What Is Glucovance Used For?

Glucovance is a combination diabetes medication that contains two active ingredients: metformin hydrochloride and glibenclamide. It’s specifically designed to help adults with type II diabetes (also called non-insulin dependent diabetes) control their blood sugar levels.

Primary Uses

Glucovance is used when diet, exercise and treatment with either metformin or a sulfonylurea medicine alone are not enough to control your blood glucose. It’s also used in people whose blood sugar levels are already well controlled by taking metformin and a sulfonylurea medicine separately – Glucovance replaces these two separate medicines.

How It Works

Metformin belongs to a group of medicines called biguanides and works by helping your body make better use of insulin. Glibenclamide belongs to a group of medicines called sulfonylureas and works by increasing the amount of insulin produced by your pancreas. Together, they help lower blood glucose levels.

How to Take Glucovance

Your doctor will determine the right dose for you based on your blood glucose levels and other tests. The dose varies from person to person, so it’s important to follow your doctor’s specific instructions.

Dosage Instructions

For people who don’t respond to metformin or sulfonylurea alone: The usual starting dose is one Glucovance 500 mg/2.5 mg tablet once a day. For replacing combined metformin and sulfonylurea: The usual starting dose is one to two tablets of Glucovance 500 mg/2.5 mg daily. For elderly people: The dose depends on kidney function, with a usual starting dose of one Glucovance 250mg/1.25mg tablet daily. The maximum recommended dose is one Glucovance 500mg/5mg tablet three times a day. Take Glucovance immediately before your meal with a glass of water at about the same time each day.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you miss your dose at the usual time, take the next dose at the usual time. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you’re meant to. 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:

• weakness, trembling or shaking
• sweating
• light headedness, headache, dizziness
• irritability and tearfulness
• stomach upset, nausea, vomiting
• indigestion, diarrhoea
• loss of appetite
• taste disturbance
• skin rash

Important Warnings

There are several important conditions and situations where Glucovance should not be used, and others where special caution is needed.

Who Should Not Take Glucovance

Do not take Glucovance if you: are allergic to metformin, glibenclamide, other sulfonylureas, sulfonamides, or any ingredients; have type I diabetes or type II diabetes well controlled by diet alone; have serious diabetes complications, metabolic acidosis, lactic acidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis; have genetic mitochondrial disorders like MELAS syndrome or MIDD; have severe liver disease, kidney failure, or severe kidney disease; are dehydrated, have severe blood loss, shock, severe infection, or gangrene; have certain heart problems, recent heart attack, or heart failure; have severe breathing difficulties or blood clots in the lung; have pancreatitis with severe infection; have alcohol dependence; have porphyria or glucose/galactose malabsorption syndrome; are taking miconazole; need major surgery or X-rays with iodine contrast; are pregnant or breastfeeding; or if the medicine has expired or packaging is damaged.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have: kidney or liver problems; hormone problems with thyroid, pituitary, or adrenal glands; heart or blood vessel problems including heart failure; allergies to medicines or other substances; if you drink alcohol, don’t eat regular meals, exercise a lot, or are feeling unwell. These conditions may affect how Glucovance works for you.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Glucovance if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Insulin is more suitable for controlling blood glucose during pregnancy, and your doctor will replace Glucovance with insulin if you become pregnant. It’s not known whether Glucovance passes into breast milk, so it’s not recommended while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Many medications can interact with Glucovance and affect how well it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.

• Other medicines containing metformin or glibenclamide
• Other diabetes medicines
• Iodinated contrast agents (dyes)
• Medicines containing alcohol (cough syrups)
• Diuretics (fluid tablets)
• Antifungal medicines (miconazole, fluconazole)
• Antibiotics including tuberculosis medicines
• Blood pressure and heart medicines
• Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, aspirin)
• Depression medicines (fluoxetine, MAOIs)
• Mental illness medicines (chlorpromazine)
• Corticosteroids (prednisone, cortisone)
• Hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives
• Thyroid hormones
• Asthma medicines
• Ulcer medicines (cimetidine, ranitidine)
• Blood clot medicines (warfarin, heparin)
• Cholesterol medicines (bezafibrate, gemfibrozil)
• Cancer medicines
• Gout medicines (probenecid)
• Weight reducing medicines
• Certain transport protein inhibitors and inducers

Alcohol & Driving

Both alcohol and driving require special attention while taking Glucovance due to the risk of low blood sugar affecting your abilities.

Alcohol

Avoid alcohol as it can strongly affect diabetes control and may lead to serious side effects. Drinking alcohol while taking Glucovance may cause flushing, headache, breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting. Your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol completely.

Driving and Operating Machinery

If you need to be alert (like when driving), be careful not to let your blood glucose levels fall too low. Low blood glucose levels may slow your reaction time and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

Storage

Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where temperature stays below 25°C. Keep tablets in the original pack until it’s time to take them. Store Glucovance where children cannot reach it.

Overdose Information

If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Glucovance, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no signs of discomfort. Overdose symptoms may include feeling very tired, sick, vomiting, trouble breathing, unusual muscle pain, stomach pain, or diarrhea – these may be early signs of lactic acidosis. You may also experience low blood sugar symptoms that can progress to loss of coordination, slurred speech, confusion, fits, or loss of consciousness.

Frequently Asked Questions