Avandamet

Do not drink too much alcohol, since excessive alcohol consumption can cause low blood sugar and increase the risk of developing lactic acidosis.

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Avandamet has not been adequately studied in pregnant women and should not be taken during pregnancy unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. Since studies suggest the importance of maintaining normal blood sugar levels during pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe insulin injections instead.

It is not known whether Avandamet appears in human breast milk. Therefore, you should discuss with your doctor whether to discontinue the medication or to stop breastfeeding. If the medication is discontinued and if diet alone does not control blood sugar levels, your doctor may prescribe insulin injections.

Recommended dosage for Avandamet

ADULTS

Your doctor will start therapy at a low dose and increase it until your blood sugar levels are under control.

For patients who are inadequately controlled on metformin therapy alone

The recommended daily starting dose is 4 milligrams of rosiglitazone plus the dose of metformin you are already taking.

For patients who are inadequately controlled on rosiglitazone therapy alone

The recommended daily starting dose is 1,000 milligrams of metformin plus the dose of rosiglitazone you are already taking.

For patients on combination therapy taking separate doses of rosiglitazone and metformin

The usual starting dose of Avandamet is based on your current doses of rosiglitazone and metformin.

For patients who need to increase their current dose of Avandamet

The daily dose of Avandamet may be increased by increments of 4 milligrams of rosiglitazone and/or 500 milligrams of metformin, up to a maximum daily dose of 8 milligrams of rosiglitazone and 2,000 milligrams of metformin.

CHILDREN

Children should not take Avandamet, since the safety and effectiveness of the drug have not been studied in this group.

Overdosage

An overdose of Avandamet can cause lactic acidosis (see "Most important fact about this drug"). If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency treatment immediately.