← All medications

Gliclazide

Medication sulfonylurea diabetes
Aka: Diamicron
Brands seen in Singapore: Diamicron, Glizide, Dianorm, Melicron, Gliclada
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Prescribed to lower high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes
When to take
HealthHub: immediately before meals, once or twice daily
Take with
A meal · NHS: after food helps avoid stomach problems
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: most people take it once or twice a day
  • HealthHub: works alongside diet and exercise changes
  • SG register: 30, 60 and 80 mg strengths are listed
Cons
  • HealthHub: low blood sugar and weight gain are common
  • NHS: stomach pain and diarrhoea are common
  • NHS: not usually used in pregnancy or breastfeeding
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 15 registered single-ingredient gliclazide products carry Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only', ATC A10BB09 — SIN04316P DIAMICRON TABLET 80 mg · SIN11868P GLIZIDE · SIN10123P DIANORM · SIN11662P MELICRON · SIN15253P GLICLADA MR 60MG · SIN11761P/SIN13868P DIAMICRON MR 30 mg and 60mg.”
  2. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: what gliclazide is for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Gliclazide is a medicine used to lower high blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes. It's only available with a prescription … Gliclazide works by increasing how much insulin your body makes”
  3. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: how to take gliclazide · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most people need to take gliclazide once or twice a day … swallow tablets whole with a glass of water … take your tablets after a meal to help avoid stomach problems”
  4. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Common side effects of gliclazide include: stomach pain; diarrhoea. If you take gliclazide it may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia, or a "hypo").”
  5. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: who can and cannot take it · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “it may not be suitable for you if: you've ever had an allergic reaction or serious side effect from gliclazide or a similar medicine; you have severe kidney or liver disease; you have acute porphyria”
  6. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: pregnancy and breastfeeding · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Gliclazide is not usually used while breastfeeding … Gliclazide is not usually used during pregnancy. Your doctor may offer you a different medicine while you're pregnant.”
  7. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: taking it with other medicines · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “other medicines for high blood sugar, such as insulin; weight loss medicines, such as semaglutide or tirzepatide (Mounjaro); some antibiotics, such as clarithromycin; some medicines for high blood pressure or heart failure”
  8. NHS Medicines A-Z — Gliclazide: food and alcohol · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “It's best not to drink alcohol while taking gliclazide because it can affect your blood sugar level.”
  9. HealthHub (Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore) — Gliclazide: what is this medication for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Gliclazide is used in the treatment of diabetes. It works together with lifestyle changes, such as having a healthy diet and regular exercise, to reduce blood sugar levels. It helps the pancreas to release more insulin”
  10. HealthHub — Gliclazide: how should I take or use this medication · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Take the tablet(s) as directed by your doctor immediately before meal(s). Do not miss or delay meals after taking the medication.”
  11. HealthHub — Gliclazide: precautions · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Have Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency … Are allergic to sulfonamide drugs such as sulfamethoxazole or have a "sulfa" allergy … Are an elderly above 65 years old as you have a higher risk of having side effects”
  12. HealthHub — Gliclazide: common side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The common side effects of Gliclazide include: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) … Weight gain. Exercise regularly to prevent weight gain associated with this medication”
  13. HealthHub — Gliclazide: what food or medication should I avoid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Avoid taking alcohol with this medication as it may cause symptoms such as flushing, nausea, vomiting, headache, fast heartbeat, fast breathing and giddiness.”
  14. UK SmPC — Diamicron 80mg Tablets (Servier), section 4.2 Posology and method of administration, electronic medicines compendium · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The total daily dose may vary from 40 to 320 mg taken orally. The dose should be adjusted according to the individual patient's response … A single dose should not exceed 160 mg (2 tablets).”
  15. UK SmPC — Diamicron 30 mg MR Tablets (Servier), section 4.2 Posology and method of administration, electronic medicines compendium · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The daily dose may vary from 1 to 4 tablets per day, i.e. from 30 to 120 mg taken orally in a single intake at breakfast time … The maximum recommended daily dose is 120 mg.”
Report a correction View as JSON

Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.