Oral tablet. Take exactly as prescribed, usually once daily with/after food (commonly with the main meal) to reduce stomach upset and low sugar risk; swallow whole with water. Do not skip meals; monitor blood glucose as advised.

Hypoglycaemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, flatulence, bloating, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness

Prescription-only antidiabetic. Risk of hypoglycaemia (higher if meals are skipped, with excess exercise, alcohol, or other antidiabetics); carry glucose/sugar. Metformin can rarely cause lactic acidosis—seek urgent care for severe weakness, muscle pain, breathing difficulty, abdominal discomfort, or drowsiness; avoid in severe kidney impairment and use caution in liver disease/heart failure. Temporarily stop metformin before/after iodinated contrast studies and major surgery as advised. Voglibose may cause gas/diarrhoea; use caution in inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal obstruction, or chronic intestinal disorders. Regular monitoring of kidney function, HbA1c, and vitamin B12 (long-term metformin) is advised.

Alcohol (increases hypoglycaemia and lactic acidosis risk), insulin/other antidiabetics (additive hypoglycaemia), beta-blockers (may mask hypoglycaemia symptoms), corticosteroids and thiazide diuretics (may raise glucose), ACE inhibitors (may increase hypoglycaemia risk), quinolones (may affect glucose), cimetidine and other OCT2/MATE inhibitors (may increase metformin levels), iodinated contrast media (lactic acidosis risk), salicylates/NSAIDs (may increase hypoglycaemia risk)

Store at room temperature (below 25°C), protected from light and moisture. Keep in original blister pack; keep out of reach of children.

Glimestar MV 1/0.2 Tablet, Glycomet-GP 1 Forte Tablet, Glimy-MV 1/0.2 Tablet, Zoryl-MV 1/0.2 Tablet, Amaryl M 1 Tablet