500 mg and 850 mg film-coated tablets
metformin hydrochloride<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Metformin Actavis is<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Metformin\u00a0Actavis contains\u00a0metformin, a medicine used to treat\u00a0diabetes.\u00a0It belongs to a group of drugs called biguanides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps the body absorb glucose (sugar) from the blood. The body uses glucose to produce energy or stores it for future needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have\u00a0diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough\u00a0insulin\u00a0or the body cannot use the\u00a0insulin\u00a0that is produced well enough.\u00a0This leads to high blood glucose levels.\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis helps to lower blood glucose levels to a level that is as close to normal as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are an adult and overweight, taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis for a long time can also help reduce the risk of complications associated with\u00a0diabetes.\u00a0Metformin\u00a0is associated with either stable body weight or a slight weight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Metformin Actavis is used for<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Metformin\u00a0Actavis is used to treat patients with type 2\u00a0diabetes\u00a0(also known as ‘non-insulin-dependent diabetes’) when diet and exercise alone are not sufficient to control blood glucose levels, especially for obese patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adults can take Metformin Actavis as the only treatment or with other medicines to treat diabetes (medicines taken by mouth or insulin ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Children 10 years of age or older and adolescents can take\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis as their only treatment or with\u00a0insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metformin contained\u00a0in\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis may also be approved for the treatment of other conditions not mentioned in this leaflet.\u00a0Ask your doctor, pharmacist or another healthcare professional if you have any further questions and always follow their instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If any of the above apply to you, talk to a doctor before taking this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to consult a doctor about<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis for a certain period before and after the examination or operation.\u00a0Your doctor will decide if you need any other treatment during this time.\u00a0You must follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Risk of lactic acidosis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Metformin\u00a0Actavis can cause the very rare, but very serious,\u00a0side effect\u00a0of lactic\u00a0acidosis, especially if your kidneys are not working properly.\u00a0The risk of developing\u00a0lactic acidosis\u00a0is also increased in uncontrolled\u00a0diabetes, severe\u00a0infections, prolonged fasting or alcohol intake, dehydration (see more information below), liver problems and conditions where part of the body has reduced oxygen supply (including\u00a0acute\u00a0severe heart disease).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor for further information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis for a short time if you have a condition that may be associated with dehydration,<\/strong>\u00a0such as severe vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, exposure to heat or if you drink less fluid than normal.\u00a0Talk to a doctor for further instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis and contact your doctor or nearest hospital immediately if you experience any of the symptoms of\u00a0lactic acidosis<\/strong>\u00a0as the condition may lead to\u00a0coma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The symptoms of lactic acidosis include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lactic acidosis is an acute medical condition that must be treated in a hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Operation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are going to have a major operation, you must stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis during the operation and for a certain period after it.\u00a0Your doctor will decide when you need to stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis and when you should start taking it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Low blood sugar ( hypoglycaemia )<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Metformin\u00a0Actavis itself does not cause\u00a0hypoglycaemia\u00a0(too low blood sugar) but if you take\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis together with other antidiabetic medicines\u00a0that\u00a0can cause\u00a0hypoglycaemia\u00a0(eg sulphonylureas,\u00a0insulin, meglitinides) there is a risk of\u00a0hypoglycaemia.\u00a0If you experience symptoms of\u00a0hypoglycaemia, such as weakness, dizziness, increased sweating, rapid\u00a0heartbeat, visual disturbances or difficulty concentrating, it usually helps to eat or drink something that contains sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Control of renal function<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During treatment with\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis, your doctor will check your kidney function at least once a year or more often if you are older and\/or if your kidney function is impaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need to get an\u00a0injection\u00a0into the bloodstream with contrast media that contain iodine, for example in connection with X-rays or\u00a0computed tomography, you must stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis before or at the time of\u00a0injection.\u00a0Your doctor will decide when you need to stop taking\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis and when you should start taking it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.\u00a0You may need to do more blood sugar and kidney function tests, or your doctor may need to adjust the\u00a0dose\u00a0of\u00a0Metformin\u00a0Actavis.\u00a0You must mention the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat you need to know before you use Metformin Actavis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do not use Metformin Actavis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Warnings and cautions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other medicines and Metformin Actavis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n