What is Avandamet? Avandamet is a combination of two oral diabetes medicines that help control blood sugar levels. Avandamet is for people with type 2 diabetes who do not use daily insulin injections. This medication is not for treating type 1 diabetes. Avandamet may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Do not use Avandamet if you have kidney disease, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). Before taking Avandamet, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or heart disease, a history of heart attack or stroke, liver disease, or eye problems caused by diabetes. Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking Avandamet. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling light-headed, and fainting. If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking Avandamet. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using this medicaton. Know the signs of hypoglycemia and how to recognize them, including hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal). Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Some women using Avandamet have started having menstrual periods, even after not having a period for a long time due to a medical condition. You may be able to get pregnant if your periods restart. Talk with your doctor about the need for birth control. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Avandamet? Some people have developed a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking Avandamet. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling light-headed, and fainting. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you have congestive heart failure. Do not use Avandamet if you have kidney disease, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have: ? congestive heart failure or heart disease ? a history of heart attack or stroke ? liver disease ? eye problems caused by diabetes If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Avandamet, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment. Some women using Avandamet have started having menstrual periods, even after not having a period for a long time due to a medical condition. You may be able to get pregnant if your periods restart. Talk with your doctor about the need for birth control. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Avandamet passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take Avandamet without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Older adults may have a higher risk of developing lactic acidosis. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk. How should I take Avandamet? Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Take Avandamet with meals to reduce nausea, diarrhea, and upset stomach that may occur, especially during the first few weeks of therapy. Avandamet is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. It is important to use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or may also need to be tested, and you may need regular eye exams. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. Your medication needs may change if you become sick or injured, if you have a serious infection, or if you have any type of surgery. Your doctor may want you to stop taking Avandamet for a short time if any of these situations affect you. Take care not to let your blood sugar get too low, causing hypoglycemia. You may have hypoglycemia if you skip a meal, exercise too long, drink alcohol, or are under stress. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them: ? hunger, headache, confusion, irritability ? drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors ? sweating, fast heartbeat ? seizure (convulsions) ? fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal) Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection. Your doctor may have you take extra B12 while you are taking Avandamet. Take only the amount of vitamin B12 that your doctor has prescribed. If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into your veins, you may need to temporarily stop taking Avandamet. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using this medicaton. Store Avandamet at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose of Avandamet? Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (be sure to take the medicine with food). If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose with Avandamet? Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. You may have signs of low blood sugar, such as hunger, headache, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, seizure (convulsions), fainting, or coma. An overdose of Avandamet may cause a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling light-headed, and fainting. What should I avoid while taking Avandamet? Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Avandamet. Alcohol lowers blood sugar and may increase the risk of lactic acidosis while you are taking this medicine. What are the possible side effects of Avandamet? Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis: weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling light-headed, and fainting. Stop using Avandamet and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: ? feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion ? swelling or rapid weight gain ? fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms ? nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as: ? sneezing, runny nose, cough or other signs of a cold ? headache ? back pain ? mild diarrhea ? joint or muscle pain Side
effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about
any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
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