Amaryl Mechanism of Action

Glimepiride, the active ingredient of Amaryl, is a blood-sugar-lowering agent belonging to the sulfonylurea group. The decrease in blood sugar is achieved principally by means of the stimulation of insulin release from pancreatic beta cells. This effect is predominantly based on improved responsiveness of these cells to the physiological glucose stimulus. Glimepiride augments the normal action of insulin on peripheral glucose uptake. Moreover, it mimics such action as well as the glucose output of the liver. Good metabolic control over 24 hours can be achieved with a single dose of Amaryl.
In patients with insufficient response to the maximum dose, combined use with an additional oral antidiabetic containing metformin or with insulin improves metabolic control.
Toxicology: Non-clinical safety data: Carcinogenicity: Lifetime studies in rats revealed no carcinogenic potential. In mice, there was an increased incidence of islet cell hyperplasia and of islet cell adenomas; these are regarded as resulting from the chronic stimulation of the beta cells. Glimepiride did not show any mutagenic or genotoxic effects.