Gliclazide

About gliclazide

Insulin is a hormone that is made naturally in your body, in the pancreas. It helps to control the levels of sugar in your blood. If your body does not make enough insulin to meet its needs, or if it does not use the insulin it makes effectively, this results in the condition called diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

People with diabetes need treatment to control the amount of sugar in their blood. This is because good control of blood sugar (glucose) reduces the risk of complications later on. Some people can control the sugar in their blood by making changes to the food they eat but for other people, medicines like gliclazide are given alongside the changes in diet.

Gliclazide works by increasing the amount of insulin that your pancreas produces. It can be given on its own or alongside other antidiabetic medicines or insulin.

Before taking gliclazide

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking gliclazide it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• If you have kidney or liver problems.

• If you have been told you have porphyria or glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. These are rare inherited disorders.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

How to take gliclazide

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about gliclazide and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take gliclazide exactly as your doctor has told you. It is usually recommended that you take it once a day with breakfast. Some people who need to take higher doses may be asked to split their dose and take tablets twice a day. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you which is right for you, and your dose will also be on the label of the pack to remind you.

• If you have been given a modified-release form of gliclazide tablet (these usually have 'MR' after the tablet name), they should be swallowed whole. Do not break or crush the tablets, as they are specially coated to allow the medicine to be released slowly and evenly over the day.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose - do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Es importante que acuda regularmente a las citas médicas y clínicas. Así podremos controlar su evolución. Es probable que necesite revisiones periódicas en una clínica oftalmológica y podológica, así como con su médico y la clínica de diabetes.

• Su médico puede recomendarle que se haga análisis de azúcar (glucosa) en sangre con regularidad para comprobar que su diabetes está controlada. Su médico o enfermera especializada en diabetes le enseñarán cómo hacerlo.

• Si su médico le ha aconsejado hacer cambios en la dieta, dejar de fumar o hacer ejercicio con regularidad, es importante que siga sus consejos.

• Asegúrate de que sabes lo que se siente cuando el nivel de azúcar en sangre es demasiado bajo. Es lo que se conoce como hipoglucemia. Los primeros síntomas de hipoglucemia son temblores o ansiedad, sudoración, palidez, sensación de hambre, palpitaciones y mareos. Si esto ocurre, coma algo que contenga azúcar, como comprimidos de dextrosa, o dulces o bebidas azucaradas (no dietéticas), y después tome un tentempié, como un bocadillo o un plátano.

• Hypoglycaemia may occur if you miss a meal, if you exercise more than usual, if you are ill, or if you drink a lot of alcohol.

• Si es usted conductor, debe tener especial cuidado, ya que su capacidad de concentración puede verse afectada si su diabetes no está bien controlada. Es posible que le aconsejen que compruebe sus niveles de azúcar en sangre antes de viajar y que lleve un tentempié en los viajes largos.

• Es posible que los conductores del Reino Unido tengan que informar a la Agencia de Licencias de Conducir y Vehículos (DVLA) si sufren un episodio de hipoglucemia grave o experimentan una "hipoglucemia" mientras conducen. Pida consejo a su médico. Los conductores de otros países deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia de licencias de vehículos correspondiente.

• Consulte a su médico antes de realizar cualquier ejercicio físico nuevo, ya que tendrá un efecto sobre sus niveles de azúcar en sangre y es posible que deba controlar sus niveles sanguíneos con mayor regularidad.

• Drinking alcohol is not advisable with gliclazide. If you do have a drink, keep well within the recommended alcohol limits, as alcohol will affect the control of your blood sugar.

• If you become unusually thirsty, pass urine more frequently, and feel very tired, then let your doctor know. Your dose of gliclazide may need adjusting.

• El tratamiento de la diabetes es de por vida. Siga tomando los comprimidos a menos que su médico le indique lo contrario.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, you should tell the person carrying out the treatment that you have diabetes and are taking gliclazide.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take. This is because some medicines may interfere with gliclazide.

Can gliclazide cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the more common ones associated with gliclazide. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que considere que puede deberse a este medicamento, consulte a su médico o farmacéutico.

How to store gliclazide

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.
  

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos