Abstract: AimTo establish a polarographic method of parallel catalytic hydrogen wave for determination of glimepiride. MethodsThe catalytic wave of glimepiride in the presence of K₂S₂O₈was used to improve the analytical sensitivity. The rapid determination of glimepiride was done by linear single sweep polarography. ResultsThe catalytic hydrogen wave of glimepiride was measured at ca. -1.36 (vs SCE) in 0.09 mol·L^-1 Na₂B₄O₇-KH₂PO₄ (pH 6.24±0.1) supporting electrolyte. When 1.0×10^-2 mol·L^-1 K₂S₂O₈ was present, the current increased by 25 times, and the peak potentioal was unchanged, producing a more sensitive parallel catalytic hydrogen wave. The peak current of the parallel catalytic hydrogen wave was rectilinear to the glimepiride concentration in the range 1.0×10^-7- 4.2×10^-5 mol·L^-1 (r=0.999 0, n=9). The detection limit was 5.0×10^-8 mol·L^-1. ConclusionThe proposed method could be applied to the determination of glimepiride in pharmaceuticals without preliminary separation.