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Bad reaction to gliclazide

C

Chrisbeadell

Member
Hi all
I have just had a bad experience that saw me hospitalised for two weeks. I went to find out about terrible pain in my head and neck. In A&E I had all relevant checks which included blood tests. These tests showed my liver was in a very dangerous state and close to failure. After having no medication for almost two weeks my liver function was improving each day. Last Friday I was told that the test results were back and it was definitely the gliclazide that had affected my liver.
Has anyone else had this problem?
I would appreciate any advice from anyone who may have had adverse affects and how they have overcome this.
Thanks
 
Hi @Chrisbeadell and welcome to the forum.

What a frightening experience and I am glad to note that things are improving.

I will bump your post up to see if anyone can relate to this.
 
I was on one gliclazide a day lats year and had no side effects thank goodness however I was talking to a friend the other day and he said he was on 4 gliclazide a day I always thought 1 was too many but to have 4 a day .... this sounds too much for me especially after reading the above post? :greedy:
 
I was on 2 a day from February to May so only 2 months so this scared me as you can imagine. I am going back to my diabetic nurse tomorrow who has said she is going to put me on insulin even though I am type 2 as this will not affect my liver. I can not take meteor in either. I put this post on here to warn others really.
 
Hi Chris, hows your diet. Just wondered if you are following the eatwell plate re NHS guidelines. If you are maybe you should have a look around and see about reducing your carbs first. What are your readings like?
 
All sulfonylureas (gliclazide, glipizide, etc) can in rare cases cause liver damage -- you may be one of those rare cases. Sounds like your medication may need a rethink (and perhaps your diet too, as dawnmc suggests)
 
wow is there any more meds that we take can cause liver damage ?? we take for one thing and it causes another :hungover:
 
Chrisbeadell said:
Hi all
I have just had a bad experience that saw me hospitalised for two weeks. I went to find out about terrible pain in my head and neck. In A&E I had all relevant checks which included blood tests. These tests showed my liver was in a very dangerous state and close to failure. After having no medication for almost two weeks my liver function was improving each day. Last Friday I was told that the test results were back and it was definitely the gliclazide that had affected my liver.
Has anyone else had this problem?
I would appreciate any advice from anyone who may have had adverse affects and how they have overcome this.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi Chris. I had a very similar experience with gliclazide. Started feeling unwell about 2 weeks after starting the medication and gradually got worse. A blood test showed that my liver was close to failure, and I spent the next 2 weeks in hospital. They took me off the gliclazide on to insulin, and my liver recovered, but it was a close call. I have no doubt that it was a reaction to the gliclazide.
 
I am so glad I am not taking that then....I did ask about this tablet when i was on it as my brother said they had taken him off of it for the same reason but when I asked they said oh no we would take you off metformin first :confused: but anyways I now take Forxiga :)
 
I think many people take it without any bad effects. I suppose we were just the unlucky ones pbasuita. Must admit it is comforting to think I was not alone with this horrible experience even though I would not wish it on anyone. I am on insulin now and feeling much better.
 
Chrisbeadell said:
Hi all
I have just had a bad experience that saw me hospitalised for two weeks. I went to find out about terrible pain in my head and neck. In A&E I had all relevant checks which included blood tests. These tests showed my liver was in a very dangerous state and close to failure. After having no medication for almost two weeks my liver function was improving each day. Last Friday I was told that the test results were back and it was definitely the gliclazide that had affected my liver.
Has anyone else had this problem?
I would appreciate any advice from anyone who may have had adverse affects and how they have overcome this.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I am sorry you have had such a reaction. Pain is the worst. I have seen other post here re: liver effects with the Sulfymide class of hypo drugs. The only one I have had is hypoglycemia and dose is critical for that. I do have muscle pains sometimes but I am not sure of the cause. I hope the doctors switch you to another diabetic drug. It's very good of them to diagnose the cause. Take care.
 
I hated Gliclazide. I couldn't exercise without feeling weak almost straight away. I needed a mini mars bar to get me going again, and that is ridiculous for a diabetic. I pleaded to go on insulin and from that day I got my life back. I now inject twice a day and have lost the tiredness in the afternoons and can enjoy exercise one more. Type 2 on 20 units humulin am and 30 pm.
 
Hi I have also had a bad reaction to gliclazide. On 40mg I was unable to feel my feet and I had pricking pains everywhere especially my feet. This increased when I increased the drug. I only lasted a day on the increased dose of 160mg a day and I felt as if my muscles were being squeezed and I had muscle weakness it was affecting my nerves. I had to stop and I took over a week to recover. I tried one 40mg tablet after this and I felt even worse. Since I stopped the Glic I have started being able to feel my feet and have no pain. In addition when I was on the high dose my liver was affected and I was getting extremely cold during the night causing shivering.
 
Glic gave me similar side effects and Metformin doesn’t work for me at all. I’ve been on insulin for over 17 years and have excellent control with little to no side effects.
 
I am on Gliclazide and no side effects, blood tests show liver function is normal. Was taken off it and put on Metformin and then SR for two months and so ill, lots of side effects including chest pain and now back on Gliclazide and all now ok.
 
Metformin seems to affect a lot of people but must be cheaper than rest as it seems to be the first choice for many health care professionals to prescribe. I, like you was first started on Gliclazide but had Metformin added rather than swapped. I had side effects from the metformin and sr version so had that stopped and was put onto pioglitazone along side the gliclazide. That combination did nothing for my blood sugars so, while in hospital, had the pioglitazone stopped and put onto a morning injection of insulin. Still taking Gliclazide although I feel I need two be doing two daily injections as blood sugars still high. Hope everything stays OK for you. Good luck.
 
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