NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION GLIZIDE Gliclazide tablets 80 mg GLIZIDE lowers high blood glucose Do not take GLIZIDE if you have What is in this leaflet by increasing the amount of insulin or have had any of the following produced by your pancreas. conditions: Please read this leaflet carefully If your blood glucose is not properly type I diabetes mellitus before you start taking GLIZIDE. (insulin dependent diabetes controlled, you may experience hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) mellitus, also known as This leaflet answers some common IDDM, or juvenile or growth or hyperglycaemia (high blood questions about GLIZIDE. onset diabetes) glucose). High blood glucose can unstable diabetes It does not contain all the available lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, circulation or kidneys. diabetic acidosis information. It does not take the diabetic coma or pre-coma place of talking to your doctor or severe kidney disease pharmacist. Your doctor may have prescribed GLIZIDE for another reason. severe liver disease. All medicines have risks and Do not take this medicine if you benefits. Your doctor has weighed Ask your doctor if you have any have a fungal condition which is the risks of you taking GLIZIDE questions about why GLIZIDE being treated with miconazole. against the benefits they expect it has been prescribed for you. will have for you. This medicine is available only with Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or intend becoming If you have any concerns about a doctor’s prescription. pregnant. taking this medicine, ask your Insulin is more suitable for doctor or pharmacist. GLIZIDE is not addictive. controlling blood glucose during pregnancy. Your doctor will usually Keep this leaflet with the The use of this medicine is not recommended for children. replace GLIZIDE with insulin while medicine. You may need to read it you are pregnant. again. Before you take Do not breast-feed if you are taking this medicine. What GLIZIDE is GLIZIDE It is not known whether GLIZIDE used for passes into breast milk and there is When you must not take a possibility that your baby may be affected. GLIZIDE is used to control blood it: glucose in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus when diet and Do not take GLIZIDE if you have Do not take this medicine after exercise are not enough to control an allergy to: the expiry date printed on the your blood glucose. pack or if the packaging is torn or any medicine containing shows signs of tampering. gliclazide This type of diabetes is also known If it has expired or is damaged, as non-insulin-dependent diabetes sulfonylurea medicines return it to your pharmacist for disposal. mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity onset related medicines such as diabetes. sulphur antibiotics or thiazide diuretics If you are not sure whether you should start taking GLIZIDE, talk GLIZIDE can be used alone, or sulphonamides medicines to your doctor. together with insulin or other any of the ingredients listed medicines for treating diabetes. at the end of this leaflet. Before you start to take GLIZIDE contains the active Some of the symptoms of an it: ingredient gliclazide. allergic reaction may include: shortness of breath; wheezing Tell your doctor if you have It belongs to a group of medicines or difficulty breathing; swelling allergies to any other medicines, called sulfonylureas. of the face, lips, tongue or other foods, preservatives or dyes. parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin. Tell your doctor if: you ever drink alcohol Page 1 of 5 you do not eat regular some medicines used to be careful with or avoid while taking meals treat depression (MAOIs) GLIZIDE. you do a lot of exercise or some medicines used to you do heavy exercise or treat reflux and ulcers work (cimetidine,ranitidine and How to take GLIZIDE you are ill or feeling unwell other H2-receptor you have been previously antagonists) Follow all directions given to you treated with sulfonylureas medicines to treat fungal by your doctor or pharmacist or biguanides alone or in infections (miconazole, carefully. combination. fluconazole) They may differ from the information salicylates which can be contained in this leaflet. Alcohol, diet, exercise, and your found in aspirin and other general health all strongly affect the pain-relieving medications If you do not understand the control of your diabetes. Discuss instructions on the bottle, ask these things with your doctor. Some medicines may lead to loss of your doctor or pharmacist for control of your diabetes by help. If you have not told your doctor weakening the blood glucose- or pharmacist about any of the lowering effect of GLIZIDE. These How much to take above, tell them before you start include: taking GLIZIDE. The recommended dose is from one alcohol half (40 mg) to four tablets (320 mg) some medicines for each day. Taking other medicines epilepsy (danazol) Tell your doctor or pharmacist if some medicines used to Your doctor will tell you how many you are taking any other treat depression and other tablets to take each day. Your doctor medicines, including medicines mental illness may increase or decrease the dose, that you buy without a (chlorpromazine) depending on your blood glucose prescription from your pharmacy, some hormones used in levels. supermarket or health food shop. hormone replacement therapy and oral How to take it You should also tell any health contraceptives (oestrogens, professional who is prescribing a progesterones) Swallow the tablets with a full new medication for you that you are some asthma medicines glass of water. taking GLIZIDE. (salbutamol, intravenous terbutaline) GLIZIDE tablets can be broken in Some medicines may interfere with barbiturates, medicines half. GLIZIDE. used for sedation glucocorticoids – steroids Do not skip meals while taking Some medicines may lead to low that reduce inflammation this medicine. blood glucose (hypoglycaemia) by throughout the body increasing the blood-glucose- St. John’s Wort When to take it lowering effect of GLIZIDE. These preparations. include: Take your medicine at about the Some products may lead to unstable same time each day, preferably in alcohol blood glucose. the morning with breakfast. some medicines used to These include: Taking it at the same time each day treat high blood pressure will have the best effect. It will also and other heart conditions fluoroquinolones, medicines help you remember when to take it. (beta blockers, ACE- which are used as antibiotics inhibitors such as captopril If your total daily dose exceeds two or enalapril) GLIZIDE may change the effects of tablets, take two equal doses - one some medicines used to some other medicines. These dose in the morning and the other in treat arthritis, pain and include: the evening. inflammation (ibuprofen, phenylbutazone) warfarin, a medicine used How long to take it some cholesterol-lowering to prevent blood clots. medicines (clofibrate) Continue taking your medicine other medicines used to These medicines may interfere with for as long as your doctor tells treat diabetes (e.g. GLIZIDE. You may need different you. Make sure you keep enough biguanides, insulin) amounts of your medicines, or you GLIZIDE to last over weekends some antibiotics (e.g. may need to take different and holidays. sulphonamides, medicines. This medicine helps to control your clarithromycin, diabetes, but will not cure it. chloramphenicol) Your doctor and pharmacist have Therefore, you may have to take it more information on medicines to for a long time. Page 2 of 5 If you forget to take it working and to prevent unwanted it occurs, for example, side effects. sugar sachets or jelly If it is almost time for your next beans. dose, skip the dose you missed Make sure that you check your carry emergency food and take your next dose when blood glucose levels regularly. rations in case of a delay, you are meant to. This is the best way to tell if your for example, dried fruit, diabetes is being controlled biscuits or muesli bars. Otherwise, take it as soon as you properly. Your doctor or keep GLIZIDE readily remember, and then go back to pharmacist will show you how available. taking your medicine as you and when to do this. would normally. If you become sick with a cold, Missed doses can cause high blood Things you must not do fever or flu, it is very important to glucose (hyperglycaemia). continue taking GLIZIDE, even if Do not take GLIZIDE to treat any you feel unable to eat your Do not take a double dose to other complaints unless your normal meal. If you have trouble make up for the dose that you doctor tells you to. eating solid food, use sugar- missed. sweetened drinks as a This may cause low blood glucose Do not give your medicine to carbohydrate substitute or eat (hypoglycaemia). anyone else, even if they have small amounts of bland food. the same condition as you. Your diabetes educator or dietician If you are not sure what to do, can give you a list of foods to use ask your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking your medicine for sick days. or lower the dosage without If you have trouble remembering to checking with your doctor. Recognising and treating take your medicine, ask your The treatment for diabetes is hypoglycaemia (low blood pharmacist for some hints. usually life-long. If you stop taking it you could cause high blood sugar sugar levels) (hyperglycaemia) which increases Hypoglycaemia may occur during While you are taking the risk of developing complications GLIZIDE treatment. GLIZIDE of diabetes. The first signs of hypoglycaemia are Things to be careful of usually weakness, trembling or Things you must do shaking, sweating, light- Be careful driving or operating headedness, dizziness, headache If you are about to be started on machinery until you know how or lack of concentration, irritability, any new medicine tell your GLIZIDE affects you.