Minidiab 5mg (Glipizide)

Minidiab general information

What is Minidiab used for?

Minidiab tablets 5mg (also known as Glucotrol) are an oral diabetes medication used to treat stable, mild to moderate type-2 diabetes mellitus (also called non insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity onset diabetes), in addition to diet and exercise, to control blood sugar levels in people who are unable to achieve adequate glycaemic control (normal blood sugar levels) with diet alone. Minidiab tablets 5mg can be used as monotherapy (a single drug treatment), or together with other oral antihyperglycaemic (lowers blood sugar) medicines for treating diabetes.

How does Minidiab work?

Minidiab tablets 5mg (also known as Glucotrol) contain glipizide, an oral antihyperglycaemic (lowers blood sugar) medication belonging to the sulphonylurea group of drugs. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that controls the amount of sugar in your blood and is normally released in response to eating when blood sugar begins to rise. Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a condition where there is insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas (usually due to cell damage) as well as resistance to the action of insulin, resulting in a loss of glycaemic control and increase of blood sugar levels, which is called hyperglycaemia. Glipizide in Minidiab tablets helps control blood glucose (sugar) by stimulating insulin release from the pancreatic beta-cells after a meal (postprandial) as well as keeping levels normal between meals (basal levels). It is also thought that Minidiab tablets 5mg enhance the mechanisms for removal of glucose from the blood by the tissues that use it for energy, like muscle. Maintaining glycaemic control with Minidiab tablets 5mg reduces risk of serious health complications associated with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

What does Minidiab contain?

Minidiab tablets 5mg contain the active ingredient glipizide, an oral antihyperglycaemic (lowers blood sugar) used to control blood sugar in people with type-2 diabetes mellitus. They also contain, cellulose, maize starch, stearic acid and lactose.

Treating type 2 diabetes with Minidiab

Minidiab tablets 5mg (also known as Glucotrol) contain glipizide, an oral antihyperglycaemic (lowers blood sugar) medication that is used to control blood sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes mellitus (also called non insulin-dependent diabetes or maturity onset diabetes) who are unable to achieve adequate glycaemic control (normal blood sugar levels) with diet alone. Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a condition where there is insufficient insulin (a hormone that controls the amount of sugar in your blood) produced by the pancreas as well as resistance to the action of insulin. Glipizide in Minidiab tablets helps control blood glucose (sugar) by stimulating insulin release from the pancreatic beta-cells after a meal (postprandial) as well as keeping levels normal between meals (basal levels). It is also thought that Minidiab tablets 5mg enhance the mechanisms for removal of glucose from the blood by the tissues that use it for energy, like muscle. Maintaining glycaemic control with Minidiab tablets 5mg reduces risk of serious health complications associated with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina in the eye with loss of vision), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

What are the side effects of Minidiab?

Some of the most commonly reported gastrointestinal side effects when taking Minidiab tablets 5mg are often related to the dose you are taking and may improve with a reduced dose, these include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, constipation. Other side effects include skin rash, itching and redness; dizziness, drowsiness, headache; unusual weight gain; visual disturbances. Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is a serious side effect with symptoms including, weakness, trembling, sweating, light-headedness, headache, dizziness, irritability, lack of concentration and can cause loss of consciousness or coma.

Can you get hypoglycaemic when taking Minidiab?

A “hypo” or low blood sugar can be a serious side effect of medication that stimulates insulin release, like Minidiab, in some people with certain conditions like liver or kidney disease; following trauma, infection, or surgery; or as a side effect of other medications. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that controls the amount of sugar in your blood and is normally released in response to eating when blood sugar begins to rise, to prevent you becoming hyperglycaemic (too much blood sugar). If the amount of sugar in your blood falls due to too much insulin or not enough glucose production by the liver, both of which can be caused by Minidiab, this can cause you to become hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar), which can make you feel light-headed, dizzy, irritable, confused and can result in coma. It is important to eat regular meals while you are taking Minidiab tablets 5mg, as you can become hypoglycaemic if not.

When should Minidiab not be used?

You should not use Minidiab if you:

• are allergic to glipizide or any other sulphonylurea or any ingredients in Minidiab tablets
• are pregnant may become pregnant or breast-feeding
• have type I diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), diabetic ketoacidosis, or diabetic coma
• have severe kidney, liver or thyroid disease
• are taking medication that may interact with Minidiab tablets 5mg, including: aspirin and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors for heart disease and high blood pressure; cimetidine for reflux and ulcers; monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression; antifungals like fluconazole; sulphonamide and chloramphenicol antibiotics; probenecid for gout; anticoagulants like warfarin; fibrates for high cholesterol, phenothiazine antipsychotics; corticosteroids like prednisone; Isoniazid for tuberculosis; calcium channel blockers for angina and high blood pressure; phenytoin, for epilepsy; thiazide diuretics; nicotinic acid for lowering blood fats; oestrogens, progestogens, oral contraceptives and other hormonal treatments like danazol; sympathomimetics used as nasal decongestants and bronchodilators like salbutamol for asthma; thyroid hormones, barbiturates for sedation

What medicines interact with Minidiab?

Some medications interact with Minidiab and should either not be taken while you are taking Minidiab or only after discussion with your doctor.

• Drugs that cause hypogylaemia (low blood sugar): aspirin and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors for heart disease and high blood pressure; cimetidine for reflux and ulcers; monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression; antifungals like fluconazole; sulphonamide and chloramphenicol antibiotics; probenecid for gout; anticoagulants like warfarin; fibrates for high cholesterol
• Drugs that reduce the effectiveness of Minidiab causing hyperglyaemia (high blood sugar): Phenothiazine antipsychotics; corticosteroids like prednisone; isoniazid for tuberculosis; calcium channel blockers for angina and high blood pressure; phenytoin, for epilepsy; thiazide diuretics; nicotinic acid for lowering blood fats; oestrogens, progestogens, oral contraceptives and other hormonal treatments like danazol; Sympathomimetics used as nasal decongestants and bronchodilators like salbutamol for asthma; thyroid hormones
• Drugs that are affected by Minidiab: barbiturates for sedation

How should Minidiab be taken?

You should take your Minidiab tablets 5mg with a glass of water15-20 minutes before a main meal, usually starting once daily before breakfast, or a midday meal or twice daily morning and evening before meals, but your dose may be increased depending on your condition and your doctor’s recommendation. You should never miss a meal and avoid alcohol while taking Minidiab tablets 5mg as both can cause hypogylaemia (low blood sugar). You should continue to take your Minidiab tablets 5mg for as long as your doctor recommends, which may be for long periods, depending on how you respond and whether you have side effects, as Minidiab will help to control your diabetes but will not cure it.

How long should you take Minidiab?

You should continue to take your Minidiab tablets 5mg for as long as your doctor recommends, which may be for long periods, depending on how you respond and whether you have side effects, as Minidiab will help to control your diabetes but will not cure it.

Missed dose of Minidiab

If you miss a dose of Minidiab tablets 5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Minidiab be stored?

You should keep your Minidiab tablets 5mg in their pack and store in a cool dry place at room temperature below 25°C.