Fortamet

Fortamet is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Fortamet belongs to a group of drugs called biguanides, which work by helping your body respond better to the insulin it makes naturally, decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes, and decreasing the amount of sugar your intestines absorb.

This medication comes in an extended-release tablet. It is typically taken once a day. Swallow Fortamet extended-release tablets whole.

Common side effects of Fortamet include diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach.

Fortamet is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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Serious side effects have been reported including:

Lactic Acidosis. In rare cases, Fortamet can cause a serious side effect called lactic acidosis. This is caused by a buildup of lactic acid in your blood. This build-up can cause serious damage. Lactic acidosis caused by Fortamet is rare and has occurred mostly in people whose kidneys were not working normally. Lactic acidosis has been reported in about one in 33,000 patients taking metformin over the course of a year. Although rare, if lactic acidosis does occur, it can be fatal in up to half the people who develop it.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• beta-blockers
• cough and cold products containing decongestants
• calcium channel blockers
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• corticosteroids
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix)
• estrogens
• insulins or other medicines for diabetes
• isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid)
• morphine
• niacin (nicotinic acid, Niaspan)
• nifedipine
• oral contraceptives
• oral steroids
• phenothiazines such as promethazine (Phenergan)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• procainamide
• quinidine
• quinine
• ranitidine
• thyroid medicines such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint)
• triamterene
• trimethoprim
• vancomycin

This is not a complete list of Fortamet drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

A small number of people who have taken Fortamet have developed a serious condition called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is caused by a buildup of lactic acid in the blood. This happens more often in people with kidney problems. Most people with kidney problems should not take Fortamet. See "Side Effects".

Some conditions increase your chance of getting lactic acidosis, or cause other problems if you take Fortamet. Most of the conditions listed below can increase your chance of getting lactic acidosis.

Do not take Fortamet if you:

• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• have heart failure that is treated with medicines, such as Lanoxin (digoxin) or Lasix (furosemide)
• drink a lot of alcohol. This means you binge drink for short periods or drink all the time.
• are seriously dehydrated (have lost a lot of water from your body)
• are going to have an x-ray procedure with injection of dyes (contrast agents)
• are going to have surgery
• develop a serious condition, such as heart attack, severe infection, or a stroke
• are 80 years or older and you have NOT had your kidney function tested

Do not drink a lot of alcohol drinks while taking this medication. This means you should not binge drink for short periods, and you should not drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis. Alcohol can increase the chance of getting lactic acidosis.

Follow dietary (food) recommendations made by your doctor and dietitian which should include a healthy diet. Skipping meals should be avoided as this can cause problems maintaining blood sugar control. There are no specific foods to avoid while using Fortamet.

Before receiving Fortamet, tell your doctor if you:

• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• have heart failure that is treated with medicines, such as Lanoxin (digoxin) or Lasix (furosemide)
• drink a lot of alcohol. This means you binge drink for short periods or drink all the time.
• are seriously dehydrated (have lost a lot of water from your body)
• are going to have an x-ray procedure with injection of dyes (contrast agents)
• are going to have surgery
• develop a serious condition, such as heart attack, severe infection, or a stroke
• are 80 years or older and you have NOT had your kidney function tested
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

While taking Fortamet, tell your doctor if you

• have an illness that causes severe vomiting, diarrhea or fever, or if you drink a much lower amount of liquid than normal. These conditions can lead to severe dehydration (loss of water in your body). You may need to stop taking Fortamet for a short time.
• plan to have surgery or an x-ray procedure with injection of dye (contrast agent). You may need to stop taking Fortamet for a short time.
• start to take other medicines or change how you take a medicine. Fortamet can affect how well other drugs work, and some drugs can affect how well Fortamet works. Some medicines may cause high blood sugar.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Fortamet will harm your unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Fortamet is excreted in human breastmilk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Fortamet is taken by mouth and is available as an extended-release tablet. It is taken typically once daily. Fortamet should be taken at the same time each day. Fortamet extended-release tablets should not be chewed, split, or crushed. Swallow Fortamet extended-release tablets whole.

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take and when to take it. You will probably start out with a low dose of the medicine. Your doctor may slowly increase your dose until your blood sugar is better controlled. You should take Fortamet with meals.

Your doctor may have you take other medicines along with Fortamet to control your blood sugar. These medicines may include insulin shots. Taking Fortamet with insulin may help you better control your blood sugar while reducing the insulin dose.

Continue your exercise and diet program and test your blood sugar regularly while taking Fortamet.

Your doctor will monitor your diabetes and may perform blood tests on you from time to time to make sure your kidneys and your liver are functioning normally. There is no evidence that Fortamet causes harm to the liver or kidneys.

Take Fortamet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

For the extended release form, Fortamet, the starting dose is 500 mg once daily, and the maximum dosing is 2000 mg once daily (or 1000 mg twice daily).

The maximum total daily dose of Fortamet for people taking insulin is 2000 mg.

If you take too much Fortamet, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Store Fortamet at room temperature away from excess light and humidity.

Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

WARNINGS