metformin and repaglinide
What is the most important information I should know about metformin and repaglinide?
You should not use this medicine if you have severe kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, or diabetic ketoacidosis.
You should not use metformin and repaglinide together with gemfibrozil or NPH insulin (such as isophane insulin).
If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking metformin and repaglinide.
You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.
What is metformin and repaglinide?
Metformin and repaglinide is a combination of two oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels. Metformin and repaglinide is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. This medicine is not for treating type 1 diabetes.
Metformin and repaglinide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my doctor before taking metformin and repaglinide?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to metformin or repaglinide, or if you have:
- severe kidney disease;
- diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment); or
- if you also use gemfibrozil or NPH insulin (such as isophane insulin).
If you need to have surgery or any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking metformin and repaglinide. Be sure your caregivers know ahead of time that you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease; or
- heart disease.
You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. This may be more likely if you have other medical conditions, a severe infection, chronic alcoholism, or if you are 65 or older. Ask your doctor about your risk.
Follow your doctor's instructions about using this medicine if you are pregnant. Blood sugar control is very important during pregnancy, and your dose needs may be different during each trimester of pregnancy. Metformin may stimulate ovulation in a premenopausal woman and may increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about your risk.
You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
How should I take metformin and repaglinide?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Metformin and repaglinide is usually taken 2 or 3 times daily, within 15 minutes before eating a meal. Follow your doctor's instructions. If you skip a meal, do not take the medicine. Wait until your next meal.
You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar (fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda).
Your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injection kit in case you have severe hypoglycemia. Be sure your family or close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.
Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.
Metformin and repaglinide is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, blood sugar testing, and special medical care. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
Your doctor may have you take extra vitamin B12 while you are taking metformin and repaglinide. Take only the amount your doctor has prescribed.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take your dose as soon as you can, but only if you are getting ready to eat a meal. If you skip a meal, skip the missed dose and wait until your next meal.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose can cause severe hypoglycemia or lactic acidosis.
What should I avoid while taking metformin and repaglinide?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may increase your risk of lactic acidosis.
What are the possible side effects of metformin and repaglinide?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
-
severe hypoglycemia --extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, seizure; or
-
lactic acidosis --unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, irregular heart rate, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.
Common side effects may include:
- low blood sugar;
- headache;
- nausea, vomiting; or
- diarrhea.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect metformin and repaglinide?
Many drugs can affect metformin and repaglinide, making this medicine less effective or increasing your risk of lactic acidosis. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about metformin and repaglinide.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.01. Revision date: 9/10/2019.
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