Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Glucovance.
Chemical Name: GLYBURIDE (GLYE-bure-ide) and METFORMIN (met-FOR-min)
Glucovance 5-500mg is a sulfonylurea and biguanide antidiabetic combination used along with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. It may be used alone or with other antidiabetic medicines.
WARNING: THE METFORMIN IN THIS COMBINATION MEDICINE MAY RARELY CAUSE A SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL CONDITION CALLED LACTIC ACIDOSIS. Most of these cases have occurred in diabetic patients who also have certain kidney problems. The risk of lactic acidosis may be greater if you have liver problems, kidney problems, or heart failure. The risk may also be greater in patients who are elderly or drink alcohol. Lab tests, including kidney function, may be performed while you take Glucovance 5-500mg. DO NOT begin to take Glucovance 5-500mg if you are 80 years old or older, unless lab tests show that you do not have decreased kidney function. DO NOT take it if you have a severe infection, low blood oxygen levels, or dehydration. Tell your doctor you take Glucovance 5-500mg before you have any surgery or lab procedures. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY IF YOU NOTICE SYMPTOMS such as fast or difficult breathing; muscle pain or tenderness; slow or irregular heartbeat; unusual drowsiness, dizziness, or light-headedness; unusual stomach discomfort; or unusual weakness or tiredness. Contact your doctor right away if you start to feel unusually cold or if you have a general feeling of being unwell. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Glucovance 5-500mg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg if you are taking bosentan. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OR YOU DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking beta-blockers (eg, propranolol); anticoagulants (eg, warfarin); azole antifungals (eg, miconazole); chloramphenicol; clarithromycin; clofibrate; fenfluramine; insulin; monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen); phenylbutazone; probenecid; quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin); salicylates (eg, aspirin); sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole); thiazolidinediones (eg, pioglitazone); calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine); corticosteroids (eg, prednisone); diazoxide; diuretics (eg, furosemide); estrogen; hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills); isoniazid; nicotinic acid; phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine); hydantoins (eg, phenytoin); rifamycins (eg, rifampin); sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine); thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine); gemfibrozil; amiloride; cimetidine; digoxin; morphine; procainamide; quinidine; quinine; ranitidine; triamterene; trimethoprim; vancomycin; cyclosporine; or medicines that may harm the kidney. Ask your doctor if any of your medicines may harm the kidney. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including if you have a history of heart problems (eg, heart attack); blood vessel problems; lung or breathing problems; thyroid problems; stomach or bowel problems (eg, blockage, paralysis); adrenal or pituitary problems; lactic acidosis; a personal or family history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; allergies; pregnancy; or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have heart failure, especially heart failure that is treated by medicine; vomiting; diarrhea; poor health or nutrition; low blood calcium or vitamin B12 levels; anemia; an infection; fever; recent injury; or moderate to severe burns. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol or have a history of alcohol abuse. USE OF GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have a severe infection; low blood oxygen levels; kidney or liver problems; type 1 diabetes; high blood ketone or acid levels (eg, diabetic ketoacidosis); dehydration; a history of stroke or recent heart attack; are in shock; or will be having surgery or certain lab procedures. USE OF GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you are 80 years old or older, unless lab tests show that you do not have decreased kidney function. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Glucovance 5-500mg.
Follow the directions for taking Glucovance 5-500mg provided by your doctor. AN EXTRA PATIENT LEAFLET is available with Glucovance 5-500mg. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information. TAKE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg BY MOUTH WITH MEALS. HIGH AMOUNTS OF DIETARY FIBER may decrease Glucovance 5-500mg's effectiveness, resulting in high blood sugar. If you have questions about including fiber in your diet while you are taking Glucovance 5-500mg, talk with your doctor. STORE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. KEEP GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do NOT TAKE MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED DOSE without checking with your doctor. Take Glucovance 5-500mg on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it. Taking Glucovance 5-500mg at the same time each day will help you remember to take it. CONTINUE TO TAKE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE of Glucovance 5-500mg, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg if you are allergic to any ingredient in Glucovance 5-500mg. TELL YOUR DOCTOR if you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, a severe rash, hives, itching, breathing difficulties, dizziness) to any other sulfonamide medicine (eg, sulfamethoxazole). If you have questions about whether you are allergic to sulfonamides or if a certain medicine is a sulfonamide, contact your doctor. LAB TESTS may be performed while you use Glucovance 5-500mg. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS; it may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. DO NOT DRINK LARGE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL while you use Glucovance 5-500mg. Alcohol may increase the risk of Glucovance 5-500mg's side effects and may rarely interact with Glucovance 5-500mg and cause a serious reaction (eg, flushing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach pain). Talk with your doctor or health care provider before you drink alcohol while you use Glucovance 5-500mg. TELL YOUR DOCTOR OR DENTIST that you take Glucovance 5-500mg before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery. GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg CONTAINS A SULFONYLUREA. It may increase the risk of death from heart disease. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of this or other therapies to treat your condition. GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg MAY CAUSE LOW BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. Low blood sugar symptoms include anxiety; sweating; weakness; dizziness; drowsiness; fainting; fast heartbeat; vision changes; headache; chills; tremor; increased hunger. It is a good idea to carry a reliable source of glucose (eg, tablets or gel) to treat low blood sugar. If this is not available, you should eat or drink a quick source of sugar (eg, table sugar, orange juice). Tell your doctor right away if this happens. To prevent low blood sugar, eat meals at the same time each day and do not skip meals. Risk of low blood sugar may be increased by heavy or prolonged exercise, drinking alcohol, or skipping meals. FEVER, INFECTION, INJURY, OR SURGERY MAY INCREASE YOUR RISK for high or low blood sugar levels. If any of these occur, check your blood sugar closely and tell your doctor right away. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BECOME DEHYDRATED; this may increase your risk of side effects from Glucovance 5-500mg. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Use Glucovance 5-500mg with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects. Low blood sugar levels may also be more difficult to recognize in the elderly. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU BECOME PREGNANT, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Glucovance 5-500mg while you are pregnant. IF YOU TAKE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg DURING PREGNANCY, do not take it within 2 weeks of the expected delivery date without first checking with your doctor. It is not known if Glucovance 5-500mg is found in breast milk. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking Glucovance 5-500mg.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Glucovance 5-500mg include headache or mild stomach pain. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg MAY COMMONLY CAUSE stomach upset, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea at the beginning of treatment. If you develop unusual or unexpected stomach problems, or if you develop stomach problems later during treatment, contact your doctor at once. This may be a sign of lactic acidosis. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience back pain; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; dizziness or light-headedness; fainting; fast or difficult breathing; feeling of being unusually cold; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; general feeling of being unwell; low blood sugar symptoms (eg, anxiety, dizziness, fast heartbeat, headache, tremors, unusual sweating); muscle pain or weakness; severe or persistent blurred vision or other vision problems; slow or irregular heartbeat; symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine, loss of appetite, pale stools, stomach pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin); unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual drowsiness; unusual or persistent nausea; unusual or persistent stomach or back pain or discomfort; or unusual tiredness or weakness. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Glucovance 5-500mg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; or unusual hoarseness. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Glucovance
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include coma; confusion; dizziness or light-headedness; fainting; fast or difficult breathing; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; feeling of being unusually cold; general feeling of being unwell; muscle pain or tenderness; seizures; tremor; unusual drowsiness; unusual stomach discomfort; or unusual weakness or tiredness.
Proper diet, regular exercise, and regular testing of blood sugar are important for best results when using Glucovance 5-500mg. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. It is recommended you attend a diabetes education program to better understand diabetes, prevention of complications, and all the important aspects of its treatment. These include meals/diet, exercise, weight loss, personal hygiene, medications and blood glucose monitoring, and the need for regular eye, foot, and medical exams. Carry an identification card at all times that says you are diabetic. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly according to your doctor's directions. If you blood sugar level is often higher than it should be and you are taking Glucovance 5-500mg according to directions, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg for other health conditions. IF USING GLUCOVANCE 5-500mg FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out. CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACIST about how to dispose of unused medicine.
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