Glumeform XR: Uses and precautions when using

Article by Pharmacist - Master Pham Thi Kim Dung - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Glumeform XR is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, especially in people who are obese, or when diet and exercise do not control blood sugar. It can be used alone or in combination with other oral diabetes medications or insulin.
Glumeform XR helps to lower blood sugar by reducing gluconeogenesis in the liver, reducing glucose absorption in the intestine and improving sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that increases peripheral glucose utilization and glucose delivery into cells.
Usually, the effect of the drug is visible after about 2 weeks of regular use. Patients can only use drugs after being examined, evaluated, consulted and prescribed by a doctor.

Patients should take the drug immediately after meals to reduce side effects on the gastrointestinal tract. The drug is formulated as an extended release to increase the duration of action, increase the effectiveness of treatment, and reduce side effects. Therefore, it is recommended to take the whole pill at a fixed time of the day to avoid forgetting the medicine; When taking, do not chew or crush the medicine.
The starting dose for patients not taking metformin is 500 mg once daily. The dose may be increased by 500 mg every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on glycemic goals and patient response. Generally, the maximum recommended dose of the extended-release formulation is 2,000 mg/day. Glumeform XR is formulated in 3 different strengths of 500mg, 750mg and 1,000mg, so it is easy for doctors and patients to adjust the dose gradually according to the effectiveness of the drug and tolerability.
In the case of using the dose once a day without achieving the expected effect, your doctor may advise you to divide the dose into 2 times a day to optimize the effectiveness of the drug before increasing the dose or combining more drugs. other.
In case of liver dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, the doctor may consider increasing the dose more slowly and leaving the maximum dose level lower. Glumeform XR should not be used in patients with severe renal impairment or severe hepatic impairment. The use of Glumeform XR in children is not recommended due to insufficient data on efficacy and safety.

When using Glumeform XR, patients may experience fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, diarrhea... Usually, side effects on the gastrointestinal tract are mild and transient. can be minimized by taking the drug after a full meal. When started at a low dose and gradually increased, most patients tolerate Glumeform XR fairly well, with gastrointestinal effects usually decreasing and disappearing after a few weeks of treatment. In case these side effects are prolonged, cause great fatigue or affect your quality of life, you need to talk to your doctor immediately for advice and timely treatment.
Long-term use of Glumeform XR carries a risk of vitamin B12 deficiency due to reduced absorption. Your doctor may prescribe a B vitamin supplement for you, including vitamin B12. In some cases, your doctor may consider measuring your blood levels of vitamin B12 and administering an injectable vitamin.
Although very rare, some cases of lactic acidosis have occurred in patients using metformin, especially in patients >65 years of age, heavy alcohol consumption, heart failure, acute renal failure. .. Initial manifestations may include: Uncomfortable fatigue, chills, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, muscle aches or cramps, fast or slow or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness or lethargy... Patients need to see a doctor immediately if they notice these symptoms while taking this medicine. This rare side effect is also dose related. Therefore, you should not increase the dose on your own without consulting your doctor.
Although uncommon, hypoglycemia can occur while you are taking Glumeform XR, especially when you are fasting or taking the drug in combination with insulin or other oral diabetes medications. Patients may experience extreme hunger, sweating, tachycardia, tremors, fatigue, and dizziness. When you experience these symptoms, you can eat a few glucose tablets or some hard candy until the symptoms improve. You should also talk to your doctor at your visit about your hypoglycemic episodes during the month for advice and dose adjustment.
If there are serious abnormalities such as allergic reactions and severe skin lesions, the patient needs to go to the hospital immediately for examination and timely treatment. Even if you don't experience side effects, you should still have regular check-ups or follow-up appointments to be monitored by your doctor, adjust your dose and advise on the most effective and safest treatment.

Patients need to talk to their doctor about their medical history, especially liver, kidney, and cardiovascular problems (decreased liver and kidney function, heart failure, newly treated myocardial infarction...). Allergy history, pregnancy, lactation, and information on home medications should also be communicated to the doctor by the patient to ensure optimal and safe prescriptions.
During your pre-exam and during procedures that use contrast or surgery, you should always let your doctor or surgeon know that you are taking metformin in order to be optimally prepared for the procedure. art.
Even after taking the drug for many years, patients should still call their doctor for advice when there is an acute state of dehydration, such as acute diarrhea or severe vomiting. Because you may need adequate hydration and electrolytes or careful medical supervision.
Patients should not stop taking, reduce or increase the dose of Glumeform XR on their own without consulting their doctor. Diabetes is a chronic disease that needs to be maintained under long-term control to reduce symptoms of the disease, improve quality of life, and most importantly, reduce the risk of complications and complications from the disease. Please adhere to the treatment and have regular check-ups and follow-up for optimal results.