About Metformin
Medically reviewed by Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidy, MD Pharmacology, Diabetologist & Bariatric Physician, on 23 Oct 2026.
What it is for
Lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. It reduces the sugar made by the liver and helps the body use insulin better. It is also used in prediabetes and in PCOS when the doctor advises.
How to take it
Take it with food or just after a meal, to reduce stomach upset. Extended-release (SR, XR) tablets are swallowed whole, not crushed or chewed. The doctor usually starts with a low dose and increases it slowly.
Common side effects
- Loose stools, gas, nausea or a metallic taste in the first few weeks. These usually settle.
- Low vitamin B12 after long use, which can cause tingling in the feet.
Call your doctor if
- Severe vomiting, diarrhoea or you cannot eat or drink.
- Unusual muscle pain, fast breathing, or feeling very weak and cold.
- Before a CT scan with contrast dye or a surgery. The doctor may pause it for a short time.
Take care
Avoid heavy alcohol. Tell the doctor about any kidney or liver disease.
From our clinic: On its own, metformin rarely causes low sugar. Ask for a vitamin B12 test once a year if you have taken it for many years.
About Pioglitazone
Medically reviewed by Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidy, MD Pharmacology, Diabetologist & Bariatric Physician, on 23 Oct 2026.
What it is for
Lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes by making the body more sensitive to insulin. Sometimes used for fatty liver with diabetes.
How to take it
Take it once a day, with or without food. It takes a few weeks to show its full effect.
Common side effects
- Weight gain.
- Swelling of the feet.
Call your doctor if
- Breathlessness, sudden weight gain or swelling of the legs. These can be signs of fluid build-up in heart failure.
- Blood in the urine.
- Blurred vision.
- Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, or loss of appetite with tiredness. The doctor may check liver tests.
Take care
Not for people with heart failure. Tell the doctor about bladder cancer in the past and about bone fractures.
From our clinic: Weigh yourself weekly in the first months and tell the doctor about a quick gain.
About Gliclazide
Medically reviewed by Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidy, MD Pharmacology, Diabetologist & Bariatric Physician, on 23 Oct 2026.
What it is for
Lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes by making the pancreas release more insulin.
How to take it
Take it with a meal, usually breakfast. The MR (modified release) tablet is taken once a day. Do not crush or chew it. The plain tablet may be taken once or twice a day with meals, as the doctor advises. Do not take it and then skip the meal.
Common side effects
- Low blood sugar if a meal is missed or delayed.
- Mild stomach upset.
Call your doctor if
- Repeated low sugars.
- You plan to fast or have a surgery.
Take care
Avoid alcohol on an empty stomach.
From our clinic: Gliclazide causes low sugar less often than some older tablets of this group, but it still can. Keep glucose tablets with you.
General information for patients, not a substitute for your doctor's advice. Your dose and plan may differ.
Details are taken from the maker's pack listing and our billing system. Prices are MRP and may change. This page is not medical advice: do not start, stop or switch a medicine without your doctor. Page updated 23 Oct 2026.