Summary of medicine characteristics - YALTORMIN SR 750 MG PROLONGED-RELEASE TABLETS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Yaltormin SR 750mg Prolonged Release Tablets
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
One prolonged release tablet contains 750 mg metformin hydrochloride corresponding to 585 mg metformin base.
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Prolonged Release Tablets
White to off-white, capsule shaped tablet debossed with ‘SR 750’ on one side and plain on other side. The tablets are approximately 19.6 mm in length and 9.3 mm in breadth.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults, particularly in overweight patients, when dietary management and exercise alone does not result in adequate glycaemic control. Yaltormin SR may be used as monotherapy or in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents, or with insulin.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults with normal renal function (GFR> 90mL/min)
Monotherapy and combination with other oral antidiabetic agents: Yaltormin SR 750 mg is intended for patients who are already treated with metformin tablets (prolonged or immediate release).
The dose of Yaltormin SR 750 mg should be equivalent to the daily dose of metformin tablets (prolonged or immediate release), up to a maximum dose of 1500 mg given with the evening meal.
After 10 to 15 days, it is recommended to check that the dose of Yaltormin SR 750 mg is adequate on the basis of blood glucose measurements.
Combination with insulin:
For patients already treated with metformin and insulin in combination therapy, the dose of Yaltormin SR 750 mg should be equivalent to the daily dose of metformin tablets up to a maximum of 1500 mg given with the evening meal, while insulin dosage is adjusted on the basis of blood glucose measurements.
Elderly:
Due to the potential for decreased renal function in elderly subjects, the metformin dosage should be adjusted based on renal function. Regular assessment of renal function is necessary (see section 4.4).
Renal impairment
A GFR should be assessed before initiation of treatment with metformin containing products and at least annually thereafter. In patients at an increased risk of further progression of renal impairment and in the elderly, renal function should be assessed more frequently, e.g. every 3 – 6 months.
| GFR mL/min) | Total maximum daily dose | Additional considerations |
| 60–89 | 2000 mg | Dose reduction may be considered in relation to declining renal function |
| 45–59 | 2000 mg | Factors that may increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see section 4.4) should be reviewed before considering initiation of metformin. The starting dose is at most half of the maximum dose. |
| 30–44 | 1000 mg | |
| 30 | – | Metformin is contraindicated |
Paediatric population:
In the absence of available data, Yaltormin SR should not be used in children.
Method of administration
The tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink of water. They should not be chewed or crushed.
4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to metformin or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
Any type of acute metabolic acidosis (such as lactic acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis)
Diabetic pre-coma
Severe renal failure (GFR <30mL/min)
Acute conditions with the potential to alter renal function such as:
– dehydration,
– severe infection,
– shock
Disease which may cause tissue hypoxia (especially acute disease, or worsening of chronic disease) such as:
– decompensated heart failure,
– respiratory failure,
– recent myocardial infarction, – shock
Hepatic insufficiency, acute alcohol intoxication, alcoholism.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Lactic acidosis, a very rare, but serious metabolic complication, most often occurs at acute worsening of renal function or cardiorespiratory illness or sepsis. Metformin accumulation occurs at acute worsening of renal function and increases the risk of lactic acidosis.
In case of dehydration (severe diarrhoea or vomiting, fever or reduced fluid intake), metformin should be temporarily discontinued and contact with a health care professional is recommended.
Medicinal products that can acutely impair renal function (such as antihypertensives, diuretics and NSAIDs) should be initiated with caution in metformin-treated patients. Other risk factors for lactic acidosis are excessive alcohol intake, hepatic insufficiency, inadequately controlled diabetes, ketosis, prolonged fasting and any conditions associated with hypoxia, as well as concomitant use of medicinal products that may cause lactic acidosis (see sections 4.3 and 4.5).
Patients and/or care-givers should be informed of the risk of lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is characterised by acidotic dyspnoea, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, asthenia and hypothermia followed by coma. In case of suspected symptoms, the patient should stop taking metformin and seek immediate medical attention. Diagnostic laboratory findings are decreased blood pH (< 7.35), increased plasma lactate levels (>5 mmol/L) and an increased anion gap and lactate/pyruvate ratio.
Renal function:
GFR should be assessed before treatment initiation and regularly thereafter, see section 4.2. Metformin is contraindicated in patients with GFR<30 mL/min and should be temporarily discontinued in the presence of conditions that alter renal function, see section 4.3.
Cardiac function:
Patients with heart failure are more at risk of hypoxia and renal insufficiency. In patients with stable chronic heart failure, metformin may be used with a regular monitoring of cardiac and renal function.
For patients with acute and unstable heart failure, metformin is contraindicated (see section 4.3).
Administration of iodinated contrast media:
Intravascular administration of iodinated contrast agents may lead to contrast induced nephropathy, resulting in metformin accumulation and an increased risk of lactic acidosis. Metformin should be discontinued prior to or at the time of the imaging procedure and not restarted until at least 48 hours after, provided that renal function has been re-evaluated and found to be stable, see sections 4.2 and 4.5.
Surgery:
Metformin must be discontinued at the time of surgery with general, spinal or epidural anaesthesia. Therapy may be restarted no earlier than 48 hours following surgery or resumption of oral nutrition and provided that renal function has been reevaluated and found to be stable.
Other precautions:
All patients should continue their diet with a regular distribution of carbohydrate intake during the day. Overweight patients should continue their energy-restricted diet.
The usual laboratory tests for diabetes monitoring should be performed regularly.
Metformin alone never causes hypoglycaemia, although caution is advised when it is used in combination with insulin or other oral antidiabetics (e.g. sulphonylureas or meglitinides).
The tablet shells may be present in the faeces. Patients should be advised that this is normal.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Concomitant use not recommended
Alcohol
Alcohol intoxication is associated with an increased risk of lactic acidosis, particularly in case of fasting, malnutrition or hepatic impairment.
Iodinated contrast agents
Metformin must be discontinued prior to or at the time of the imaging procedure and not restarted until at least 48 hours after, provided that renal function has been re-evaluated and found to be stable, see sections 4.2 and 4.4.
Combinations requiring precautions for use
Some medicinal products can adversely affect renal function which may increase the risk of lactic acidosis, e.g. NSAIDs, including selective cyclooxygenase (COX) II inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists and diuretics, especially loop diuretics. When starting or using such products in combination with metformin, close monitoring of renal function is necessary.
Medicinal products with intrinsic hyperglycaemic activity (e.g. glucocorticoids (systemic and local routes) and sympathomimetics).
More frequent blood glucose monitoring may be required, especially at the beginning of treatment. If necessary, adjust the metformin dosage during therapy with the other drug and upon its discontinuation.
Organic cation transporters (OCT)
Metformin is a substrate of both transporters OCT1 and OCT 2. Co-administration of metformin with
Inhibitors of OCT 1 (such as verapamil) may reduce efficacy of metformin.
Inducers of OCT 1 (such as rifampicin) may increase gastrointestinal absorption and efficacy of metformin.
Inhibitors of OCT 2 (such as cimetidine, dolutegravir, ranolazine, trimethoprime, vandetanib, isavuconazole) may decrease the renal elimination of metformin and thus lead to an increase in metformin plasma concentration.
Inhibitors of both OCT 1 and OCT 2 (such as crizotinib, olaparib) may alter efficacy and renal elimination of metformin.
Caution is therefore advised, especially in patients with renal impairment, when these drugs are co-administered with metformin, as metformin plasma concentration may increase. If needed, dose adjustment of metformin may be considered as OCT inhibitors/inducers may alter the efficacy of metformin.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy (gestational or permanent) is associated with increased risk of congenital abnormalities and perinatal mortality.
A limited amount of data from the use of metformin in pregnant women does not indicate an increased risk of congenital abnormalities. Animal studies do not indicate harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonic or fetal development, parturition or postnatal development (see section 5.3).
When the patient plans to become pregnant and during pregnancy, it is recommended that diabetes is not treated with metformin but insulin be used to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible to reduce the risk of malformations of the foetus.
Breast-feeding
Metformin is excreted into human breast milk. No adverse effects were observed in breastfed newborns/infants. However, as only limited data are available, breastfeeding is not recommended during metformin treatment. A decision on whether to discontinue breast-feeding should be made, taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding and the potential risk to adverse effect on the child.
Fertility
Fertility of male or female rats was unaffected by metformin when administered at doses as high as 600 mg/kg/day, which is approximately three times the maximum recommended human daily dose based on body surface area comparisons.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Metformin monotherapy does not cause hypoglycaemia and therefore has no effect on the ability to drive or to use machines.
However, patients should be alerted to the risk of hypoglycaemia when metformin is used in combination with other antidiabetic agents (e.g. sulphonylureas, insulin, or meglinitides).
4.8 Undesirable effects
In post marketing data and in controlled clinical studies, adverse event reporting in patients treated with metformin SR was similar in nature and severity to that reported in patients treated with metformin immediate release.
During treatment initiation, the most common adverse reactions are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite, which resolve spontaneously in most cases.
The following adverse reactions may occur with Yaltormin SR.
Frequencies are defined as follows: very common: >1/10; common >1/100, <1/10; uncommon >1/1,000, <1/100; rare >1/10,000, <1/1,000; very rare <1/10,000.
Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Very rare:
Lactic acidosis (see 4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use).
Decrease of vitamin B12 absorption with decrease of serum levels during longterm use of metformin. Consideration of such an aetiology is recommended if a patient presents with megaloblastic anaemia.
Nervous system disorders
Common:
Taste disturbance
Gastrointestinal disorders
Very common:
Gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. These undesirable effects occur most frequently during initiation of therapy and resolve spontaneously in most cases. A slow increase of the dose may also improve gastrointestinal tolerability.
Hepatobiliary disorders
Very rare:
Isolated reports of liver function tests abnormalities or hepatitis resolving upon metformin discontinuation.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Very rare:
Skin reactions such as erythema, pruritus, urticaria
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9 Overdose
4.9 OverdoseHypoglycaemia has not been seen with metformin doses of up to 85 g, although lactic acidosis has occurred in such circumstances. High overdose or concomitant risks of metformin may lead to lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in hospital. The most effective method to remove lactate and metformin is haemodialysis.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
ORAL ANTI-DIABETICS
(A10BA02: Gastrointestinal tract and metabolism)
Metformin is a biguanide with antihyperglycaemic effects, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose. It does not stimulate insulin secretion and therefore does not produce hypoglycaemia.
Mechanism of action
Metformin may act via 3 mechanisms:
reduction of hepatic glucose production by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis
in muscle, by increasing insulin sensitivity, improving peripheral glucose uptake and utilisation
and delay of intestinal glucose absorption.
Metformin stimulates intracellular glycogen synthesis by acting on glycogen synthase.
Metformin increases the transport capacity of all types of membrane glucose transporters (GLUT).
Pharmacodynamic effects
In clinical studies, the major non glycemic effect of metformin is either weight stability or modest weight loss.
In humans, independently of its action on glycaemia, immediate release metformin has favourable effects on lipid metabolism. This has been shown at therapeutic doses in controlled, medium-term or long-term clinical studies: immediate release metformin reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A similar action has not been demonstrated with the prolonged release formulation, possibly due to the evening administration, and an increase in triglycerides may occur.
Clinical efficacy
The prospective randomised (UKPDS) study has established the long-term benefit of intensive blood glucose control in overweight type 2 diabetic patients treated with immediate release metformin as first-line therapy after diet failure. Analysis of the results for overweight patients treated with metformin after failure of diet alone showed:
a significant reduction of the absolute risk of any diabetes-related complication in the metformin group (29.8 events/1000 patient-years) versus diet alone (43.3 events/ 1000 patient-years), p=0.0023, and versus the combined sulphonylurea and insulin monotherapy groups (40.1 events/ 1000 patient-years), p=0.0034.
a significant reduction of the absolute risk of diabetes-related mortality: metformin 7.5 events/1000 patient-years, diet alone 12.7 events/ 1000 patientyears, p=0.017;
a significant reduction of the absolute risk of overall mortality: metformin 13.5 events/ 1000 patient-years versus diet alone 20.6 events/ 1000 patient-years (p=0.011), and versus the combined sulphonylurea and insulin monotherapy groups 18.9 events/ 1000 patient-years (p=0.021);
a significant reduction in the absolute risk of myocardial infarction: metformin 11 events/ 1000 patient-years, diet alone 18 events/ 1000 patient-years (p=0.01)
For metformin used as second-line therapy, in combination with a sulphonylurea, benefit regarding clinical outcome has not been shown.
In type 1 diabetes, the combination of metformin and insulin has been used in selected patients, but the clinical benefit of this combination has not been formally established.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
5.2 Pharmacokinetic propertiesAbsorption
Following a single oral administration of 1500 mg of metformin SR 750 mg, a mean peak plasma concentration of 1193 ng/ml is achieved with a median value of 5 hours and a range of 4 to 12 hours.
Metformin SR 750 mg was shown to be bioequivalent to metformin SR 500 mg at a 1500 mg dose with respect to Cmax and AUC in healthy fed and fasted subjects.
The bioequivalent product shows the following properties:
At steady state, similar to the immediate release formulation, Cmax and AUC are not proportionally increased to the administered dose. The AUC after a single oral administration of 2000mg of metformin prolonged release tablets is similar to that observed after administration of 1000mg of metformin immediate release tablets b.i.d.
Intrasubject variability of Cmax and AUC of metformin prolonged release tablets is comparable to that observed with metformin immediate release tablets.
When the prolonged release tablet is administered in fasting conditions the AUC is decreased by 30% (both Cmax and Tmax are unaffected).
Metformin absorption from the prolonged release formulation is not altered by meal composition.
No accumulation is observed after repeated administration of up to 2000mg of metformin prolonged release tablets.
Distribution
Plasma protein binding is negligible. Metformin partitions into erythrocytes. The blood peak is lower than the plasma peak and appears at approximately the same time. The red blood cells most likely represent a secondary compartment of distribution. The mean volume of distribution (Vd) ranged between 63–276 L.
Metabolism
Metformin is excreted unchanged in the urine. No metabolites have been identified in humans.
Elimination
Renal clearance of metformin is > 400 ml/min, indicating that metformin is eliminated by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Following an oral dose, the apparent terminal elimination half-life is approximately 6.5 hours.
When renal function is impaired, renal clearance is decreased in proportion to that of creatinine and thus the elimination half-life is prolonged, leading to increased levels of metformin in plasma.
Characteristics in specific groups of patients
Renal impairment
The available data in subjects with moderate renal insufficiency are scarce and no reliable estimation of the systemic exposure to metformin in this subgroup as compared to subjects with normal renal function could be made. Therefore, the dose adaptation should be made upon clinical efficacy/tolerability considerations (see section 4.2).
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies on safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity reproduction.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Magnesium stearate
Silica colloidal anhydrous
Carmellose sodium
Hypromellose
6.2 Incompatibilities
None
6.3 Shelf life
3 years
6.4 Special precautions for storage
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
28 and 56 tablets in blister strips composed of aluminium foil and PVC.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
6.6 Special precautions for disposalNo special requirements. Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.