Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about taking this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I taking MINIDIAB?
MINIDIAB contains the active ingredient glipizide. MINIDIAB is used in addition to
diet and exercise to control blood sugar in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus.
For more information, see Section
1. Why am I taking MINIDIAB? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I take MINIDIAB?
Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to: glipizide or any ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI, other sulphonylureas, sulfur antibiotics (e.g. sulphonamides)
or thiazide diuretics (e.g. chlorothiazide). Do not take if you have or have had Type
I diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), diabetic ketoacidosis with
or without coma, severe kidney or liver disease, severe thyroid disease, you are pregnant,
severe or unstable diabetes, infection or high temperature, gangrene, severe trauma,
major surgery. Tell your doctor if you have or ever had kidney or liver problems,
adrenal or pituitary or thyroid problems, haemolytic anaemia or G6PD deficiency. Tell
your doctor if you drink alcohol, do not eat regular meals, do a lot of heavy exercise,
you are feeling ill or unwell. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I take MINIDIAB?
The dose varies from patient to patient. Your doctor will recommend how many tablets
to take each day. Swallow your tablets with a glass of water. More instructions can
be found in Section
4. How do I take MINIDIAB? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while taking MINIDIAB?
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Things you should do
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Tell your doctor if you become pregnant, ill or experience extra stress, injury, fever,
infection or need surgery. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience signs of
high blood glucose or notice the return of any symptoms you had before starting MINIDIAB.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking MINIDIAB.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop taking MINIDIAB or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not skip meals while taking MINIDIAB.
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Driving or using machines
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MINIDIAB may cause dizziness and drowsiness in some people. Low blood glucose levels
may also slow your reaction time and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
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Drinking alcohol
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Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking MINIDIAB may
make you feel sick. Drinking alcohol may also give you a headache, stomach pains,
flushing, breathing difficulties or a rapid heartbeat.
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Looking after your medicine
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Store below 30 °C. Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take
them.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects: low blood glucose (weakness, trembling/shaking, sweating, light-headedness,
headache, dizziness, sleepiness, irritability, tearfulness/crying, hunger, lack of
concentration), confusion, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, nausea, vomiting,
stomach cramps/pain, diarrhoea, constipation, rashes, sores, redness, itching, eczema,
sunburn, blistering, visual disturbances, yellow skin/eyes, dark coloured urine, bleeding/bruising,
reddish/purplish blotches, frequent infections, fever, tiredness, shortness of breath,
looking pale, seizures, allergic reaction (wheezing, swelling of face/mouth/tongue/throat,
difficulty swallowing or breathing, hives, raised red, itchy spots). For more information,
including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Active ingredient(s):
glipizide
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about taking MINIDIAB. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about taking MINIDIAB.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking MINIDIAB?
MINIDIAB contains the active ingredient glipizide. MINIDIAB belongs to a group of medicines called sulphonylureas. These medicines lower
blood glucose by increasing the amount of insulin produced by your pancreas.
MINIDIAB is used in addition to diet and exercise to control blood sugar in patients
with Type II diabetes mellitus. This type of diabetes is also known as non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
MINIDIAB is used when diet and exercise are not enough to control blood sugar (glucose).
MINIDIAB can be used alone, or together with insulin or other medicines for treating
diabetes.
If your blood glucose is not properly controlled, you may experience hypoglycaemia
(low blood glucose) or hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose). High blood glucose can
lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, circulation or kidneys.
Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) can occur suddenly. Signs may include:
weakness, trembling or shaking
sweating
lightheadedness, dizziness, headache or lack of concentration
tearfulness or crying
irritability
hunger
numbness around the lips and tongue.
If not treated properly, these may progress to:
loss of co-ordination
slurred speech
confusion
loss of consciousness or fitting.
Hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose) usually occurs more slowly than low blood glucose.
Signs of high blood glucose may include:
lethargy or tiredness
headache
thirst
passing large amounts of urine
blurred vision.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why MINIDIAB has been prescribed for
you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
There is no evidence that MINIDIAB is addictive.
2. What should I know before I take MINIDIAB?
Warnings
Do not take MINIDIAB if you are allergic to or have experienced allergic reactions
to:
glipizide or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check
the ingredients to make sure you can take this medicine.
other sulphonylureas
sulfur antibiotics (e.g. sulphonamides)
thiazide diuretics (e.g. chlorothiazide).
Do not take MINIDIAB if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
Type I diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus)
you have diabetic ketoacidosis with or without coma
severe kidney disease
severe liver disease
severe thyroid disease
you are pregnant
severe or unstable diabetes
you have an infection or high temperature
you have gangrene
you have severe trauma
you are about to undergo major surgery.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
kidney problems
liver problems
adrenal or pituitary or thyroid problems
haemolytic anaemia or G6PD deficiency (a condition where the body does not have enough
of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase).
Tell your doctor if:
you ever drink alcohol
you do not eat regular meals
you do a lot of heavy exercise
you are feeling ill or unwell.
Alcohol, diet and exercise and your general health all strongly affect the control
of your diabetes.
Discuss these things with your doctor.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
You should not take MINIDIAB if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Insulin is more suitable for controlling blood glucose during pregnancy. Your doctor
may replace MINIDIAB with insulin.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
You should not take MINIDIAB if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
It is not known whether MINIDIAB passes into breast-milk. There could be a possibility
that your baby may be affected.
Use in Children
MINIDIAB should not be used in children.
If you have not told your doctor, pharmacist or diabetes educator about any of the
above, tell them before you start taking MINIDIAB.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or diabetes educator if you are taking any other medicines,
including all prescription medicines and any medicines, vitamins, supplements or natural
therapies that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket, naturopath
or health food shop.
Some medicines and MINIDIAB may interfere with each other.
Some medicines may lead to low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia) by increasing the blood-glucose-lowering
effect of MINIDIAB.
These include:
alcohol
some medicines used to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions (beta-blockers,
ACE inhibitors, diazoxide)
some medicines used to treat arthritis, pain and inflammation (salicylates e.g. aspirin;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
some antibiotics (e.g. chloramphenicol, sulphonamides and others)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are on antibiotic treatment.
some medicines used to treat fungal infections (miconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole)
medicines used to prevent blood clots (coumarin derivatives)
some cholesterol-lowering medicines (clofibrate)
other medicines used to treat diabetes (biguanides)
probenecid (a medicine used to treat gout or to increase the blood levels of some
antibiotics)
some medicines used to treat depression (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
some medicines used to treat reflux and ulcers (H2 receptor antagonists e.g. cimetidine)
some medicines used to treat cancer (cyclophosphamide).
Some medicines may lead to a loss of control of your diabetes by lowering the effect
of MINIDIAB on blood glucose.
These include:
some medicines used to treat high blood pressure (calcium channel blocking medicines)
glucagon, a medicine used to treat low blood glucose
corticosteroids such as prednisone and cortisone
some medicines used to treat tuberculosis (isoniazid)
nicotinic acid (used for the lowering of blood fats)
estrogens, progestogens, oral contraceptives and certain other hormonal treatments
such as danazol.
These medicines are used for example in birth control, menopausal hormone therapy
(MHT) or to treat other women's health problems.
some medicines used to treat mental illness or psychotic disorders (phenothiazines)
phenytoin, a medicine used to treat epilepsy (convulsions)
diuretics, also known as fluid tablets (thiazides)
some asthma medicines, preparations for coughs and colds, and weight-reducing medicines
thyroid hormones
some medicines used to treat cancer (cyclophosphamide).
MINIDIAB may change the effect of some other medicines. These include:
barbiturates (used for sedation).
You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different
medicines.
Tetracycline, a type of antibiotic, can interfere with the measurement of glucose
in the urine.
Your doctor, pharmacist or diabetes educator can tell you what to do if you are taking
any of these medicines. They also have a more complete list of medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking MINIDIAB.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect MINIDIAB.
4. How do I take MINIDIAB?
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor, pharmacist or diabetes educator
carefully.
These may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist
for help.
How much to take
The dose varies from patient to patient.
Your doctor will recommend how many tablets to take each day.
The usual starting dose is 1 tablet taken before breakfast. However, a lower starting
dose may be needed in older people or those with liver problems.
Your doctor may increase or decrease the dose depending on your blood glucose levels.
How to take it
Swallow your tablets with a glass of water.
When to take it
For best control of blood sugar, MINIDIAB should be taken about half an hour before
meals. Your doctor may recommend that you take your tablet(s) just once a day or may
divide the dose so that it is taken more than once a day.
Do not skip meals while taking MINIDIAB.
How long to take it
Continue taking MINIDIAB for as long as your doctor recommends. Make sure you keep
enough MINIDIAB to last over weekends and holidays. MINIDIAB will help to control
your diabetes but will not cure it. Therefore, you may have to take it for a long
time.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then go back
to taking your tablets as you would do normally.
Missed doses can cause high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia).
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you have missed.
If you miss more than one dose or are not sure what to do, check with your doctor
or pharmacist.
If you take too much
If you think that you have taken too much MINIDIAB, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you take too much MINIDIAB, you may experience symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia).
At the first signs of hypoglycaemia, raise your blood glucose quickly by taking sugar
or honey, non-diet soft drink or glucose tablets.
If not treated quickly, these symptoms may progress to loss of co-ordination, slurred
speech, loss of consciousness and fitting. If you experience any of these symptoms,
immediately get medical help.
5. What should I know while taking MINIDIAB?
Things you should do
Call your doctor straight away if you:
become pregnant while taking MINIDIAB
If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor or pharmacist
that you are taking MINIDIAB.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking MINIDIAB.
Make sure that you, your friends, family and work colleagues can recognise the symptoms
of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia and know how to treat them.
If you are elderly or taking other medicines for diabetes such as insulin or metformin,
the risk of hypoglycaemia is increased.
If you experience any of the signs of high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) contact
your doctor immediately.
The risk of hyperglycaemia is increased in the following situations:
undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes
illness, infection or stress
too little MINIDIAB
taking certain other medicines
too little exercise
eating more carbohydrate than normal.
If you become ill, or experience extra stress, injury, fever, infection or need surgery,
tell your doctor. Your blood glucose may be difficult to control at these times. Your
doctor may decide to change your treatment and use insulin instead of MINIDIAB.
Make sure you check your blood glucose levels regularly. This is the best way to tell
if your diabetes is being controlled properly. Your doctor or diabetes educator will
show you how and when to do this.
Visit your doctor regularly so that they can check on your progress.
Carefully follow your doctor's or your dietician's advice on diet, drinking and exercise.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice the return of any symptoms you had before
starting MINIDIAB. These may include lethargy or tiredness, headache, thirst, passing
of large amounts of urine and blurred vision. These may be signs that MINIDIAB is
no longer working, even though you may have been taking it successfully for some time.
Things you should not do
Do not stop taking MINIDIAB or change the dose without first checking with your doctor
Do not give MINIDIAB to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you
Do not skip meals while taking MINIDIAB.
Things to be careful of
Protect your skin when you are in the sun, especially between 10am and 3pm.
MINIDIAB may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally.
If outdoors, wear protective clothing and use a minimum of SPF 30+ sunscreen. If your
skin does appear to be burning, tell your doctor immediately.
Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how MINIDIAB
affects you.
Be careful not to let your blood glucose levels fall too low. MINIDIAB may cause
dizziness and drowsiness in some people. Low blood glucose levels may also slow your
reaction time and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Drinking alcohol while taking MINIDIAB may make you feel sick. You may also have a
headache, stomach pains, flushing, breathing difficulties or rapid heartbeat.
Things that would be helpful for your condition
Some self-help measures suggested below may help your condition. Your doctor or pharmacist
can give you more information about these measures.
If you are travelling it is a good idea to:
wear some form of identification showing you have diabetes
carry some form of sugar to treat hypoglycaemia if it occurs e.g. jelly beans, sugar
sachets
carry emergency food rations in case of delay e.g. dried fruit, biscuits
keep MINIDIAB readily available.
If you become sick with a cold, fever or flu, it is very important to continue taking
MINIDIAB, even if you feel unable to eat your normal meal. If you have trouble eating
solid food, use sugar-sweetened drinks as a carbohydrate substitute, or eat small
amounts of bland food. Your diabetes educator or dietician can give you a list of
foods to use for sick days.
Looking after your medicine
Store below 30°C
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. The blister packaging
will help protect the tablets.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What MINIDIAB contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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glipizide
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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cellulose
maize starch
stearic acid
lactose monohydrate
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What MINIDIAB looks like
MINIDIAB tablets are white, round, biconvex and scored so that they can be broken
in half. Each pack contains 100 tablets in blister strips (AUST R 15421).
Who distributes MINIDIAB
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
This leaflet was prepared in April 2025.
® Registered Trademark