Metgem 500 Tablet ER

Metgem 500 Tablet ER is an extended-release metformin tablet that contains 500 mg of metformin in each tablet. It belongs to the biguanide class of medicines and is used to help manage type 2 diabetes by improving blood sugar control. Metgem 500 Tablet ER is not insulin and is not used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. It is usually prescribed along with diet, exercise, and other diabetes care measures.

How it works: Metformin helps lower blood sugar mainly by reducing the amount of glucose the liver releases and by helping the body use insulin better. Because Metgem 500 Tablet ER is an extended-release tablet, the medicine is released slowly over time after you swallow it.

Metgem 500 Tablet ER delivers 500 mg in a once-daily extended-release tablet, which is a common lower-strength option for people who need gradual blood sugar control or are starting metformin in a form designed to release medicine slowly. Compared with immediate-release metformin, this ER tablet is designed to act over a longer period, which may help reduce stomach upset for some patients. A doctor may choose Metgem 500 Tablet ER when they want flexible dose adjustment while keeping treatment simple.

• Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control
• Adjunct to diet and exercise
• Blood sugar management when metformin is appropriate
• Longer-acting metformin therapy

• Swallow Metgem 500 Tablet ER whole with water; do not crush, split, or chew it.
• Take it with food, usually with the evening meal if your prescriber directs once-daily use.
• Take it at the same time each day to help you remember doses.
• If you see a tablet shell in your stool, that can happen with extended-release tablets and does not always mean the medicine did not work.
• Do not change the dose or stop taking Metgem 500 Tablet ER unless your doctor tells you to.
• Follow the exact directions on the prescription label, because extended-release metformin is not taken the same way as immediate-release tablets.

Each Metgem 500 Tablet ER tablet contains 500 mg of metformin hydrochloride extended release. The dose may be taken once daily or divided as your doctor prescribes, and the maximum daily dose depends on the treatment plan and kidney function; your prescriber decides the right schedule for you. Because this is a 500 mg ER tablet, it is a lower-strength metformin option that may be used for titration before higher doses are considered.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Metformin may include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Stomach upset
• Gas
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Metallic taste

• Metgem 500 Tablet ER should be used carefully in people with kidney problems because metformin can build up if kidney function is reduced.
• Avoid heavy alcohol use, since alcohol can raise the risk of lactic acidosis.
• Tell your doctor if you have heart failure, liver disease, or a history of lactic acidosis.
• Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablet, or the dose may be released too quickly.
• Use caution if you become dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or not drinking enough fluids.
• Let your clinician know if you need imaging tests with iodinated contrast dye, since metformin may need to be held.
• Metgem 500 Tablet ER is not for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

• Alcohol
• Iodinated contrast dye used for some CT or imaging tests
• Other diabetes medicines such as insulin or sulfonylureas
• Certain diuretics or medicines that can affect kidney function
• Topiramate or other medicines that can increase acidosis risk

Store Metgem 500 Tablet ER at room temperature in the original strip/box, away from moisture and excessive heat.