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Active substance(s): GLICLAZIDE

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S910 LEAFLET Diamicron 20131118.doc


Your medicine is known as Diamicron MR 30mg Tablets but will be
referred to as Diamicron MR throughout the following leaflet.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this
medicine because it contains important information for you.

Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or

on to others. It may harm them, even if their sign of illness are
the same as yours.

This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

What is in this leaflet:
1. What Diamicron MR is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Diamicron MR
3. How to take Diamicron MR
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Diamicron MR
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Diamicron MR is a medicine that reduces blood sugar levels (oral
antidiabetic medicine belonging to the sulphonylurea group).
Diamicron MR is used in a certain form of diabetes (type 2 diabetes
have an adequate effect on keeping blood sugar at the correct
Do not take Diamicron MR

if you are allergic to gliclazide or any of the other ingredients of
Diamicron MR (listed in section 6), or to other medicines of the
same group (sulphonylureas), or to other related medicines
(hypoglycaemic sulphonamides);

if you have insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1);

or visual disorders, tremor, sensory disturbances, dizziness, and
The following signs and symptoms may also occur: sweating,
clammy skin, anxiety, fast or irregular heart beat, high blood
pressure, sudden strong pain in the chest that may radiate into
nearby areas (angina pectoris).
If blood sugar levels continue to drop you may suffer from
considerable confusion (delirium), develop convulsions, lose self
control, your breathing may be shallow and your heart beat slowed
down, you may become unconscious.
In most cases the symptoms of low blood sugar vanish very quickly
when you consume some form of sugar, e.g. glucose tablets, sugar
cubes, sweet juice, sweetened tea. You should therefore always
carry some form of sugar with you (glucose tablets, sugar cubes).
Remember that artificial sweeteners are not effective. Please
contact your doctor or the nearest hospital if taking sugar does not
help or if the symptoms recur.
Symptoms of low blood sugar may be absent, less obvious or
develop very slowly or you are not aware in time that your blood
sugar level has dropped. This may happen if you are an elderly
patient taking certain medicines (e.g. those acting on the central
nervous system and beta blockers). If you are in stress-situations
(e.g. accidents, surgical operations, fever etc.) Your doctor may
temporarily switch you to insulin therapy.
Symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) may occur when
gliclazide has not yet sufficiently reduced the blood sugar, when
you have not complied with the treatment plan prescribed by your
doctor or in special stress situations. These may include thirst,
frequent urination, dry mouth, dry itchy skin, skin infections and
reduced performance.
If these symptoms occur, you must contact your doctor or
If you have a family history of or know you have the hereditary
condition glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
(abnormality of red blood cells), lowering of the haemoglobin level
and breakdown of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia) can occur.
Contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Diamicron MR is not recommended for use in children due to a lack
of data.
Other medicines and Diamicron MR
or might take any other medicines.
The blood sugar lowering effect of gliclazide may be strengthened
and signs of low blood sugar levels may occur when one of the
following medicines is taken:

other medicines used to treat high blood sugar (oral
antidiabetics, GLP-1 receptor agonist or insulin),

if you have ketone bodies and sugar in your urine (this may
mean you have diabetic keto-acidosis), a diabetic pre-coma or

antibiotics (e.g. sulphonamides, clarithromycin),

medicines to treat high blood pressure or heart failure (beta
blockers, ACE-inhibitors such as captopril, or enalapril),

if you have severe kidney or liver disease;

medicines to treat fungal infections (miconazole, fluconazole),

if you are taking medicines to treat fungal infections
(miconazole, see Section “Taking other medicines”);

medicines to treat ulcers in the stomach or duodenum (H2
receptor antagonists),

medicines to treat depression (monoamine oxidase inhibitors),

painkiller or antirheumatics (phenylbutazone, ibuprofen),

medicines containing alcohol.

if you are breastfeeding (see Section “Pregnancy and
Warnings and precautions
You should observe the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor to
achieve proper blood sugar levels. This means, apart from regular
tablet intake, you observe the dietary regimen, have physical
exercise and, where necessary, reduce weight.

The blood glucose lowering effect of gliclazide may be weakened
and raised blood sugar levels may occur when one of the following
medicines is taken:

During gliclazide treatment regular monitoring of your blood (and
possibly urine) sugar level and also your glycated haemoglobin
(HbA1c) is necessary.

medicines to treat disorders of the central nervous system

medicines reducing inflammation (corticosteroids),

In the first few weeks of treatment the risk of having reduced blood
sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) may be increased. So particularly
close medical monitoring is necessary.

medicines to treat asthma or used during labour (intravenous
salbutamol, ritodrine and terbutaline),

medicines to treat breast disorders, heavy menstrual bleeding
and endometriosis (danazol).

Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia) may occur:

if you take meals irregularly or skip meals altogether,

if you are fasting,

if you are malnourished,

if you change your diet,

if you increase your physical activity and carbohydrate intake
does not match this increase,

if you drink alcohol, especially in combination with skipped

if you take other medicines or natural remedies at the same

if you take too high doses of gliclazide,

if you suffer from particular hormone-induced disorders
(functional disorders of the thyroid gland, of the pituitary gland
or adrenal cortex),

if your kidney function or liver function is severely decreased.

If you have low blood sugar you may have the following symptoms:
headache, intense hunger, nausea, vomiting, weariness, sleep
disorders, restlessness, aggressiveness, poor concentration,
reduced alertness and reaction time, depression, confusion, speech

Diamicron MR may increase the effects of medicines which reduce
blood clotting (e.g. warfarin).
Consult your doctor before you start taking another medicinal
product. If you go into hospital tell the medical staff you are taking
Diamicron MR.
Taking Diamicron MR with food, drink and alcohol
Diamicron MR can be taken with food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Drinking alcohol is not recommended as it can alter the control of
your diabetes in an unpredictable manner.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Diamicron MR is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you
planning to have baby while taking this medicine, inform your doctor
so that he may prescribe a more suitable treatment for you.
You must not take Diamicron MR while you are breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
Your ability to concentrate or react may be impaired if your blood
sugar is too low (hypoglycaemia), or too high (hyperglycaemia) or if
you develop visual problems as a result of such conditions. Bear in
mind that you could endanger yourself or others (e.g. when driving

a car or using machines).Please ask your doctor whether you can
drive a car if you:

Skin disorders
Skin reactions have been reported such as:

have frequent episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia),



have few or no warning signals of low blood sugar








Angioedema (rapid swelling of tissues such as eyelids, face,
lips, mouth, tongue or throat that may result in breathing
difficulty). The rash may progress to widespread blistering or
peeling of the skin.

Always take medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told
possibly urine sugar levels.
Change in external factors (e.g. weight reduction, change in life
style, stress) or improvements in the blood sugar control may
require changed gliclazide doses.
The recommended dose is one to four tablets (maximum 120 mg) in
a single intake at breakfast time. This depends on the response to
If a combination therapy of Diamicron MR with metformin, an alpha
glucosidase inhibitor, a thiazolidinedione, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4
inhibitor, a GLP-1 receptor agonist or insulin is initiated your doctor
will determine the proper dose of each medicine individually for you.
If you notice that your blood sugar levels are high although you are
taking the medicine as prescribed, you should contact your doctor
or pharmacist.

Digestive disorders

Stomach pain or discomfort


Feeling or being sick







These effects are reduced when Diamicron MR is taken with a
meal as recommended, See Section 3 “How to take”.
Eye disorders
Your vision may be affected for a short time especially at the start of
treatment. This effect is due to changes in blood sugar levels.

Swallow your tablets whole. Do not chew them.

As for other sulphonylureas, the following adverse events have
been observed: cases of severe changes in the number of blood
cells and allergic inflammation of the wall of blood vessels,
reduction in blood sodium (hyponatraemia), symptoms of liver
impairment (e.g. jaundice) which in most cases disappeared after
withdrawal of the sulphonylureas, but may lead to life-threatening
liver failure in isolated cases.

Take your tablet(s) with a glass of water at breakfast time (and
preferably at the same time each day).

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist; this
includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

Routes and method of administration
Oral use.

You must always eat a meal after taking your tablet(s).
If you take more Diamicron MR than you should
If you take too many tablets, contact your doctor or the nearest
hospital Accident & Emergency department immediately. The signs
of overdose are those of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
described in Section 2. The symptoms can be helped by taking
sugar (4 to 6 lumps) or sugary drinks straight away, followed by a
substantial snack or meal. If the patient is unconscious immediately
inform a doctor and call the emergency services. The same should
be done if somebody, e.g. a child, has taken the product
unintentionally. Unconscious patients must not be given food or
It should be ensured that there is always a pre-informed person that
can call a doctor in case of emergency.
If you forget to take Diamicron MR
It is important to take your medicine every day as regular treatment
works better.
However, if you forget to take a dose of Diamicron MR, take the
for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Diamicron MR
As the treatment for diabetes is usually life long, you should discuss
with your doctor before stopping this medicinal product. Stopping
could cause high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). Which increases
the risk of developing complications of diabetes.

Reporting of side effects
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on
the safety of this medicine.


Diamicron MR should be stored in the original package.

blister strip.

If your doctor tells you to stop using the medicine, please take it
back to the pharmacist for safe disposal. Only keep the
medicine if your doctor tells you to.

If the medicine becomes discoloured or shows any other signs
of deterioration, you should seek the advice of your pharmacist
who will tell you what to do.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or
household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of
medicines no longer required. These measures will help to
protect the environment.


your doctor or pharmacist.

What Diamicron MR contains


Like all medicines this medicine can cause side effects, although
not everybody gets them.
The most commonly observed side effect is low blood sugar
(hypoglycaemia). For symptoms and signs see "warnings and
precautions" in "Section 2 What you need to know before you
If left untreated these symptoms could progress to drowsiness, loss
of consciousness or possibly coma. If an episode of low blood
sugar is severe or prolonged, even if it is temporarily controlled by
eating sugar, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Blood disorders:
Decrease in the number of cells in the blood has been reported
(e.g. platelets, red and white blood cells).This may cause:

Each modified release tablet contains 30mg of the active
ingredient, gliclazide.

Diamicron MR also contains the following inactive ingredients:
calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, maltodextrin,
hypromellose, magnesium stearate and anhydrous colloidal
What Diamicron MR looks like and contents of the pack

Diamicron MR are white oblong tablets marked ‘DIA 30’ on one
side and with a logo on the other.

Diamicron MR Tablets are available as blister packs of 30 or 60

Product Licence holder
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product
Licence holder: S&M Medical Ltd, Chemilines House, Alperton
Lane, Wembley, HA0 1DX.




Prolonged bleeding

This product is manufactured by Laboratoires, Servier, S.L. Avenida
de los Madronos 33, 28043 Madrid, Spain.





Sore throat



These symptoms usually vanish when the treatment is
Liver disorders
There have been isolated reports of abnormal liver function, which
can cause yellow skin and eyes. If you get this, see your doctor
immediately. The symptoms generally disappear if the medicine is
stopped. Your doctor will decide whether to stop your treatment.

PL No: 19488/0910

Leaflet revision date: 18 November 2013
Diamicron is a registered trade mark of Biofarma, France.
S910 LEAFLET Diamicron 20131118.doc

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Source: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
