Phage 500 mg Tablet

Phage 500 mg Tablet is an oral diabetes medicine that contains 500 mg of metformin in each tablet. It belongs to the biguanide class and is used to help lower high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Phage 500 mg Tablet is not used for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. It is typically taken as part of a broader treatment plan that includes diet and exercise.

How it works: Metformin in Phage 500 mg Tablet helps the body use insulin better and reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver. As a tablet, it is swallowed and absorbed through the digestive tract to work steadily over time.

Phage 500 mg Tablet is the lower tablet strength in many metformin treatment plans, so it is often used when a doctor wants a smaller, easier-to-adjust dose. It may suit people who are just starting metformin, who need gradual dose increases, or who need to take divided doses throughout the day. Because it is 500 mg per tablet, the prescriber can fine-tune the amount more easily than with higher-strength tablets.

• Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control
• Adjunct to diet and exercise
• Sometimes used with other diabetes medicines
• May help improve insulin sensitivity

• Swallow Phage 500 mg Tablet with water; do not crush, chew, or split unless your doctor or pharmacist says it is appropriate.
• Take it with a meal to help reduce stomach upset.
• Take it exactly as prescribed, because the number of 500 mg tablets per day depends on your personalized plan.
• If your doctor increases the dose, the change is usually made gradually to improve tolerance.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose; do not double up.
• Follow food and exercise advice from your clinician, since Phage 500 mg Tablet works best as part of a diabetes plan.

Each Phage 500 mg Tablet provides 500 mg of metformin. Your doctor may prescribe it once daily or in divided doses, depending on your blood sugar, tolerance, and treatment goals. The total daily dose is individualized and should not exceed your prescriber's instructions; 500 mg tablets are often used to build up dosing safely.

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

Common side effects of Metformin may include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain or cramping
• Loss of appetite
• Gas or bloating
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• More stomach upset may happen when starting Phage 500 mg Tablet or when the dose is increased

• Do not use Phage 500 mg Tablet for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, since metformin is cleared by the kidneys.
• Avoid heavy alcohol use, because it can raise the risk of lactic acidosis.
• Use caution if you have heart failure, severe infection, dehydration, or liver disease.
• Let your clinician know before imaging tests that use iodinated contrast dye.
• Low blood sugar is more likely if Phage 500 mg Tablet is taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
• You should not drive if you feel shaky, dizzy, or unwell from low or high blood sugar.

• Alcohol
• Iodinated contrast dye used for some CT scans or angiograms
• Insulin and sulfonylureas, which can increase the risk of low blood sugar
• Other medicines that affect kidney function, including some diuretics or NSAIDs

Store Phage 500 mg Tablet in a dry place at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture, and keep it in the original strip/box of 10 tablets until use.