What Is Diaformin (AF) Used For?

Diaformin contains metformin hydrochloride, which belongs to a group of medicines called biguanides. It helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes by helping your body make better use of the insulin your pancreas produces.

Primary Uses

Diaformin is used to control blood glucose (sugar levels) in people with diabetes mellitus. It can be used for type 2 diabetes in adults and children over 10 years of age. It’s especially helpful for people who are overweight when diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to control high blood sugar levels. For adults, it can be used alone or combined with other diabetes medicines or insulin.

How It Works

Diaformin lowers high blood glucose by helping your body make better use of the insulin produced by your pancreas. People with type 2 diabetes either can’t make enough insulin or their body doesn’t respond properly to the insulin it makes, causing glucose to build up in the blood.

How to Take Diaformin (AF)

Take Diaformin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The dose varies from person to person based on your blood glucose levels and response to treatment.

Dosage Instructions

Adults: The usual starting dose is 500 mg one to two times a day. Your doctor may increase or decrease the dose depending on your blood glucose levels. The maximum recommended dose is 1000 mg three times a day. Children (10+ years): The usual starting dose is one 500 mg or 850 mg tablet once daily. Maximum dose is 2 g taken as two or three divided doses. Take with food or immediately after eating to reduce stomach upset. Swallow tablets whole with water. The 500 mg and 1000 mg tablets can be split in half if advised by your doctor.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember (with food), then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Taste disturbance
• Loss of appetite
• Skin reactions (redness, itching, rash)

Important Warnings

There are several important conditions and situations where Diaformin should not be used or requires special caution.

Who Should Not Take Diaformin (AF)

Do not take if you: are allergic to metformin or any biguanide; have type 1 diabetes well controlled by insulin alone; have type 2 diabetes already well controlled by diet alone; have metabolic acidosis, lactic acidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis; have severe liver disease; have excessive alcohol intake, binge drinking, or alcohol dependence; have kidney failure or severe kidney disease; are dehydrated, have severe blood loss, or are in shock; have a severe infection; have certain heart or blood vessel problems, including recent heart attack or severe heart failure; have severe breathing difficulties; have blood clots in the lungs; have gangrene; have inflammation of the pancreas; need major surgery or certain medical examinations requiring contrast dye.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have: heart failure; kidney problems; drink alcohol regularly. Your doctor may need to take special care or adjust your treatment if you have these conditions.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Diaformin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The safety in pregnant women has not been established. Insulin is more suitable for controlling blood glucose during pregnancy, and your doctor will replace Diaformin with insulin while pregnant. Do not take Diaformin if you are breastfeeding. It is not recommended while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Several medicines can interact with Diaformin and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.

• Other diabetes medicines
• Medicines containing alcohol (cough and cold syrups)
• Tetracosactrin (for multiple sclerosis, seizures in children)
• Danazol (for endometriosis)
• Blood pressure and heart medicines (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors)
• Blood clot prevention medicines (warfarin)
• Diuretics (fluid tablets)
• Chlorpromazine (for schizophrenia)
• NSAIDs (aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, meloxicam, naproxen, piroxicam)
• Cimetidine (for reflux and ulcers)
• Corticosteroids (prednisone, cortisone)
• Asthma medicines (salbutamol, terbutaline)
• OCT transporter medicines (verapamil, dolutegravir, crizotinib, olaparib, daclatasvir, vandetanib)
• Rifampicin
• Topiramate and other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Alcohol & Driving

Both alcohol consumption and driving require special attention while taking Diaformin.

Alcohol

Alcohol can affect your diabetes control. Drinking excessive amounts while taking Diaformin may lead to serious side effects. Your doctor may suggest you stop drinking or reduce your alcohol intake. Always tell your doctor about your alcohol consumption.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Low blood glucose levels may slow your reaction time and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Drinking alcohol can make this worse. However, Diaformin by itself is unlikely to affect your driving ability. Be especially careful not to let your blood glucose levels fall too low when you need to be alert.

Storage

Keep tablets in the original blister pack until time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place below 30°C. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, on a window sill, or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy the medicine. Keep out of reach of children – a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground is recommended.

Overdose Information

If you think you or someone else has taken too much Diaformin, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if there are no symptoms. Overdose symptoms may include sleepiness, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, unusual muscle pain, stomach pain, or diarrhea. These may be early signs of lactic acidosis (buildup of lactic acid in blood). You may also experience low blood glucose symptoms if taken with other diabetes medicines or alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions