Drug interactions
Ethanol + Glimepiride
Severity: Moderate
Ethanol and Glimepiride: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Alcohol increases the risk of hypoglycemia with glimepiride, especially with fasting or heavy drinking, and can disturb glycemic control. Disulfiram-like reactions are rare.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ethanol and Glimepiride can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Alcohol inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis, adding to the insulin secretagogue effect of the sulfonylurea.
What to do
Advise avoiding alcohol or limiting it to small amounts with food. Educate on hypoglycemia symptoms and monitor glucose.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Glimepiride
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ethanol with Glimepiride?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ethanol and Glimepiride can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Alcohol increases the risk of hypoglycemia with glimepiride, especially with fasting or heavy drinking, and can disturb glycemic control. Disulfiram-like reactions are rare.
How serious is the interaction between Ethanol and Glimepiride?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise avoiding alcohol or limiting it to small amounts with food. Educate on hypoglycemia symptoms and monitor glucose.
What other medicines interact with Glimepiride?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glimepiride with, for example, Fluconazole, Insulin degludec-liraglutide, Insulin glargine-lixisenatide. The full list is on the Glimepiride page.
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