Glucovance 5mg/500mg #30

Instruction manual for Glucovance

You can buy Glucovance online

Composition

The preparation contains active components: glibenclamide, metformin hydrochloride.
Additional ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, MCC, magnesium stearate, povidone K30 and Opadry OY-L-24808 pink.

Form of issue

Glucovance is produced in the form of film-coated tablets with an active substance content of 5 mg + 500 mg and 2.5 mg + 500 mg. Tablets are packed in blisters of 15 pieces, 2 or 4 blisters in a package.

pharmachologic effect

The drug is characterized by hypoglycemic action.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Glucovance is a combined hypoglycemic drug based on metformin and glibenclamide.
As is known, metformin is part of the biguanide group. Its use helps to reduce the glucose content in the blood plasma. There is no stimulation of insulin secretion, therefore, hypoglycemia does not develop.
In general, for metformin three mechanisms of action are characteristic, namely:
    reduction of glucose production by the liver, by inhibiting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis;
    increased insulin sensitivity of peripheral receptors, glucose consumption and utilization by muscle cells;
    delay in absorption of glucose in the digestive tract.
In addition, the drug has a beneficial effect on blood composition, lowers cholesterol, a number of triglycerides and so on.
Included in the group of sulfonylurea derivatives glibenclamide is able to lower the glucose content by stimulating the secretion of insulin with β-cells in the pancreas region.
Although metformin and glibenclamide are characterized by different mechanisms of action, but supplementing the hypoglycemic effect of each other. In combination, these agents exhibit synergistic activity in reducing glucose.
With internal administration of glibenclamide, its absorption in the digestive tract is at least 95%. This substance is micronized. Achieving maximum concentration in the plasma composition is achieved within 4 hours. Binding to plasma proteins corresponds to 99%. As a result of metabolism, 2 inactive metabolites are produced in the liver, which are excreted by the kidneys and bile.
Metformin is characterized by complete absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, reaching its maximum concentration after 2.5 h. The substance is slightly metabolized. In this case, the removal of its part occurs in an unchanged form with the help of kidneys.
The combination of metformin and glibenclamide has the same bioavailability as the substances separately. Eating does not affect the bioavailability of metformin, but increases the absorption rate of glibenclamide.

Indications for use

The indication for taking tablets is type 2 diabetes in adult patients:
    with ineffective diet, exercise and previous treatment with metformin;
    with the aim of replacing the previous treatment for patients in whom the level of glycemia is controlled.

Contraindications for use

The drug is not recommended for:
    sensitivity to it and its composition;
    diabetes mellitus type I;
    kidney failure and kidney disease;
    diabetic ketoacidosis, precoma and coma;
    acute conditions leading to changes in kidney function: dehydration, severe infections, shock and so on;
    acute or chronic diseases, accompanied by tissue hypoxia: cardiac or respiratory failure, myocardial infarction, shock state;
    childhood;
    hepatic insufficiency;
    porphyria;
    lactation, pregnancy;
    extensive surgical operations;
    chronic alcoholism or acute alcohol intoxication;
    lactic acidosis;
    adherence to a hypocaloric diet.
In addition, the drug is not recommended for patients older than 60 years, people who perform heavy work and have rare hereditary diseases associated with intolerance to galactose, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome and lactase deficiency.
Care must be taken when treating patients with febrile syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, hypofunction of the anterior pituitary gland, thyroid gland diseases and other disorders.

Side effects

When treating Glucovance often develop side effects affecting various organs and systems of the body.
Metabolic disturbances can be accompanied by hypoglycemia, attacks with hepatic or cutaneous porphyria, lactic acidosis, and so on.
The circulatory and lymphatic system can react with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, which usually occur after the drug is withdrawn.
A side effect affecting the work of the nervous system is a taste disorder. Also, deviations in the functions of the organs of vision, gastrointestinal tract, skin and subcutaneous tissue are not excluded.
Sometimes there may be immunological reactions, hepatobiliary disorders and changes in laboratory indicators, for example, an increase in the concentration of urea, creatinine, the development of hyponatremia.

Instructions for use Glucovance (Method and dosage)

This hypoglycemic agent is intended for ingestion. In this case, the instruction on the use of Glucovance informs that the dose of the drug is determined individually for each specific case and depends on the level of glycemia.
Begin the treatment from one pill to a daily single dose. To prevent the development of hypoglycemia, it is necessary that the initial dose does not exceed the daily dosing of glibenclamide or metformin, which were used before. Therefore, you can increase the dose only by 5 mg + 500 mg daily every 2 or more weeks. This approach allows you to achieve adequate control of blood glucose levels.
To replace the previous combined treatment with metformin and glibenclamide, the initial dose is set in accordance with the previously taken dosage. Every 2 or more weeks from the start of treatment, dosage adjustment is possible depending on the level of glycemia.
In this case, the maximum daily dosage is equal to 4 Glucovance 5 + 500 mg or 6 to 2,5 + 500 mg tablets. The therapeutic dose depends on the individual recommendation of a specialist.
Tablets should be taken with meals. It is important that every use of the drug is accompanied by eating high-carbohydrate foods, which helps to prevent hypoglycemia.

Overdose

In cases of overdose, hypoglycemia may develop. With mild and moderate manifestations, the state can be normalized through the immediate consumption of sugar. But you also need to urgently adjust the dosage and diet.
Severe hypoglycemic reactions, accompanied by coma, paroxysm, and certain neurological disorders, require urgent medical attention.
The necessary treatment includes the introduction of a vein of Dextrose solution and other concomitant therapy. When consciousness is restored, it is necessary to feed the patient with food saturated with digestible carbohydrates, which will help to avoid the repeated development of hypoglycemia.
In addition, the development of lactic acidosis, whose treatment is performed in the clinic, is not ruled out. An effective method of therapy, which helps to withdraw metformin and lactate, is hemodialysis.

Interaction

Taking this drug with Miconazole may cause the development of hypoglycemia because of the content of glibenclamide in it. Simultaneous use with iodine-containing contrast agents is not allowed.
Phenylbutazone can increase the hypoglycemic effect of the drug. Increase the risk of hepatotoxic effect is a combination with Boszan.
During the use of this tool, it is recommended to take with care Chlorpromazine, Tetrakozaktid, Danazol, β2-adrenomimetiki, diuretics, some ACE inhibitors that are able to change the glucose content of the blood and cause the development of undesirable effects. Therefore, taking any medication requires mandatory specialist advice.

Storage conditions

Tablets should be stored in a dry and dark place out of the reach of children.
Shelf life - 3 years.

Glucovance analogues

Janumet

Alcohol

Simultaneous use of alcohol can lead to the development of lactic acidosis, which can intensify with acute alcohol intoxication. Aggravates the state of fasting or poor nutrition, as well as liver failure. In addition, alcohol often causes hypoglycemia. Therefore, it is necessary to abstain from drinking alcohol and other alcohol-containing products.

Reviews of Glucovance

Discussions of this tool are often found in forums related to diabetes mellitus. Patients who are prescribed this drug often discuss questions on the selection of the regimen and dosing, as well as joint use with various drugs. At the same time, reviews about Glucovance 5 + 500 mg and 2.5 + 500 mg are the most controversial. Usually, in order to achieve efficiency, it is necessary to observe the number of calories consumed by carbohydrates and, of course, the dosage of medicines.
Unfortunately, sometimes there are reviews that taking this medication does not bring relief. For example, in some patients, sugar levels in the blood are malfunctioning, that is, hypoglycemia. Other patients report that they needed a long and careful adjustment of their lifestyle and treatment regimen to normalize their health.
Nevertheless, drugs of this kind are of particular importance for medical practice, as they improve the quality of life of patients with diabetes mellitus. Such a diagnosis indicates that the patient's health will always require control and special treatment. It is possible only through joint efforts of the doctor and the patient, which leads to significant improvements in the state.