Metformin hydrochloride 500 mg film-coated tablets

Each film-coated tablet contains 500 mg metformin hydrochloride corresponding to 390 mg metformin.

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

Film-coated tablet.

White, round [diametre 11mm], biconvex, film-coated tablets with 'A' debossed on one side and '60' debossed on the other side.

Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, particularly in over weight patients, when dietary management and exercise alone does not result in adequate glycemic control.

• In adults, Metformin film-coated tablets may be used as monotherapy or in combination with other oral anti-diabetic agents or with insulin.

• In children from 10 years of age and adolescents, Metformin hydrochloride film-coated tablets may be used as monotherapy or in combination with insulin.

A reduction of diabetic complications has been shown in overweight type 2 diabetic adult patients treated with metformin hydrochloride as first-line therapy after diet failure (see section 5.1).

Posology

Adults:

Adults with normal renal function (GFR≥ 90 mL/min)

Monotherapy and combination with other oral antidiabetic agents:

- The usual starting dose is 500mg or 850mg metformin hydrochloride 2 or 3 times daily given during or after meals.

After 10 to 15 days the dose should be adjusted on the basis of blood glucose measurements. A slow increase of dose may improve gastrointestinal tolerability.

The maximum recommended dose of metformin hydrochloride is 3 g daily, taken as 3 divided doses.

If transfer from another oral antidiabetic agent is intended: discontinue the other agent and initiate metformin hydrochloride at the dose indicated above.

Combination with insulin:

Metformin hydrochloride and insulin may be used in combination therapy to achieve better blood glucose control. Metformin hydrochloride is given at the usual starting dose of 500mg or 850mg metformin hydrochloride 2or3 times daily, 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 hydrochloride 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.

Paediatric population:

Monotherapy and combination with insulin

• Metformin hydrochloride film-coated tablets can be used in children from 10 years of age and adolescents.

• The usual starting dose is 500 mg or 850 mg metformin hydrochloride once daily, given during meals or after meals.

After 10 to 15 days the dose should be adjusted on the basis of blood glucose measurements. A slow increase of dose may improve gastrointestinal tolerability. The maximum recommended dose of metformin hydrochloride is 2 g daily, taken as 2 or 3 divided doses.

Hypersensitivity to metformin hydrochloride or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

• Any type of acute metabolic acidosis (such as lactic acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis)

• Severe renal failure (GFR <30 mL/min)

• Acute conditions with the potential to alter renal function such as:

o dehydration,

o severe infection,

o shock,

• Acute or chronic disease which may cause tissue hypoxia such as:

o cardiac or respiratory failure,

o recent myocardial infarction,

o shock

• Hepatic insufficiency, acute alcohol intoxication, alcoholism

Lactic acidosis:

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.

Administration of iodinated contrast agents

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.

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.

Surgery

Metformin must be discontinued at the time of surgery under general, spinal or epidural anesthesia. Therapy may be restarted no earlier than 48 hours following surgery or resumption of oral nutrition and provided that renal function has been re-evaluated and found to be stable.

Paediatric population

The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus should be confirmed before treatment with metformin hydrochloride is initiated.

No effect of metformin hydrochloride on growth and puberty has been detected during controlled clinical studies of one-year duration but no long-term data on these specific points are available. Therefore, a careful follow-up of the effect of metformin hydrochloride on these parameters in metformin hydrochloride-treated children, especially pre-pubescent children, is recommended.

Children aged between 10 and 12 years:

Only 15 subjects aged between 10 and 12 years were included in the controlled clinical studies conducted in children and adolescents. Although efficacy and safety of metformin hydrochloride in these children did not differ from efficacy and safety in older children and adolescents, particular caution is recommended when prescribing to children aged between 10 and 12 years.

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 hydrochloride alone does not cause hypoglycaemia, but caution is advised when it is used in combination with insulin or oral antidiabetics (e.g. sulfonylureas or meglitinides).

Concomitant use not recommended

Alcohol:

Alcohol intoxication is associated with an increased risk of lactic acidosis, particularly in cases of fasting, malnutrition or hepatic impairment.

Avoid consumption of alcohol and alcohol-containing medicinal product.

Iodinated contrast media:

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.

Intravascular administration of iodinated contrast media may lead to renal failure, resulting in metformin hydrochloride accumulation and an increased risk of lactic acidosis.

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 cyclo-oxygenase (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 as glucocorticoids (systemic or by local route) and sympathomimetics.

More frequent blood glucose monitoring may be required, especially at the beginning of treatment. If necessary, adjust the metformin dosage during the therapy with the respective medicinal products.

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 hydrochloride in pregnant women does not indicate an increased risk of congenital abnormalities. Animal studies do not indicate harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonal 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 hydrochloride 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 hydrochloride treatment. A decision on whether to discontinue breast-feeding should be made, taken into account the benefit of breast-feeding and the potential risk to adverse effects 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.

Metformin hydrochloride 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 meformin hydrochloride is used in combination with other antidiabetic agents (sulfonylureas, insulin or meglitinides).

During treatment initiation, the most common adverse reactions are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite which resolve spontaneously in most cases. To prevent them, it is recommended to take metformin in 2 or 3 daily doses and to increase slowly the doses.

The following adverse reactions may occur under treatment with metformin. 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 section 4.4).

Decrease of vitamin B12 absorption with decrease of serum levels during long-term use of metformin. Consideration of such 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. To prevent them, it is recommended that metformin be taken in 2 or 3 daily doses during or after meals. 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

Paediatric population

In published and post marketing data and in controlled clinical studies in a limited paediatric population aged 10-16 years treated during 1 year, adverse event reporting was similar in nature and severity to that reported in adults.

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 Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Hypoglycaemia has not been seen with metformin hydrochloride doses of up to 85 g, although lactic acidosis has occurred in such circumstances. High overdose of metformin hydrochloride or concomitant risks 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 hydrochloride is haemodialysis.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Blood Glucose lowering drugs, excl Insulins, Biguanides ATC code: A10BA02

Mechanism of action

Metformin hydrochloride 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.

Metformin hydrochloride may act via 3 mechanisms:

(1) reduction of hepatic glucose production by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis

(2) in muscle, by increasing insulin sensitivity, improving peripheral glucose uptake and utilization

(3) and delay of intestinal glucose absorption.

Metformin hydrochloride stimulates intracellular glycogen synthesis by acting on glycogen synthase.

Metformin hydrochloride increases the transport capacity of all types of membrane glucose transporters (GLUTs) known to date.

In humans, independently of its action on glycaemia, metformin hydrochloride has favourable effects on lipid metabolism. This has been shown at therapeutic doses in controlled, medium-term or long-term clinical studies: metformin hydrochloride reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In clinical studies, use of metformin was associated with either a stable body weight or modest weight loss.

Clinical efficacy:

The prospective randomised (UKPDS) study has established the long-term benefit of intensive blood glucose control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of the results for overweight patients treated with metformin hydrochloride after failure of diet alone showed:

o a significant reduction of the absolute risk of any diabetes-related complication in the metformin hydrochloride group (29.8 events/ 1000 patient-years) versus diet alone (43.3 events/ 1000 patient-years), p=0.0023, and versus the combined sulfonylurea and insulin monotherapy groups (40.1 events/ 1000 patient-years), p=0.0034;

o a significant reduction of the absolute risk of diabetes-related mortality: metformin hydrochloride 7.5 events/1000 patient-years, diet alone 12.7 events/1000 patient-years, p=0.017;

o a significant reduction of the absolute risk of overall mortality: metformin hydrochloride 13.5 events/ 1000 patient-years versus diet alone 20.6 events/ 1000 patient –years (p=0.011), and versus the combined sulfonylurea and insulin monotherapy groups 18.9 events/ 1000 patient-years (p=0.021);

o a significant reduction in the absolute risk of myocardial infarction: metformin hydrochloride 11 events/ 1000 patient-years, diet alone 18 events/ 1000 patient-years (p=0.01)

Benefit regarding clinical outcome has not been shown for metformin hydrochloride used as second-line therapy, in combination with a sulfonylurea.

In type 1 diabetes, the combination of metformin hydrochloride and insulin has been used in selected patients, but the clinical benefit of this combination has not been formally established.

Paediatric population

Controlled clinical studies in a limited paediatric population aged 10-16 years treated during 1 year demonstrated a similar response in glycaemic control to that seen in adults.

Absorption:

After an oral dose of metformin hydrochloride maximum plasma concentration (C_max) is reached in approximately 2.5 hours (T_max). Absolute bioavailability of a 500 mg or 850 mg metformin hydrochloride tablet is approximately 50-60 % in healthy subjects. After an oral dose, the non-absorbed fraction recovered in faeces was 20-30 %.

After oral administration, metformin hydrochloride absorption is saturable and incomplete. It is assumed that the pharmacokinetics of metformin hydrochloride absorption is non-linear.

At the recommended metformin hydrochloride doses and dosing schedules, steady state plasma concentrations are reached within 24 to 48 hours and are generally less than 1 microgram/ml. In controlled clinical trials, maximum metformin hydrochloride plasma levels (C_max) did not exceed 4 microgram/ml, even at maximum doses.

Food decreases the extent and slightly delays the absorption of metformin hydrochloride. Following administration of a dose of 850 mg, a 40 % lower plasma peak concentration, a 25 % decrease in AUC (area under the curve) and a 35 minute prolongation of time to peak plasma concentration were observed. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.

Distribution:

Plasma protein binding is negligible. Metformin hydrochloride 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.

Biotransformation:

Metformin hydrochloride is excreted unchanged in the urine. No metabolites have been identified in humans.

Elimination:

Renal clearance of metformin hydrochloride is >400 ml/min, indicating that metformin hydrochloride 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 hydrochloride in plasma.

Pediatric population

Single dose study: After single doses of metformin hydrochloride 500 mg, paediatric patients have shown similar phamacokinetic profile to that observed in healthy adults.

Multiple dose study: Data are restricted to one study. After repeated doses of 500 mg twice daily for 7 days in paediatric patients the peak plasma concentration (C_max) and systemic exposure (AUC_0-t) were reduced by approximately 33% and 40%, respectively compared to diabetic adults who received repeated doses of 500 mg twice daily for 14 days. As the dose is individually titrated based on glycaemic control, this is of limited clinical relevance.

Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies on safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, and reproductive toxicity.

Tablet core:

Povidone

Magnesium stearate

Film-coating:

Hypromellose

Macrogol

Not applicable

Blister pack: 5 years

Container: 5 years

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

20, 28, 30, 40, 42, 50, 56, 60, 70, 80, 84, 90, 98, 100, 120, 180, 200, 300 or 400 film-coated tablets in blister packs (Clear PVC / PVdC / aluminium) or (Clear PVC/ aluminium), each blister containing 10 or 14 film-coated tablets. White opaque HDPE bottle packs of 90, 100, 400 or 500 film-coated tablets with polypropylene closure containing activated carbon.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed off in accordance with local requirements.

Milpharm Limited

Ares Block

Odyssey Business Park

West End Road

Ruislip HA4 6QD

United Kingdom.

PL 16363/0601

20/03/2009

27/11/2018