Glucovance

Glucovance is used for:

Treating type 2 diabetes. It is used along with diet and exercise. It may be used alone or with other antidiabetic medicines.

Glucovance is a sulfonylurea and biguanide antidiabetic combination. It causes the pancreas to release insulin, which helps to lower blood sugar levels. It also decreases the amount of sugar that the liver produces and the intestines absorb. It also helps to make your body more sensitive to the insulin that you naturally produce.

Do NOT use Glucovance if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Glucovance
• you have congestive heart failure that is treated by medicine
• you have a severe infection, low blood oxygen levels, kidney or liver problems, or high blood ketone or acid levels (eg, diabetic ketoacidosis), or you are severely dehydrated
• you have had a stroke or a recent heart attack, or you are in shock
• you are 80 years old or older and have not had a kidney function test
• you will be having surgery or certain lab procedures
• you are taking bosentan

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Glucovance :

Some medical conditions may interact with Glucovance . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of heart problems (eg, heart attack, heart failure), blood vessel problems, lung or breathing problems, thyroid problems, stomach or bowel problems (eg, blockage, paralysis), adrenal or pituitary problems, or lactic acidosis
• if you have type 1 diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea, poor health or nutrition, low blood calcium or vitamin B₁₂ levels, or anemia, or if you are dehydrated
• if you have an infection, fever, recent injury, or moderate to severe burns
• if you drink alcohol or have a history of alcohol abuse
• if you will be having surgery or certain lab procedures
• if you take a beta-blocker (eg, propranolol)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Glucovance . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Bosentan because liver problems may occur; the effectiveness of both medicines also may be decreased
• Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol) because the risk of low blood sugar may be increased. They may also hide certain signs of low blood sugar and make it more difficult to notice
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), azole antifungals (eg, miconazole), chloramphenicol, clofibrate, fenfluramine, insulin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), nonsteroidal anti-i nflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), phenylbutazone, probenecid, quinolones, (eg, ciprofloxacin), salicylates (eg, aspirin), sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethoxazole), or thiazolidinediones (eg, pioglitazone) because the risk of low blood sugar may be increased
• Calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) diazoxide, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), estrogen, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), isoniazid, nicotinic acid, phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), phenytoin, rifampin, sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine), or thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because they may decrease Glucovance 's effectiveness, resulting in high blood sugar
• Gemfibrozil because blood sugar may be increased or decreased
• Amiloride, cimetidine, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, or vancomycin because they may increase the risk of Glucovance 's side effects

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Glucovance may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.