol/glyBURIDE

ACTION:

Causes functioning β cells in pancreas to release insulin, leading to drop in blood glucose levels; may improve insulin binding to insulin receptors or increase the number of insulin receptors with prolonged administration; may also reduce basal hepatic glucose secretion; not effective if patient lacks functioning β cells

USES:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity to sulfonylureas, type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), geriatric patients, cardiac disease, severe renal/hepatic disease, G6PD deficiency

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Glimepiride

• Adult:
PO
1-2 mg/day with breakfast, then increase by ≤2 mg/day q1-2wk, max 8 mg/day

• Geriatric:
PO
1 mg/day; may increase if needed

Renal dose

• Adult:
PO
1 mg/day with breakfast; may titrate upward as needed

GlipiZIDE

• Adult:
PO
5 mg initially before breakfast then increase by 2.5-5 mg after several days to desired response; max 40 mg/day in divided doses or 15 mg/dose;
PO
(XL) 5 mg/day with breakfast, may increase to 10 mg/day, max 20 mg/day

• Geriatric:
PO
2.5 mg/day; may increase if needed

Hepatic disease

• Adult:
PO
2.5 mg initially then increase to desired response; max 40 mg/day in divided doses or 15 mg/dose

Available forms:
Glimepiride:
tabs 1, 2, 4 mg;
glipiZIDE:
tabs, scored 5, 10 mg; ext rel tab (XL) 2.5, 5, 10 mg

Administer:

• 
Do not break, crush, or chew ext rel tabs; may crush tabs and mix with fluids if unable to swallow whole

• 
GlipiZIDE:
product 30 min before meals (regular release); with breakfast (ext rel);
Glimepiride:
with breakfast; if patient is NPO, may need to hold dose to prevent hypoglycemia

• 
Gradual conversion from other oral hypoglycemics to these products is not needed; insulin ≥20 units/day, convert using 25% reduction in insulin dose every day or every other day

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Headache, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness
, tinnitus, fatigue, vertigo

ENDO:
Hypoglycemia

GI:
Hepatotoxicity, cholestatic jaundice,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn

HEMA:
Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia;
increased AST, ALT, alk phos;
pancytopenia, hemolytic anemia

INTEG:
Rash, allergic reactions, pruritus, urticaria, eczema, photosensitivity, erythema, allergic vasculitis

PHARMACOKINETICS

PO:
Completely absorbed by GI route;
glipiZIDE:
onset 1-1½ hr, peak 1-3 hr, duration 10-24 hr, half-life 2-4 hr;
glimepiride:
peak 2-3 hr, half-life 5 hr; metabolized in liver, excreted in urine, 90%-95% plasma-protein bound

INTERACTIONS

• 
May mask symptoms of hypoglycemia: β-blockers

Increase:
action of digoxin, glycosides

Increase:
hypoglycemic effects—insulin, MAOIs, cimetidine, chloramphenicol, guanethidine, methyldopa, NSAIDs, salicylates, probenecid, androgens, anticoagulants, clofibrate, fenfluramine, fluconazole, gemfibrozil, histamine H
2
antagonists, magnesium salts, phenylbutazone, sulfinpyrazone, sulfonamides, tricyclics, urinary acidifiers, clarithromycin, fibric acid derivatives, voriconazole

Decrease:
hypoglycemic effect—thiazide diuretics, rifampin, isoniazid, cholestyramine, diazoxide, hydantoins, urinary alkalinizers, charcoal, corticosteroids

Drug/Herb

Increase:
antidiabetic effect—garlic, horse chestnut

Decrease:
hypoglycemic effect—green tea

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
AST, ALT, LDH, BUN, creatinine

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Hypo/hyperglycemic reaction
that can occur soon after meals; for severe hypoglycemia give IV D
50
W, then IV dextrose solution

• 
Blood glucose, A1c levels during treatment to determine diabetes control

 
Blood dyscrasias: CBC at baseline and throughout treatment; report decreased blood count

Perform/provide:

• 
Storage in tight, light-resistant container at room temp

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decrease in polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia; clear sensorium; absence of dizziness; stable gait; improved serum glucose, A1c

Teach patient/family:

• 
Not to drink alcohol; about disulfiram reaction (nausea, headache, cramps, flushing, hypoglycemia)

• 
To report bleeding, bruising, weight gain, edema, SOB, weakness, sore throat

• 
To check for symptoms of cholestatic jaundice: dark urine, pruritus, yellow sclera; prescriber should be notified

• 
About symptoms of hypo/hyperglycemia, what to do about each; to have glucagon emergency kit available; to carry sugar packets

• 
That product must be continued on daily basis; about consequences of discontinuing product abruptly; to take product in morning to prevent hypoglycemic reactions at night

• 
To use sunscreen or stay out of the sun, wear protective clothing (photosensitivity)

• 
To avoid OTC medications unless ordered by prescriber

• 
That diabetes is a lifelong illness; product will not cure disease

• 
That all food in diet plan must be eaten to prevent hypoglycemia; to continue weight control, dietary restrictions, exercise, hygiene

• 
To carry emergency ID with prescriber and medication information

• 
To test using blood glucose meter while taking this product

• 
That ext rel tab may appear in stool

TREATMENT OF OVERDOSE:

Glucose 25 g IV via dextrose 50% sol, 50 ml, 1 mg glucagon, or carbohydrate depending on severity

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

glucagon

(gloo′ka-gon)

GlucaGen

Func. class.:
Antihypoglycemic

ACTION:

Increases in blood glucose, relaxation of smooth muscle of the GI tract, and a positive inotropic and chronotropic effect on the heart; increases in blood glucose are secondary to stimulation of glycogenolysis

USES:

Hypoglycemia, used to temporarily inhibit movement of GI tract as a diagnostic test

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, pheochromocytoma, insulinoma

Precautions:
Pregnancy (B), breastfeeding, cardiac disease, adrenal insufficiency

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Hypoglycemia in those with diabetes mellitus

• Adult/adolescent/child ≥55 lb (25 kg):
IM/IV/SUBCUT (GlucaGen)
1 mg (1 IU)

• Child <55 lb (25 kg) or <6-8 yr:
IM/IV/SUBCUT
0.5 mg (0.5 IU)(Glucagon)

• Adult/adolescent/child ≥44 lb (20 kg):
IM/IV/SUBCUT
(Glucagon) 1 mg (1IU)

• Child <44 lb (20 kg):
(Glucagon) 0.5 mg (0.5 IU) or 0.02–0.03 mg/kg (IU/kg) max/mg

Available forms:
Powder for injection 1-mg vial

Administer:

• 
Visually inspect for particulate matter and discoloration before use

Reconstitution:
Reconstitute with 1 ml of sterile water for injection or with diluent supplied by the manufacturer; the reconstituted injection should be clear and of water-like consistency (1 mg/ml); discard any unused portion

IM route

• 
Inject into a large muscle mass; aspirate before injection to avoid injection into a blood vessel

SUBCUT route

• 
Inject, taking care not to inject intradermally

IV route

• 
Inject directly into a vein at a rate ≤1 IU/min (mg/min); may be given through line running D
5
W or given at the same time as a bolus of dextrose

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Dizziness, headache

CV:
Hypotension

GI:
Nausea, vomiting

SYST:
Hypersensitivity

PHARMACOKINETICS

IV: Onset immediate, peak 30 min, duration 1-1½ hr

IM/subcut: Onset 5-10 min, peak 13-20 min, duration 12-30 min

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
Increased bleeding risk—anticoagulants

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Hypoglycemia:
Monitor glucose levels before and after product use; use other products to control hypoglycemia if patient is conscious

Evaluate:

• 
Decreased hypoglycemia

Teach patient/family:

• 
How to use this product, symptoms of hypoglycemia

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