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How to Take GLUMETZA

It's important that you take GLUMETZA exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will usually start you on a low dose and increase your dose slowly to control your blood sugar levels. Do not change your dose unless told to do so by your doctor.

Remember these simple things when taking GLUMETZA

  • Take GLUMETZA once a day in the evening with food or as prescribed by your doctor
  • Swallow GLUMETZA tablets whole. Never crush, split or chew GLUMETZA tablets. Tell your doctor if you cannot swallow tablets whole. Your doctor may prescribe a different medicine for you
  • If you miss a dose of GLUMETZA resume dosing according to schedule

Call your doctor with any problems or concerns

  • If you take too much GLUMETZA or overdose, call your doctor or poison control center right away
  • Be sure to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you have about taking GLUMETZA

When NOT to take GLUMETZA

You may need to stop GLUMETZA if you:

  • Are sick with severe vomiting, diarrhea or fever, or if you drink a much lower amount of liquid than normal
  • Plan to have surgery
  • Are having an x-ray procedure with an injection of dye
  • Have kidney problems
  • Have heart failure that is treated with medicines
  • Have a condition called metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis should be treated with insulin
  • Are allergic to GLUMETZA or to any of its ingredients1

Before starting treatment with GLUMETZA

Before you start taking GLUMETZA, be sure to tell your doctor about:

  • Any medical conditions you have, including kidney, liver, or heart problems
  • If you drink alcohol, are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding
  • All prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and other supplements you take, since they may interact with GLUMETZA1

What is the most important information I should know about GLUMETZA?1

Warning: GLUMETZA can cause a rare, but serious condition called lactic acidosis (a buildup of an acid in the blood) that can cause death. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in the hospital. Stop taking GLUMETZA and call your doctor right away if you get the following symptoms of lactic acidosis.

  • You feel very weak or tired.
  • You have unusual (not normal) muscle pain.
  • You have trouble breathing.
  • You have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • You feel cold, especially in your arms and legs.
  • You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
  • You have a slow or irregular heartbeat.
  • Your medical condition suddenly changes.

Other things to remember

Once you start taking GLUMETZA:

  • You may see the GLUMETZA tablet shell in your stool
  • You may also see a soft mass of the GLUMETZA inactive ingredients in your stool Both of these are normal to see in your stool
  • Stay on your exercise and diet program and test your blood sugar regularly while taking GLUMETZA
  • Your doctor should monitor your diabetes and do blood tests on you from time to time to check your kidneys and your liver.
  • GLUMETZA is available in 500 and 1000 mg doses. Your doctor will decide which dose is right for you1

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, does not occur in patients receiving GLUMETZA alone but could occur when you don’t consumer enough calories or when you take other glucose-lowering agents or ethanol at the same time as GLUMETZA. Loss of control of blood sugar levels may occur when a stabilized patient is under stress. In clinical trials, of GLUMETZA combined with another anti-diabetic drug known as a sulfonylurea, the most common side effects included low blood sugar, diarrhea, and nausea.

For more detailed information about taking GLUMETZA, please see the Important Safety Information below and the Full Prescribing Information available on this site.

Call the GLUMETZA Support Center toll free at 1-888-778-0887, if you have questions about GLUMETZA.

Always consult your doctor about any questions or concerns about taking GLUMETZA.

Indication

GLUMETZA is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Important Safety Information

Boxed Warnings

There is a black box warning associated with metformin products. Lactic acidosis due to metformin accumulation during treatment with GLUMETZA is a rare but potentially fatal occurrence. Lactic acidosis may also occur in association with a number of pathophysiologic conditions and whenever there is significant tissue hypoperfusion and hypoxemia. Patients with congestive heart failure requiring pharmacologic management, in particular those with unstable or acute congestive heart failure who are at risk of hypoperfusion and hypoxemia, are at increased risk of lactic acidosis. The onset of lactic acidosis often is subtle, and can be accompanied only by nonspecific symptoms. The patient and the patient's physician must be aware of the possible importance of such symptoms and the patient should be instructed to notify the physician immediately if they occur. The risk of lactic acidosis increases with the degree of renal dysfunction and the patient's age. Treatment should not be initiated in patients = 80 years of age unless renal function is not reduced. The risk of lactic acidosis while on GLUMETZA therapy may be significantly decreased by: Initial and regular monitoring of renal and liver function; using the minimum effective dose of GLUMETZA; promptly withholding GLUMETZA in the presence of any condition associated with hypoxemia, dehydration, or sepsis; avoidance of GLUMETZA in patients with hepatic disease; cautioning patients against excessive alcohol intake, either acute or chronic; and temporarily discontinuing GLUMETZA prior to any intravascular radiocontrast study or surgical procedure. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency requiring immediate discontinuation of GLUMETZA and prompt institution of general supportive measures. Because metformin is dialyzable, prompt hemodialysis is recommended to correct the acidosis and remove the accumulated metformin.

For the Full Prescribing Information, including Black Box Warning, please click here. Please consult with your healthcare professional to see if GLUMETZA is right for you.

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GLUMETZA is contraindicated in patients with renal dysfunction, known hypersensitivity to metformin HCl or metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis. Use of concomitant medications that affect renal function or hemodynamic change may interfere with the disposition of metformin and should be used with caution.

Hypoglycemia does not occur in patients receiving GLUMETZA alone but could occur with deficient caloric intake or during concomitant use with other glucose-lowering agents or ethanol. Loss of glycemic control may occur when a stabilized patient is exposed to stress.

In clinical trials, the most common side effects with GLUMETZA monotherapy were diarrhea, nausea, dyspepsia, and upper abdominal pain. In a clinical trial of GLUMETZA combined with a sulfonylurea, the most common side effects included hypoglycemia, diarrhea, and nausea.

The content of this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations or relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please see complete Legal Disclaimer.

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References

  1. GLUMETZA [package insert]. Menlo Park, CA: Depomed, Inc; 2008.

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