Glucophage

Glucophage Martin-Dow tablets (Metformin Hydrochloride) are an oral antidiabetic medication, formulated according to (BP) standards.

Package contains: Each box of Glucophage contains 5 x 10 film-coated tablets of 500 mg. It is also available in other doses such as 250mg, 850mg & 1g tablets.

Composition: Each tablet contains:

Each film-coated tablet contains:

Metformin Hydrochloride Ph. Eur 500 mg

Usual Dosage: As prescribed by the physician.

Indications /Uses: Glucophage is used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes (also called non-insulin dependent diabetes) when diet and exercise alone have not been enough to control your blood glucose levels, it is used particularly in overweight patients. Adults can take it on its own or together with other medicines to treat diabetes (medicines taken by mouth or insulin).

It is also indicated for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with pre-diabetes and at least one additional risk factor in whom life style modifications alone have not reached, adequate glycaemic control.

Glucophage description: Glucophage is a medicine to treat diabetes. It belongs to a group of medicines called biguanides. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that makes your body takes in glucose (sugar) from the blood. Your body uses glucose to produce energy or stores it for future use. If you have diabetes, your pancreas does not make enough insulin or your body is not able to use properly the insulin it produces. This leads to a high level of glucose in your blood.

It helps to lower your blood glucose to as normal a level as possible. If you are an overweight adult, taking it over a long period of time also helps to lower the risk of complications associated with diabetes.

Detailed dosage: Always take Glucophage exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Glucophage cannot replace the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Continue to follow any advice about diet that your doctor has given you and get some regular exercise. If you take insulin too, your doctor will tell you how to start Glucophage.

Children 10 years and over, adolescents: usually start with 500mg or 850mg. Glucophage once a day. The maximum daily dose is 2000mg taken as 2 or 3 divided doses.
Children between 10 and 12 years of age: The maximum daily dose is 3000mg taken as 3 divided doses.
For the prevention of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, the usual dose is 1000 to 1700 mg metformin hydrochloride per day, divided into two doses given during or after meals.
It is recommended to regularly monitor the glycaemic status as well as the risk factors to evaluate whether treatment is still needed.

How to take Glucophage: Take Glucophage with or after a meal. This will avoid you having side effects affecting your digestion. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Swallow each tablet with a glass of water.

If you take one dose a day, take it in the morning (breakfast). If you take two divided doses a day, take them in the morning (breakfast), and evening (dinner). If you take three divided doses a day, take them in the morning (breakfast), at noon (lunch) and in the evening (dinner). If, after some time, you think that the effect of Glucophage is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Monitoring: Your doctor will perform regular blood glucose tests and will adapt your dose of Glucophage to your blood glucose levels. Make sure that you talk to your doctor regularly. This is particularly important for children and adolescents or if you are an older person.

Your doctor will also check at least once a year how well your kidneys work. You may need more frequent checks if you are an older person or if your kidneys are not working normally.

Missed Dosage: If you forget to take Glucophage. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take the next dose at the usual time.

Overdose: If you have taken more Glucophage than you should have, you may experience lactic acidosis. Symptoms of lactic acidosis are vomiting, bellyache (abdominal pain) with muscle cramps, a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness, and difficulty in breathing. If this happens to you, you may need immediate hospital treatment, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma. Contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straight away.

Contraindications: Do not take Glucophage

If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to metformin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
If you have kidney or liver problems.
If you have uncontrolled diabetes, with e.g, severe hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose), nausea, vomiting, dehydration, rapid weight loss or ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which substances called ‘ketone bodies’ accumulate in the blood and which can lead to diabetic pre-coma. Symptoms include stomach pain, fast and deep breathing, sleepiness or unusual fruity odour of the breath or if you have lost too much water from your body (dehydration), such as due to long-lasting or severe diarrhoea, or if you have vomited several times in a row. Dehydration may lead to kidney problems, which can put you at risk for lactic acidosis.
If you have a severe infection, such as an infection affecting your lung or bronchial system or your kidney. Severe infections may lead to kidney problems, which can put you at risk for lactic acidosis.
If you are treated for heart failure or have recently had a heart attack, have severe problems with your circulation (such as shock) or have breathing difficulties. This may lead to a lack of oxygen supply to the tissue, which can put you at risk for lactic acidosis. If you drink a lot of alcohol if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor before you start taking this medicine.

Precautions: Make sure you ask your doctor for advice if

You need to have an examination, such as an X-ray or scan involving the injection of contrast medicines that contain iodine into your bloodstream.
You need to have major surgery, you must stop taking Glucophage for a certain period before and after the examination or the surgery. It is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions precisely.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: During pregnancy, you need insulin to treat your diabetes. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or you think you might be or are planning to become pregnant, so that he or she may change your treatment. This medicine is not recommended if you are breastfeeding or if you are planning to breastfeed your baby.

Adverse effects: Like all medicines, Glucophage can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may occur:

Very common side effects (in more than 1 in 10 people) Digestive problems, such as feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea, bellyache (abdominal pain) and loss of appetite.

These side effects most often happen at the beginning of the treatment with Glucophage. It helps if you spread the doses over the day and if you take Glucophage with or straight after a meal. If symptoms continue, stop taking Glucophage and talk to your doctor.

Common side effects (in less than 1 in 10 people): Changes in taste.

Very rare side effects (in less than 1 in 10,000 people): Abnormalities in liver function tests or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver, which may cause tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, with or without yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes). If this happens to you, stop taking Glucophage and talk to your doctor.

Skin reactions such as redness of the skin (erythema), itching or an itchy rash (hives). Low vitamin B12 levels in the blood.

Lactic acidosis. This is a very rare but serious complication, particularly if your kidneys are not working properly. The risk of lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, prolonged fasting or alcohol intake. Symptoms of lactic acidosis are vomiting, bellyache (abdominal pain) with muscle cramps, a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness, and difficulty in breathing.

If this happens to you, you may need immediate hospital treatment, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma. Stop taking Glucophage immediately and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straight away.

Children and adolescents: Limited data in children and adolescents showed that adverse events were similar in nature and severity to those reported in adults. If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Taking other medicines: Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medicines and Glucophage at the same time.

Diuretics (used to remove water from the body by making more urine).
Beta-2 agonists such as salbutamol or terbutaline (used to treat asthma).
Corticosteroids (used to treat a variety of conditions, such as severe inflammation of the skin or asthma).
Other medicines used to treat diabetes. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Driving and using machines: Glucophage on its own does not cause hypoglycaemia (a blood glucose level that is too low). This means that it will not affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, if you take Glucophage together with other medicines to treat diabetes that can cause hypoglycaemia (such as sulphonylureas, insulin, meglitinides), there is a risk of hypoglycaemia.

Note/ Special Care: This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others; it may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours. Do not drink alcohol when you take this medicine.

If you experience symptoms of hypoglycaemia such as weakness, dizziness, increased sweating, fast heartbeat, vision disorders or difficulty in concentration, do not drive or use machines if you start to feel these symptoms. It usually helps to eat or drink something containing sugar.

Instructions: Store below 30 °C. Protect from light, heat and moisture. Keep all medicines out of the reach of children. To be sold on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner only. Directions for use enclosed. If you have any further questions about this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Manufacturer & Buy Online:

Glucophage tablets are manufactured by: Martin Dow Marker Ltd.

This is the link to its manufacturer: https://www.martindowmarker

You can buy it online at: https://dawailo.pk