|
|
 |
Generic Glucophage(Generic name: Metformin)
|
Glucophage Overview |
|---|
Glucophage (generic name Metformin) is a diabetes medicine.
Information about Glucophage such as Glucophage usage, Glucophage side effects, detailed Glucophage description and other you may find on our online pharmacy.
You may order Glucophage on our site. We guarantee: lowest Glucophage price, free shipping, free calls for customers, highest level of security, live support. Our online medical support will give you a free consultation to receive the prescription on the concrete medicine in accordance with your disease.
Free Shipping!
Shipping is free regardless of destination. There are no membership fees, dispensing fees, or any other hidden fees. Orders are sent by Registered Air Mail. Delivery time to the USA is typically 10 business days after we have sent the order, though it can take longer. |
| Glucophage Description |
|---|
brand name: Glucophage
generic names: Metformin hydrochloride, Metformin
How does it work? Glucophage tablets and Glucophage SR tablets both contain the active ingredient metformin hydrochloride. (NB. Metformin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Metformin is used to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).
People with diabetes have a deficiency or absence of a hormone produced by the pancreas called insulin. Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the control of sugar in the blood. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin and the cells of the body are resistant to the low levels of insulin circulating in the blood. Insulin would normally make the cells remove sugar from the blood, hence in type 2 diabetes blood sugar levels can rise too high.
Metformin hydrochloride is a type of antidiabetic medicine known as a biguanide. It works in a number of ways to decrease the amount of sugar in the blood of people with type 2 diabetes.
Firstly, it reduces the amount of sugar produced by cells in the liver. Secondly, it increases the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin. This enables the cells to remove sugar from the blood more effectively. Finally, it also delays absorption of sugar from the intestines into the bloodstream after eating. Overall, metformin reduces blood sugar levels both between and directly after meals.
Metformin is used as a first line treatment of type 2 diabetes in people who are overweight. It is used when diet and exercise have failed to control blood sugar levels. It can also be used in combination with other antidiabetic medicines to provide better control of blood sugar.
Glucophage tablets are standard release tablets that are taken two or three times a day either during or just after meals.
Glucophage SR tablets are prolonged release tablets that are designed to release metformin slowly and continuously over several hours. This produces a steady blood level of the medicine throughout the day. The tablets are designed to be taken once or twice a day with meals, depending on your blood sugar control. They must be swallowed with water and not broken, chewed or crushed, as this would damage the prolonged release action.
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Glucophage should not be taken during pregnancy. Since studies suggest the importance of maintaining normal blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe insulin injections instead. It is not known whether Glucophage (Metformin) appears in human breast milk. Therefore, women should discuss with their doctors whether to discontinue the medication or to stop breastfeeding. If the medication is discontinued and if diet alone does not control glucose levels, then your doctor may consider insulin injections.
What drug(s) may interact with metformin?
•alcohol
•cephalexin
•cimetidine
•digoxin
•dofetilide
•entecavir
•morphine
•nifedipine
•procainamide
•propantheline
•quinidine
•quinine
•ranitidine
•trimethoprim
•trospium
•vancomycin
•water pills (diuretics like amiloride, nutritional supplements, including non-prescription medicines, or cough
•niacin
•pentamidine
•phenytoin
•some herbal dietary supplements
•steroid medicines such as or contraceptive pills
•isoniazid
•male hormones or anabolic steroids
•medications for weight loss
•medicines for allergies, asthma, cold, prednisone or cortisone
•thyroid hormones
•water pills (diuretics)
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, progestins,. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
Special warnings about Glucophage (Metformin) Before you start therapy with Glucophage (Metformin), and at least once a year thereafter, your doctor will do a complete assessment of your kidney function. If you develop kidney problems while on Glucophage, your doctor will discontinue this medication. If you are an older person, you will need to have your kidney function monitored more frequently, and your doctor may want to start you at a lower dosage. You should not take Glucophage for 2 days before and after having an X-ray procedure (such as an angiogram) that uses an injectable dye. Also, if you are going to have surgery, except minor surgery, you should stop taking Glucophage (Metformin). Once you have resumed normal food and fluid intake, your doctor will tell you when you can start drug therapy again. Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking Glucophage (Metformin). Heavy drinking increases the danger of lactic acidosis and can also trigger an attack of low blood sugar. Because poor liver function could increase the risk of lactic acidosis, your doctor may decide to check your liver function before prescribing Glucophage (Metformin) and periodically thereafter. If you develop liver problems, your doctor may stop treatment with Glucophage. If you are taking Glucophage, you should check your blood or urine periodically for abnormal sugar (glucose) levels. Your doctor will do annual blood checks to see if Glucophage (Metformin) is causing a vitamin B 12 deficiency or any other blood problem. Glucophage does not usually cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, weak, especially in older, it remains a possibility, and undernourished people and those with kidney, liver, adrenal, or pituitary gland problems. The risk of low blood sugar increases when Glucophage (Metformin) is combined with other diabetes medications. The risk is also boosted by missed meals, alcohol, and excessive exercise. To avoid low blood sugar, you should closely follow the diet and exercise plan suggested by your doctor. If your blood sugar becomes unstable due to the stress of a fever, infection, injury, or surgery, your doctor may temporarily take you off Glucophage (Metformin) and ask you to take insulin instead.
How can this medicine affect other medicines? It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe .
The following medicines may increase blood glucose levels. If you start treatment with any of these your dose of metformin may therefore need increasing:
- oestrogens and progesterones, such as those contained in oral contraceptives.
- lithium
- beta-2-agonists, such as salbutamol
- diuretics, especially thiazide diuretics, eg bendroflumethiazide
- corticosteroids, such as prednisolone
Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) may occur, sometimes unpredictably, if ACE inhibitors such as captopril are taken with metformin.
Cimetidine may cause an increase in the blood level of metformin. Your doctor may reduce your metformin dose if you take both medicines.
When metformin is taken with other antidiabetic medicines, such as glibenclamide) or insulin, sulphonylureas (eg gliclazide, there will be an enhanced blood sugar lowering effect. Your blood sugar level should be monitored.
Metformin should be stopped before X-ray examinations involving injections of iodinated contrast materials, as these may cause a temporary decrease in kidney function that could affect the blood level of metformin. Metformin should not be started again after the X-ray until kidney function has been tested and found to be normal.
|
|
