What Is Diabex XR 500 and 1000 Used For?

Diabex XR contains metformin hydrochloride and belongs to a group of medicines called biguanides. It’s specifically designed to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Primary Uses

Diabex XR is used to control blood glucose (sugar) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in those who are overweight. It’s prescribed when diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to control high blood glucose levels. It can be used alone or combined with other diabetes medicines.

How It Works

Diabex XR lowers high blood glucose levels by improving your body’s sensitivity to insulin and restoring the way it normally uses glucose, reducing the amount of glucose your liver makes, and delaying the amount of glucose your intestine absorbs.

How to Take Diabex XR 500 and 1000

Diabex XR comes in two strengths: 500mg and 1000mg tablets. These are extended-release tablets with a special coating that releases the medication slowly over time.

Dosage Instructions

The dose varies from person to person and your doctor will decide the right dose for you. The usual starting dose is 500mg once daily with the evening meal. Your doctor may increase the dose slowly, depending on your blood glucose levels. The maximum recommended dose is 2000mg once per day. Elderly people and those with kidney problems may need smaller doses. Swallow tablets whole with water – do not break, crush, or chew them as this will affect how they work. Take with your evening meal to reduce stomach upset.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when 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.

Available Tablet Strengths

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 Diabex XR should not be used or requires special caution.

Who Should Not Take Diabex XR 500 and 1000

Do not use if you’re allergic to metformin or other biguanides, have type 1 diabetes well controlled by insulin alone, type 2 diabetes already well controlled by diet alone, serious diabetes complications or metabolic acidosis, kidney failure or severe kidney disease, dehydration, shock from severe injury or blood loss, severe liver disease, acute alcohol intoxication or chronic alcohol dependence, certain heart or blood circulation problems including recent heart attack or heart failure, blood clots in lungs, severe breathing difficulties, inflammation of pancreas with severe infection, or severe infection or gangrene.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, liver problems, heart or blood vessel problems including heart failure, known or suspected mitochondrial disease (such as MELAS or MIDD), or if you drink alcohol. Your doctor will need to check your kidney function with a blood test before starting treatment.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Diabex XR if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Insulin is more suitable for controlling blood glucose during pregnancy, and your doctor will replace Diabex XR with insulin while pregnant. Do not take if breastfeeding – discuss alternative options with your doctor.

Drug Interactions

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

• Other diabetes medicines (insulin, glitinides, sulfonylureas)
• Medicines containing alcohol (cough and cold syrups)
• Corticosteroids (prednisone, cortisone)
• Tetracosactide
• Danazol
• Blood pressure and heart medicines (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors)
• Asthma medicines (salbutamol, terbutaline)
• Diuretics (fluid tablets)
• Chlorpromazine
• NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Ulcer and reflux medicines (cimetidine)
• Blood clot prevention medicines (warfarin)
• Thyroid hormones (levothyroxine)
• Organic cation transporter substrates/inhibitors
• Medicines that may increase lactic acidosis risk (topiramate, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors)

Alcohol & Driving

Both alcohol consumption and driving require special attention while taking Diabex XR due to potential effects on blood glucose control.

Alcohol

Alcohol can affect diabetes control and drinking excessive amounts while taking Diabex XR may lead to serious side effects. Your doctor may suggest stopping or reducing alcohol consumption.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Diabex XR by itself is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, low blood glucose levels may slow your reaction time and affect your driving ability. Be especially careful not to let blood glucose levels fall too low when you need to be alert.

Storage

Keep tablets in the blister pack until time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place below 25°C in original packaging. Do not store in bathroom, near sink, on window sill, or in car. Keep away from heat and dampness. Store in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground, away from children.

Overdose Information

If you think you’ve taken too much Diabex XR, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Contact the Poisons Information Centre (Australia 13 11 26), your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even without 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. You may also experience low blood glucose symptoms, especially if taken with other diabetes medicines or alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions