Repaglinide 0.5mg Tablets What Repaglinide is used for:

• Repaglinide is an oral antidiabetic medicine


• which helps your pancreas produce more insulin and thereby lower your blood sugar (glucose). 

Do not take Repaglinide:

• if you are allergic to Repaglinide or any of the other ingredients in this medicine.


• if you have type 1 diabetes.


• if the acid level in your body is raised (diabetic ketoacidosis).


• if you have a severe liver disease.


• if you take gemfibrozil (a medicine used to lower increased fat levels in the blood).


• Warnings and precautions


• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Repaglinide:


• if you have liver problems. Repaglinide is not recommended in patients with moderate liver disease. Repaglinide should not be taken if you have a severe liver disease.


• if you have kidney problems. Repaglinide should be taken with caution.


• if you are about to have major surgery or you have recently suffered a severe illness.


• if you are under 18 or over 75 years of age. Repaglinide is not recommended.

Possible Side Effects: 

• Hypoglycemia


• Hypoglycemic reactions are generally mild/moderate


• but may occasionally develop into hypoglycemic unconsciousness or coma.


• If this happens, contact medical assistance immediately.


• Allergy


• Symptoms such as swelling, difficulty in breathing, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy and sweating could be signs of anaphylactic reaction. Contact a doctor immediately.


• Other side effects


• Stomach pain


• Diarrhea.


• Acute coronary syndrome (but it may not be due to the medicine).

Other medicines and Repaglinide:

• If you take gemfibrozil, you should not take Repaglinide.


• Your body’s response to Repaglinide may change if you take other medicines, especially these:


• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) (used to treat depression)


• Beta blockers (used to treat high blood pressure or heart conditions)


• ACE-inhibitors (used to treat heart conditions)


• Salicylates (e.g. aspirin)


• Octreotide (used to treat cancer)


• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (a type of painkiller)


• Steroids (anabolic steroids and corticosteroids – used for anaemia or to treat inflammation)


• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)


• Thiazides (diuretics or “water pills”)


• Danazol (used to treat breast cysts and endometriosis) 


• Thyroid products (used to treat low levels of thyroid hormones)


• Sympathomimetics (used to treat asthma)


• Clarithromycin, trimethoprim, rifampicin (antibiotic medicines)


• Itraconazole, ketoconazole (antifungal medicines)


• Gemfibrozil (used to treat high blood fats)


• Ciclosporin (used to suppress the immune system)


• Deferasirox (used to reduce chronic iron overload)


• Phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital (used to treat epilepsy)


• St. John’s wort (herbal medicine)


• Clopidogrel (prevents blood clots)

How to take Repaglinide:

• Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure. 


• Your doctor will work out your dose.


• The normal starting dose is 0.5mg before each main meal.


• Swallow the tablets with a glass of water immediately before or up to 30 minutes before each main meal.


• The dose may be adjusted by your doctor up to 4mg to be taken immediately before or up to 30 minutes before each main meal.


• The maximum recommended daily dose is 16mg.


• Do not take more Repaglinide than your doctor has recommended.

How to store Repaglinide:

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.


• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the outer carton, tablet container and the blister after “EXP”.


• The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.


• This medicinal product does not require any special storage precautions.