Table of contents:
- Function
- What is Glucophage?
- What are the rules for drinking Glucophage?
- How to save Glucophage?
- Dose
- What is the Glucophage dosage for adults?
- Immediate release tablet:
- Extended Release Tablets:
- What is the dosage of Glucophage for children?
- Immediate release tablet:
- Extended Release Tablets:
- In what dosages and preparations is Glucophage available?
- Side effects
- What side effects can occur due to consumption of Glucophage?
- Warnings and Precautions
- What should be known before taking Glucophage?
- Is Glucophage safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Drug Interactions
- What medicines may interact with Glucophage?
- Overdose
- What should I do if I overdose on Glucophage?
- What if I forget my medication schedule?
Function
What is Glucophage?
Glucophage is a drug to help control high blood sugar levels. This drug is usually taken by people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glucophage works better to control blood sugar when accompanied by a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Used appropriately regularly, this drug can help prevent kidney, nerve problems, blindness, amputation, and problems with sexual function. Good blood sugar control can also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Glucophage is a trademark of metformin. Metformin plays a role in restoring the body's sensitivity to processing insulin. These drugs simultaneously reduce the amount of sugar produced by the liver and absorbed by the intestines.
The use of Glucophage can be combined with the use of insulin and other oral diabetes drugs or taken as a single therapy. However, this drug is not intended to treat type 1 diabetes patients.
What are the rules for drinking Glucophage?
Glucophage is passed by mouth (taken by mouth) according to the doctor's instructions or the instructions listed on the package. Usually taken 1-3 times a day after meals. Try to drink enough water while taking this drug.
Your doctor can determine the dose to take this drug according to your health condition and your body's response to treatment. The blood sugar levels in your body will also help your doctor determine the dosage for this drug.
You may be asked to take this medication in a low dose initially to reduce the risk of side effects. However, later the doctor can increase the dosage. Make sure you follow all directions from your doctor and keep checking your blood sugar levels regularly. Don't hesitate to tell your doctor if your blood sugar levels are too high or low. The dose or medication may need to be changed to improve your condition.
Tell your doctor about all the medicinal products you take, especially other diabetes medicines, such as chlorpropamide. Follow your doctor's instructions about stopping or continuing the old medication and starting Glucophage.
Do not reduce, increase the dose or stop this medication without doctor's recommendation even if you feel better. The dose of Glucophage that is given has to take into account your health condition, the body's response to treatment, and other drugs that you are taking.
Take this medicine regularly for the expected results. To make it easier for you to remember, take this medication at the same time each time. If you do not feel better or even worse, contact your doctor immediately to make a dose adjustment or the possibility to change medication.
How to save Glucophage?
Glucophage is best stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and a damp place. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.
Dose
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the Glucophage dosage for adults?
The rules for taking this drug 3 times a day with a dose of 1 tablet for a 500 milligram (mg) dosage. As for the 850 mg dosage, it is recommended to be taken 2 times a day with a dose of 1 tablet each time you drink it.
Immediate release tablet:
- Initial dose: 500 mg, twice daily or 850 mg, once daily
- Adjusted dose: increase to 500 mg every week or 850 mg every two weeks, depending on your tolerance level
- Maintenance dose: 2,000 mg per day in divided doses
- Maximum dose: 2,550 mg per day
Extended Release Tablets:
- Initial dose: 500 - 1,000 mg, once daily
- Adjusted dose: increase to 500 mg weekly depending on tolerance level
- Maintenance dose: 2,000 mg per day
- Maximum dose: 2,500 mg per day
The dose can be increased every 1 week according to tolerance. However, the maximum dose per day is 3000 mg.
What is the dosage of Glucophage for children?
Children aged 10-16 years who have type 2 diabetes
Immediate release tablet:
- Initial dose: 500 mg, twice daily
- Adjusted dose: increase to 500 mg every week according to body tolerance
- Maintenance dose: 2,000 mg per day
- Maximum dose: 2,000 mg per day
Extended Release Tablets:
The extended release tablet is not recommended for use in children under 18 years of age
In what dosages and preparations is Glucophage available?
Tablet, Oral (immediate release): 500 mg, 850 mg, 1,000 mg
Tablet, Oral (extended release): 500 mg, 750 mg
The main ingredient in Glucophage is metformin.
Side effects
What side effects can occur due to consumption of Glucophage?
There are several possible side effects of using this drug. Stop using this drug and consult your doctor immediately if you experience one or more of the following side effects:
- Nausea
- Gag
- Stomach ache
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- Mouth feels metal
If these side effects are mild, they usually go away on their own within days or weeks. If these symptoms persist or get worse, contact your doctor immediately.
Side effects can develop more severely marked by the appearance of lactic acidosis (lactic acid buildup) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels).
Symptoms of lactic acidosis include:
- Severe fatigue
- Muscle pain until weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
- Stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting
Symptoms of abdominal pain that appear at the start of treatment usually occur as a sign of lactic acidosis. These symptoms can be bad.
Glucophage does not usually cause hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can occur when this drug is prescribed at the same time as other diabetes medications. Symptoms of hypoglycemia such as:
- Headache
- The body is weak and limp
- Confusion
- Trembling or feeling restless
- Dizzy
- Sweating
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
Immediately consume foods containing glucose to increase blood sugar levels quickly, such as table sugar, honey, candy.
Serious allergy symptoms are known to rarely occur as a result of taking this drug. Even so, immediately go to the doctor when you see an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, swelling of the face / tongue / throat area, severe dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Remember that your doctor prescribes a medication because it judges its benefits to outweigh the risk of possible side effects. Many people use this drug but do not suffer serious side effects.
The above list is not a complete list of possible side effects that can occur due to consumption of Glucophage. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects that you are worried about will occur.
Warnings and Precautions
What should be known before taking Glucophage?
- Tell your doctor if you have allergies to certain drugs, especially allergies to metformin or other drugs. Glucophage may contain other inactive ingredients that can cause allergies.
- Before taking this medication, tell your doctor about your medical history, including any diseases you have or are having, especially respiratory problems (severe obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma), blood disorders (anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency), kidney disease. and liver disease, heart disease (congestive heart failure), and diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Tell me all the medicinal products you have, especially medicines for diabetes or if you use insulin to prevent the risk of a drastic drop in blood sugar.
- Some people taking this medicine may experience symptoms of lactic acidosis and the odds are higher if you have liver or kidney disease, heart failure, heart attack or stroke, severe infection, are over 65 years old, dehydrated, or consume large amounts of alcohol. Discuss your possible risks with your doctor.
- If you are going to have a photo procedure with X rays or CT-Scan with contrast fluid that is injected into a vein, you may have to stop taking Glucophage. Tell your doctor about this.
- You may experience visual disturbances, weakness, and drowsiness due to drastic changes in blood sugar levels. Do not engage in activities that require high alertness, such as driving, after taking this medicine before knowing how your body responds to Glucophage.
- During pregnancy, should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks to the fetus. Inform the doctor if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. Your doctor may give you alternative medications to control your blood sugar.
- Metformin in Glucophage can trigger ovulation even in women who have menstrual cycle / premenopausal problems. This can increase the chance of an unplanned pregnancy. Consult your doctor regarding the use of proper birth control equipment if you are on a birth control program
Is Glucophage safe for pregnant and lactating women?
The metformin contained in Glucophage is known to pose no negative risk in animal experiments. However, no trials have been carried out on pregnant women. Based on randomized evidence, the metformin in this drug has a good safety profile in pregnant women without long-term effects in the child up to 18 months of age.
Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this supplement. Glucophage is included in the pregnancy risk category B (no risk in some studies) according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, the equivalent of the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration Agency in Indonesia.
The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:
- A = Not at risk
- B = No risk in several studies
- C = May be risky
- D = There is positive evidence of risk
- X = Contraindicated
- N = Unknown
Always consult your doctor or midwife before using any medicine, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy. Because some conditions may require different doses, or it is not even recommended to take this drug.
Glucophage is known to flow out of the body along with breast milk in small amounts. Consult the use of Glucophage with your doctor before breastfeeding to find out the possible risks.
Drug Interactions
What medicines may interact with Glucophage?
Certain drugs cannot be prescribed together because they cause drug interactions. Drug interactions cause the drug to work less optimally or can increase the risk of side effects. However, your doctor may give both drugs at the same time if needed by adjusting the dose.
The following is a list of drugs that may cause interactions with Glucophage:
- Aspirin
- Clomid (clomiphene)
- Crestor (rosuvastatin)
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
- Glipizide
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Ibuprofen
- Insulin
- Lantus (insulin glargine)
- Lasix (furosemide)
- Levothyroxine
- Lipitor (atorvastatin)
- Lisinopril
- Neurontin (gabapentin)
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- Norvasc (amlodipine)
- Omeprazole
- Phentermine
- Plavix (clopidogrel)
- Prilosec (omeprazole)
- Simvastatin
- Synthroid (levothyroxine)
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Zocor (simvastatin)
The above list is not a complete list of drugs that may interact with Glucophage. Tell your doctor about all the products you use, whether prescription / nonprescription, vitamins, or herbal products to anticipate possible drug interactions.
Overdose
What should I do if I overdose on Glucophage?
In an emergency or overdose, immediately contact emergency medical assistance (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital. Glucophage overdose may include hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is characterized by unusual weakness / fatigue or drowsiness, nausea / vomiting / diarrhea, muscle aches, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, and abdominal pain.
In a state of lactic acidosis due to an overdose of metformin, hemodialysis can be one way to remove excess metformin that remains in the patient's body.
What if I forget my medication schedule?
If you miss your scheduled medication, take this medication again as soon as you remember it with your meal. If the time is too close to the next schedule, ignore the missed schedule. Take this medication again on the original schedule. Do not double your dose on a single medication schedule.
