Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR Medication Guide

Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR (Gliclazide)

Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information

Prescription Required

Quick Facts

Generic Name
gliclazide
Drug Class
sulphonylurea
Used For
controlling blood glucose in Type II diabetes mellitus
How Taken
oral tablet, usually once daily with breakfast

What Is Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR Used For?

Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR is a medication that helps control blood sugar levels in people with Type II diabetes (also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity-onset diabetes).

Primary Uses

This medication is used to control blood glucose (sugar) in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus when diet and exercise alone are not enough. It can be used by itself or together with insulin or other diabetes medicines.

How It Works

Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR works by lowering blood glucose levels. It does this by increasing the amount of insulin (a hormone that controls blood glucose levels) produced by your pancreas. The medicine releases the active ingredient gliclazide progressively over 24 hours.

Good to know: Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR is not addictive and is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

How to Take Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR

Follow all directions given by your doctor, pharmacist, and diabetes educator carefully. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day and may adjust your dose based on your blood glucose levels.

Dosage Instructions

Swallow the tablets with a glass of water, usually with breakfast. Take at the same time each day. Tablets can be broken in half but should not be crushed or chewed as this may change their effectiveness. Taking with food helps minimize the risk of low blood sugar. Do not skip meals while taking this medication.

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 it as soon as you remember (with food), then return to your normal schedule. Missed doses can cause high blood glucose.

Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose, as this may cause dangerously low blood glucose levels.

Available Tablet Strengths

60mg
60mg Tablet White, Oblong • DIA 60 (engraved on both faces, scored)

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:

  • Runny or blocked nose, sneezing, facial pressure
  • Back pain, joint pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Chest pain
  • Headache, unusual weakness
  • Viral infections, urinary tract infections
  • Dizziness
  • Stomach upset (nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation)
  • Temporary vision changes (especially at start of treatment)

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

  • Severe allergic reactions (skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue, breathing difficulty)
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (widespread blistering or peeling skin)
  • DRESS syndrome (flu-like symptoms, facial rash, extended rash with high fever)
  • Severe blood cell changes (paleness, prolonged bleeding, bruising, sore throat, fever)
  • Liver problems (jaundice)
  • Severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia

Important Warnings

There are certain people who should not take Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR and important conditions your doctor needs to know about before prescribing this medication.

Who Should Not Take Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR

Do not take if you are allergic to gliclazide, other sulphonylureas, sulfa antibiotics, or thiazide diuretics; have Type 1 diabetes; have unstable diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis; have severe kidney or liver disease; are taking miconazole antibiotic; or if the medication is expired or damaged. Not suitable for children.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, history of diabetic coma, adrenal/pituitary/thyroid problems, heart failure, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, or intolerance to sugars (as tablets contain lactose). Also inform them of any illness, injury, surgery, or changes in diet/exercise that may affect blood sugar.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take if pregnant or trying to become pregnant – insulin is more suitable during pregnancy and your doctor will usually switch you to insulin. Not recommended while breastfeeding as it’s unknown if the medication passes into breast milk.

Elderly Patients: Elderly people can generally use Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR safely with no special instructions, but may be more susceptible to unstable blood glucose when taking certain antibiotics.

Drug Interactions

Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR can interact with many medications, potentially increasing or decreasing its blood sugar-lowering effects. Always tell your healthcare providers about all medications you’re taking.

  • Miconazole (contraindicated)
  • Other diabetes medications (biguanides, insulin)
  • Blood pressure and heart medications (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers)
  • Antidepressants (MAOIs, chlorpromazine)
  • Cholesterol-lowering medicines (clofibrate)
  • Pain/inflammation medications (high-dose aspirin, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone)
  • Antibiotics (chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, fluoroquinolones)
  • Epilepsy medications (danazol)
  • St John’s Wort preparations
  • Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, oral contraceptives)
  • Asthma medications (salbutamol, terbutaline)
  • Sedatives (barbiturates)
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Blood thinners (warfarin)
  • Alcohol

Alcohol & Driving

Special precautions are needed when consuming alcohol or operating vehicles and machinery while taking Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol while taking this medication may cause flushing, headache, breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, stomach pains, nausea, and vomiting. Alcohol can also increase the risk of both low and high blood glucose levels.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medication affects you. The medication may cause dizziness and drowsiness, and low blood glucose levels may slow your reaction time. Do not drive if you experience these effects.

Sun Sensitivity

Protect your skin when in the sun, especially between 10am and 3pm. This medication may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, potentially causing rash, itching, redness, or severe sunburn. Wear protective clothing and use 30+ sunscreen when outdoors.

Storage

Keep tablets in their original blister packaging until ready to use, as they won’t keep as well outside the packaging. Store in a cool, dry place below 30°C. Avoid bathrooms, sinks, cars, or windowsills where heat and dampness can damage 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 Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR, immediately call your doctor, Diabetes Australia, or Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia) even if there are no symptoms. Overdose may cause severe low blood glucose with symptoms progressing to loss of coordination, slurred speech, confusion, loss of consciousness, and fitting. At first signs of low blood sugar, follow the hypoglycemia treatment instructions and seek immediate medical help.

Frequently Asked Questions

The medication releases gliclazide progressively over 24 hours. You should take it consistently as prescribed and monitor your blood glucose levels regularly to see how well it’s controlling your diabetes.

Yes, you should take it with food, usually with breakfast. Taking it with food helps minimize the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It’s important to take it at the same time each day and not skip meals.

No, Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR is not addictive.

Do not stop taking this medication or change the dosage without checking with your doctor. The medication helps control your diabetes but doesn’t cure it, so you may need to take it for a long time. Stopping suddenly could lead to poor blood glucose control.

Drinking alcohol while taking this medication may cause unpleasant side effects including flushing, headache, breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, stomach pains, nausea, and vomiting. Alcohol can also affect your blood glucose levels.

Yes, elderly people can generally use Ardix Gliclazide 60mg MR safely. There are no special instructions for older people taking this medication, though they should be aware of potential interactions with certain antibiotics.

If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it 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 as this may cause low blood glucose.

Important Disclaimer

This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.