Both glyburide and metformin are the generic names of two types of medications used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, or diabetes mellitus. The two are combined in a brand name drug called Glucovance. Metformin, often the first medication physicians prescribe for newly diagnosed sufferers of Type 2 diabetes, works by helping your body utilize sugar in your system more effectively and also to decrease the amount of sugar absorbed. It also prevents the liver from releasing too much sugar it stores. Glyburide works on the pancreas, making it put more insulin into your blood.
Serious Typical Side Effects
The glyburide and metformin combination drug Glucovance may cause serious side effects. Your doctor should be consulted if you experience any of these effects. The more common type of serious side effects from Glucovance include falling unconscious, anxiety, unusual weakness, the same kinds of behavioral changes you might experience from drinking too much alcohol, abnormal tiredness, vision blurring, throat soreness, cold sweats, sneezing, seizures, confusion, slurring of speech, skin that is pale and cool to the touch, shakiness, a cough and sleeping restlessly. Others may include concentration difficulties, nightmares, drowsiness, nervousness, hunger that may be excessive, nausea, rapid heartbeats or tachycardia, continuing headaches or a fever.
Serious Rare Side Effects
Rarely, some people who have taken the glyburide-metformin combination drug have experienced other serious side effects. These also should be discussed with your physician. She may want to change your diabetes medication or have some other solution for the problems. They include abnormal drowsiness, discomfort in the abdomen, cramps in the muscles, less of an appetite, pain in the muscles, diarrhea, sensations of general discomfort throughout the body or shallow and rapid breathing.
Other Side Effects
The use of Glucovance also may cause other side effects. The more common and generally temporary type include vomiting, headaches and dizziness. These will tend to go away as you use the medicine more, but your doctor may be able to help if they annoy you or do not vanish with time. Others may include edema, which is the retention of water in the body, or an upper respiratory system infection. It also is possible for Glucovance to lower you blood glucose levels too much, which may cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. This generally can be fixed in the short term with a piece of hard candy, but it should be noted by your physician.
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