Patient leaflet - YALTORMIN SR 1000 MG PROLONGED-RELEASE TABLETS
1. what yaltormin sr is and what it is used for
Yaltormin SR prolonged release tablets contain the active ingredient metformin hydrochloride and belong to a group of medicines called biguanides, used in the treatment of diabetes. Yaltormin SR is used for the treatment of Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus when diet and exercise changes alone have not been enough to control blood glucose (sugar). Insulin is a hormone that enables body tissues to take glucose from the blood and to use it for energy or for storage for future use. People with Type 2 diabetes do not make enough insulin in their pancreas or their body does not respond properly to the insulin it does make. This causes a build-up of glucose in the blood which can cause a number of serious long-term problems so it is important that you continue to take your medicine, even though you may not have any obvious symptoms. Yaltormin SR makes the body more sensitive to insulin and helps return to normal the way your body uses glucose.
Yaltormin SR is associated with either a stable body weight or modest weight loss.
Yaltormin SR Prolonged Release Tablets are specially made to release the drug slowly in your body and therefore are different to many other types of tablet containing metformin.
2. what you need to know before you take yaltormin sr you are allergic to metformin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). an allergic reaction may cause a rash, itching or shortness of breath.
- you have uncontrolled diabetes with for example severe hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose), nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid weight loss, lactic acidosis (see ‘‘Risk of lactic acidosis’’ below) or ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which substances called ‘ketone bodies’ accumulate in the blood and which can lead to diabetic pre-coma. Symptoms include stomach pain, fast and deep breathing, sleepiness or your breath developing an unusual fruity smell.
- you have liver problems
- you have severely reduced kidney function
- you have a severe infection, such as an infection affecting your lung or bronchial system or your kidney. Severe infections may lead to kidney problems, which can put you at risk for lactic acidosis (see 'Warnings and precautions’).
- you have lost too much water from your body (dehydration). Dehydration may lead to kidney problems, which can put you at risk for lactic acidosis (see ‘Warnings and precautions’).
- you have been treated for acute heart problems or have recently had a heart attack or have severe circulatory problems or breathing difficulties. This may lead to a lack in oxygen supply to tissue which can put you at risk for lactic acidosis (see 'Warnings and precautions’).
- you are a heavy drinker of alcohol.
- you are under 18 years of age.
Warnings and precautions
Risk of lactic acidosis
Yaltormin SR may cause a very rare, but very serious side effect called lactic acidosis, particularly if your kidneys are not working properly. The risk of developing lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, serious infections, prolonged fasting or alcohol intake, dehydration (see further information below), liver problems and any medical conditions in which part of the body has a reduced supply of oxygen (such as acute severe heart disease).
If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor for further instructions.
Stop taking Yaltormin SR for a short time if you have a condition that may be associated with dehydration (significant loss of body fluids) such as severe vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, exposure to heat or if you drink less fluid than normal. Talk to your doctor for further instructions.
Stop taking Yaltormin SR and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you experience some of the symptoms of lactic acidosis, as this condition may lead to coma.
Symptoms of lactic acidosis include:
- vomiting
- stomach ache (abdominal pain)
- muscle cramps
- a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness
- difficulty in breathing
- reduced body temperature and heartbeat
Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in a hospital.
If you need to have major surgery you must stop taking Yaltormin SR during and for some time after the procedure. Your doctor will decide when you must stop and when to restart your treatment with Yaltormin SR. During treatment with Yaltormin SR, your doctor will check your kidney function at least once a year or more frequently if you are elderly and/or if you have worsening kidney function.
You may see some remains of the tablets in your stools. Do not worry- this is normal for this type of tablet. You should continue to follow any dietary advice that your doctor has given you and you should make sure that you eat carbohydrates regularly throughout the day.
Do not stop taking this medicine without speaking to your doctor.
Other medicines and Yaltormin SR:
If you need to have an injection of contrast medium that contains iodine into your bloodstream, in the context of an X-ray or scan, you must stop taking Yaltormin SR before or at the time of the injection. Your doctor will decide when you must stop and when to restart your treatment with Yaltormin SR.
Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. You may need more frequent blood glucose and kidney function tests or your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of Yaltormin SR. It is especially important to mention the following:
- Medicines which increase urine production (diuretics (water tablets) such as furosemide)
- Medicines used to treat pain and inflammation (NSAID and COX-2-inhibitors, such as ibuprofen and celecoxib).
- Certain medicines for the treatment of high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
- Steroids such as prednisolone, mometasone, beclometasone.
- Sympathomimetic medicines including epinephrine and dopamine used to treat heart attacks and low blood pressure. Epinephrine is also included in some dental anaesthetics.
- Medicines that may change the amount of Yaltormin SR in your blood, especially if you have reduced kidney function (such as verapamil, rifampicin, cimetidine, dolutegravir, ranolazine, trimethoprim, vandetanib, isavuconazole, crizotinib, olaparib).
Yaltormin SR with food, drink and alcohol:
You should take Yaltormin SR with or immediately after food.
Avoid excessive alcohol intake while taking Yaltormin SR since this may increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see section ‘Warnings and precautions’).
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Yaltormin SR if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Yaltormin SR taken on its own does not cause ‘hypos’ (symptoms of low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia, such as faintness, confusion and increased sweating) and therefore should not affect your ability to drive or use machinery.
You should be aware, however, that Yaltormin SR taken with other antidiabetic medicines can cause hypos, so in this case you should take extra care when driving or operating machinery.
3. how to take yaltormin sr
Your doctor may prescribe Yaltormin SR for you to take on its own, or in combination with other oral antidiabetic medicines or insulin.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water; do not chew.
Recommended dose
Usually you will start treatment with 500 milligrams Yaltormin SR daily. After you have been taking Yaltormin SR for about 2 weeks, your doctor may measure your blood sugar and adjust the dose. The maximum daily dose is 2000 milligrams of Yaltormin SR.
In renal impaired patients with a GFR between 45 and 60 ml/min, the starting dose is 500 mg or 750 mg Yaltormin SR once daily. The maximum dose is 1000 mg daily. The renal function should be closely monitored (every 3 – 6 months).
Normally, you should take the tablets once a day, with your evening meal.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take the tablets twice a day. Always take the tablets with food.
If you have reduced kidney function, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.
If you take more Yaltormin SR than you should
If you take extra tablets by mistake you need not worry, but if you have unusual symptoms, contact your doctor. If the overdose is large, lactic acidosis is more likely. Symptoms of lactic acidosis are non-specific, such as vomiting, bellyache with muscle cramps, a general feeling of not being well with severe tiredness, and difficulty in breathing. Further symptoms are reduced body temperature and heart beat. If you experience some of these symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma. Stop taking Yaltormin SR immediately and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital straightaway.
If you forget to take Yaltormin SR
Take it as soon as you remember with some food. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you notice any of the following, stop taking Yaltormin SR and see your doctor immediately:
Yaltormin SR may cause a very rare (may affect up to 1 user in 10,000) but very serious side effect called lactic acidosis (see section ‘Warnings and precautions’). If this happens you must stop taking Yaltormin SR and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately, as lactic acidosis may lead to coma.
- Abnormal liver function tests and hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) which may result in jaundice. If you develop yellowing of the eyes and/or skin contact your doctor immediately.
Other possible side effects are listed by frequency as follows:
Very common (affects more than 1 person in 10):
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache or loss of appetite. If you get these, do not stop taking the tablets as these symptoms will normally go away in about 2 weeks. It helps if you take the tablets with or immediately after a meal.
Common (affects less than 1 person in 10, but more than 1 person in 100):
- Taste disturbance
Very rare (affects less than 1 person in 10,000):
- Decreased vitamin B12 levels
- Skin rashes including redness, itching and hives.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting systems listed below: United Kingdom:
Yellow Card Scheme
Website:
Ireland:
HPRA Pharmacovigilance, Earlsfort Terrace, IRL – Dublin 2; Tel: +353 1 6764971; Fax: +353 1 6762517;
Website: ; e-mail:
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store yaltormin sr
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 carton after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other informationyaltormin sr 500mg prolonged release tablets contain 500mg of the active ingredient metformin hydrochloride, equivalent to 390mg metformin.
Yaltormin SR 750mg Prolonged Release Tablets contain 750mg of the active ingredient metformin hydrochloride equivalent to 585mg metformin.
Yaltormin SR 1000mg Prolonged Release Tablets contain 1000mg of the active ingredient metformin hydrochloride equivalent to 780mg metformin.
The other ingredients are magnesium stearate, silica colloidal anhydrous, carmellose sodium and hypromellose.
What Yaltormin SR looks like and contents of the pack
The 500 milligram tablets are white to off-white, capsule shaped tablets debossed with ‘SR 500’ on one side and plain on other side. The tablets dimensions are approximately 16.5mm x 8.2mm.
The 750 milligram tablets are white to off-white, capsule shaped tablets debossed with ‘SR 750’ on one side
and plain on other side. The tablets dimensions are approximately 19.6mm x 9.3mm.
The 1000 milligrams tablets are white to off-white, oval tablets debossed with ‘SR 1000’ on one side and plain on other side. The tablets dimensions are approximately 22mm x 10.5mm.
Yaltormin SR is supplied in packs of 28 and 56 prolonged release tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Wockhardt UK Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK
Manufacturer
CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK
Other sources of information
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
| Product name | Reference number |
| Yaltormin SR 500mg Prolonged Release Tablets | 29831/0655 |
| Yaltormin SR 750mg Prolonged Release Tablets | 29831/0656 |
| Yaltormin SR 1000mg Prolonged Release Tablets | 29831/0657 |
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. For the Republic of Ireland please call +44 1978 661261
Useful tips
- If you smoke, try to stop
- Take regular exercise
- Drink as little alcohol as possible
- Look after your feet. Ask about this at the surgery or hospital
- Carry a card, bracelet or disk saying you are diabetic
- Visit your diabetic clinic regularly
If you want more information about diabetes contact:
Diabetes UK Central Office
Macleod House
-
10 Parkway