Product Information
Generic
Glucophage and its Uses
Generic Glucophage belongs to the class of medications
called oral hypoglycemics (medications that lower blood sugar). Generic
Glucophage is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Glucophage is used when diet, exercise, and weight reduction have not
been found to lower blood glucose well enough on their own.
Treatment is combined with a balanced diet and exercise. Generic Glucophage
lowers blood sugar and helps your body to use insulin more efficiently.
It is sometimes used with other medicines for diabetes.
Generic Glucophage works by reducing the amount of glucose made by
the liver and by making it easier for glucose to enter into the tissues
of the body. Generic Glucophage has been found to be especially useful
in delaying problems associated with diabetes for overweight people
with diabetes.
Working Mechanism of Glucophage
People with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes)
have a deficiency of a hormone called insulin. Insulin is produced by
the pancreas and is the main hormone responsible for controlling sugar
levels in the blood. It normally makes the cells of the body remove
excess sugar from the blood. In type 2 diabetes the cells of the body
are also resistant to the action of insulin that is produced, which
means that blood sugar levels can become too high.
Generic Glucophage is a type of antidiabetic medicine known as a biguanide.
Glucophage works in a number of ways to decrease the amount of sugar
in the blood of people with type 2 diabetes.
Firstly, Generic Glucophage reduces the amount of sugar produced by
cells in the liver. Secondly, Glucophage increases the sensitivity of
muscle cells to insulin. This enables the cells to remove sugar from
the blood more effectively. Finally, Generic Glucophage also delays
absorption of sugar from the intestines into the bloodstream after eating.
Overall, Glucophage reduces blood sugar levels both between and directly
after meals.
Glucophage Dose
Missed Dose of Generic Glucophage
Take the missed Dose of Glucophage as soon as you remember. However,
if it is almost time for the next Dose of Glucophage, skip the missed
Dose of Glucophage and only take the next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not take a double Dose of Glucophage.
Excess Dose of Generic Glucophage
Generic Glucophage in excess dose may show symptoms such as hypoglycemia,
lactic acidosis.
Conditions for Storage of Generic Glucophage
Store Glucophage at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Potencies of Generic Glucophage
Glucophage Tablets: Glucophage 500 mg, Glucophage XL 500 mg & Glucophage XP 1000 mg
Food and Drug interactions with Glucophage
The following medicines can raise blood sugar levels and may therefore
oppose the effect of Glucophage:
- corticosteroids, such as prednisolone
- diuretics, such as bendrofluazide
- beta-2-agonists, such as salbutamol
- Cimetidine may cause an increase in the blood level of Glucophage.
Your doctor may reduce your Glucophage dose if you take both medicines.
- When Glucophage is taken with other antidiabetic medicines, such
as sulphonylureas (e.g. gliclazide, glibenclamide) or insulin, there
will be an enhanced blood sugar lowering effect. Blood sugar should
be monitored.
- Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) may occur, sometimes unpredictably,
if Glucophage is taken with ACE inhibitors such as captopril.
- Alcohol should be avoided while you are taking this medicine, as
it can increase the risk of hypoglycaemia and lactic acidosis.
- Glucophage should be discontinued prior to X-ray examinations with
iodinated materials, as a temporary decrease in kidney function may
occur. It should not be reinstated until kidney function has been
tested and found to be normal.
Contraindications with Glucophage
Glucophage is contraindicated in the following:
- Alcoholic intoxication
- Alcoholism
- Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Cessation of breathing (respiratory failure)
- Children under ten years of age
- Coma due to ketoacidosis in severe and inadequately treated diabetes
(diabetic coma)
- Decreased kidney function
- Decreased liver function
- Dehydration
- Diabetic keto-acidosis
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- People who have recently had a heart attack
- Reduced blood flow to vital internal organs (shock)
- Severe infections or trauma
- Allergy to any of its ingredients
Precautions
with Glucophage
Generic Glucophage should be used with caution in impaired Hepatic function.
Monitoring of renal function should be done.
Adverse Effects with Generic Glucophage
The adverse effects associated with Glucophage are:
- Metallic taste
- Flushing of the skin due to widening of the small blood vessels (erythema)
- Loss of appetite
- Elevated levels of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis)
- Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal
pain
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