Brand Names

How to Use

Use this drug as directed even if you feel well and do not notice any signs of high blood sugar. Do not take more of this drug and do not take it more often than your family doctor ordered . To do so may increase the risk of serious side effects. Remember that this drug will not cure your diabetes, but it does help control it. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood sugar and keep it low You may have to take an antidiabetic drug for the rest of your life . If high blood sugar is not treated, it can cause serious problems, such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, eye disease, or kidney disease.

Your family doctor will give you instructions about diet, exercise, how to test your blood sugar and how to adjust your dose when you are sick.

• Blood sugar tests: Testing for blood sugar is the best way to tell whether your diabetes is being controlled properly. Blood sugar testing helps you and your health care team adjust your antidiabetic drug dose, meal plan and exercise schedule.
• Diet: The daily number of calories in your meal plan must be adjusted by your family doctor or a registered dietitian to help you reach and maintain a healthy body weight. In addition, regular meals and snacks are arranged to meet the energy needs of your body at various times of the day The best for you that you carefully follow your meal plan .
• Exercise: Ask your family doctor what kind of exercise to do, the best time to do it and how much you must do each day.
• Fluid - water replacement: It is important to replace the water or fluid that your body uses. Tell your family doctor if you have less urine output than usual or severe diarrhea that lasts for more than 1 day.
• On sick days:
  • When you become sick with a cold, fever, or the flu, you need to take your usual dose of metformin, even if you feel too ill to eat. This is especially true if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Infection usually increases your need to produce more insulin. Sometimes you may need to be switched from metformin to insulin for a short period of time while you are sick to properly control blood sugar Call your family doctor for specific instructions, especially if severe or prolonged vomiting occurs .
  • Continue taking your metformin and try to stay on your regular meal plan. If you have trouble eating solid food, drink fruit juices, nondiet soft drinks, or clear soups, or eat small amounts of bland foods. A dietitian or your health care professional can give you a list of foods and the amounts to use for sick days.
  • Test your blood sugar and check your urine for ketones. If ketones are present, call your family doctor at once. Even when you start feeling better, let your family doctor know how you are doing.

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the amount of sugar in your blood or urine .

• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For type 2 diabetes:
    • For diseaseds taking metformin tablets
    • Adults:
      • Metformin alone: At first, 500 milligrams - mg two times a day taken with the morning and evening meals. Or, 850 mg a day taken with the morning meal. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose a little at a time every week or every other week if needed. Later, your family doctor may want you to take 500 or 850 mg two to three times a day with meals.
      • Metformin with a sulfonylurea: Your family doctor will determine the dose of each drug.
      • Metformin with insulin: At first, 500 mg a day. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose by 500 mg every week if needed.
    • Children up to 10 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    • Children 10 years of age and over At first, 500 milligrams - mg with your morning meal and 500 mg with your evening meal. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose a little at a time every week if needed.
    • For diseaseds taking metformin extended-release tablets
    • Adults and teenagers:
      • Metformin alone: At first, 500 milligrams - mg once daily with the evening meal. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose a little at a time every week if needed. If you need more drug, your family doctor may tell you to take more than one dose a day.
      • Metformin with a sulfonylurea: Your family doctor will determine the dose of each drug.
      • Metformin with insulin: At first, 500 mg a day. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose by 500 mg every week if needed.
    • Children up to 17 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
    
    

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the drug from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.