Glimepiride (Amaryl) Half-Life
The terminal elimination half-life of glimepiride is approximately 5-9 hours, allowing for once-daily dosing with maximal glucose-lowering effects occurring in the first 4 hours after administration. 1
Pharmacokinetic Profile
Glimepiride exhibits a terminal half-life that supports convenient once-daily administration, with the greatest blood glucose lowering effects occurring within the first 4 hours post-dose 1
The time to reach peak concentration (t_max) and total clearance remain consistent across different patient populations, including obese versus non-obese diabetic patients 2
Clinical Implications of Half-Life
The relatively short half-life contributes to a lower risk of prolonged hypoglycemia compared to other sulfonylureas, particularly important in patients with renal impairment or elderly patients 3
Unlike first-generation sulfonylureas, glimepiride does not have active metabolites that accumulate with decreased kidney function, and pharmacokinetics remain mainly unaltered in patients with renal disease 3
The pharmacokinetic profile remains stable in elderly patients and those with renal or hepatic disease, requiring no routine dose adjustment 3, 1
Special Population Considerations
No dose adjustment is typically required for renal impairment based on the favorable pharmacokinetic profile, though close glucose monitoring remains essential 3
Elderly patients require careful monitoring due to increased hypoglycemia risk from impaired counter-regulatory responses, despite the favorable half-life profile 3
Morbidly obese patients show no clinically significant differences in glimepiride clearance or half-life compared to normal-weight patients, requiring no special dose considerations 2