Gliclazide makes the pancreas release more insulin. That is effective and cheap, and it is also why gliclazide — unlike metformin — can cause hypoglycaemia. If you have been moved onto it, the hypo advice is the part to read properly.
Standard tablets are usually taken with breakfast, or with breakfast and the evening meal if twice daily. Modified-release tablets are taken once daily with breakfast and must be swallowed whole.
Take it with food, not on an empty stomach. Skipping meals while taking gliclazide is the classic route to a hypo.
Low blood sugar signs: shakiness, sweating, hunger, tingling lips, palpitations, confusion, irritability, difficulty concentrating.
Hypos are more likely if you skip meals, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol (particularly without food), or have kidney or liver problems.
You must tell the DVLA if you are treated with a sulfonylurea and you drive. Test your blood glucose before driving and every two hours on long journeys, and keep fast-acting sugar in the car.
Weight gain is common. Other effects include nausea, stomach upset and, less often, rash.
Get medical advice for yellowing of the eyes or skin, unusual bruising or bleeding, or repeated hypos — which usually means the dose needs reviewing rather than that you need to eat more.
Tell your prescriber about beta blockers (which can mask hypo warning signs), warfarin, some antibiotics, and steroids.
Gliclazide is not usually used in pregnancy — speak to your diabetes team if you are planning one.
1 Lyng Lane, West Bromwich B70 7RW · Mon–Fri 8:30am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm · 0121 500 5756
Ask our pharmacist →We use essential cookies to make the site work — things like your basket, sign-in and secure checkout. With your permission we’d also like to use analytics cookies to understand how the site is used and improve it. See our cookie policy.
